The Nooksack Valley teams had their shots, but it was the Lynden Christian girls and boys who made their shots in claiming Class 1A District 1 championships on Tuesday, Feb. 17, and the automatic state berths that go with the tournament titles.
The girls were up first at Lynden High School, and the Lyncs came out fast on offense and never let up on defense in a 58-27 throttling of the Pioneers.
In the nightcap, the LC boys waited until the third quarter to unleash their fireworks and shoot down the Pioneers, 76-58.
“Any time you can get a district title … I’ll take it,” said Lynden Christian boys coach Tim Zylstra. “I was proud of the way they battled and never gave up.”
The victories continue Lynden Christian’s state streaks — it’s now 21 in a row for the girls and 11 in a row for the boys — and send the LC teams directly into the state regionals on either Feb. 27 or 28.
The good new for the Nooksack boys and girls is that they each have one more chance to qualify for state. They will play the winners of Friday’s loser-out games in the consolation finals on Saturday with the girls at 1 p.m. and the boys at 2:50 p.m., both again at Lynden’s Jake Maberry Gymnasium.
And this year, there are no crossover games so the top two District 1 boys and girls teams advance directly to the state regionals.
Meanwhile, in the Class 1B District 1/2/3 tournaments, the Lummi Nation boys and girls also qualified for their state regionals with resounding quarterfinal wins at home Tuesday night.
The boys dominated Northwest Yeshiva, 81-34, and the Lady Blackhawks crushed Concrete again, 71-23.
In addition to qualifying for state — the Lummi boys for the sixth straight time and the girls for the third time in a row — Blackhawks advanced into the tri-district semifinals on Thursday.
The Lummi girls will face Crosspoint Christian at Sequim High School at 4 p.m., and the Lummi boys will take on Summit Classical Christian at 5:30 p.m. at Marysville-Pilchuck High School.
1A Girls: LC Defense Shuts Down Pioneers, 58-27
The matchup between two storied programs that have won four of the past five 1A state championships figured to be closer than Lynden Christian’s 20-point victory during the regular season. But the Lyncs’ defense made sure it wasn’t.
LC’s pressure man-to-man and collapsing help defense on Nooksack Valley post Grace DeHoog flustered the Pioneers into just nine first-half points as the Lyncs posted a decisive 58-27 victory.
“They came out strong and we came out scared,” said Nooksack Valley senior Payton Bartl of LC’s 18-4 first-quarter blitz.
Said Pioneers coach Shane Wichers, “We were shell-shocked. They’re a really good team. You’re not going to have easy opportunities.”
As usual, it was a team effort for LC on offense as eight different Lyncs scored. Leading the way was senior Ella Fritts, who had 14 points, 12 coming in the first half as Lynden Christian went up by 24 points.
Joining her in double figures were junior Jocelyn Eshuis and freshman Jess DeJong, who had 12 and 10 points respectively. Junior Grace Russell had 6 points on a pair of 3-pointers, and junior Ellie Pierce and sophomore Tyra Dykstra had 5 points each.
But even the offensive star recognized it was the Lyncs’ defense that made the difference. “It starts with our defense,” said Fritts. “We started out hard, super strong. We wanted to crowd the paint. We know what she (DeHoog) can do.”
Nooksack Valley’s all-league post finished with 10 points, but she only had two in the decisive first half thanks to the defense of Eshuis and DeJong and the help of whoever else was on the floor for Lynden Christian.
Bartl would lead Nooksack Valley with 12 points and two 3-pointers, but only two other Pioneers scored as LC held Nooksack to its second-lowest point total of the season.
“We came out turning some defense into offense and getting high quality looks,” said LC coach Brady Bomber. “We moved the ball really well and shared it well.”
All of which puts the Lyncs, who raised their record to 21-3 and who are ranked third in the state, back in the state tournament, a place they are very used to having placed in each of the previous 20 tournaments. During the two-decade stretch they’ve reached the championship game 10 times and won six state titles.
“We can’t take it for granted, how special it is,” said Fritts, who has been part of the state tradition since her freshman year. “It’s really cool to do it four years in a row. Hopefully, we’ll bring home the gold ball (championship trophy).”
For Bomber, Tuesday’s win was just another goal this group has worked hard to accomplish.
“The tough games we played in the regular season hopefully prepared us,” said the LC coach. “They worked really hard all season long and this (state) is a great reward.”
For the Pioneers, who dropped to 13-10 on the season, Tuesday’s game was something to put behind them as they looked forward to Saturday’s matchup with either Mount Baker or Meridian.
“We had two chances to win one game,” Wichers said. “You can’t do anything about the game (Tuesday’s) now. We have to bounce back. The kids know.”
His senior leader agreed: “Obviously, we wanted to win, but it’s not our last game,” said Bartl. “Tonight we didn’t play our best. But we’ll be ready go go on Saturday.”
Lynden Christian 58, Nooksack Valley 27
Nooksack Valley 4 9 9 5—27
Lynden Christian 18 19 10 11—58
Nooksack Valley: Flores 3, Bartl 11, Davis, Swaffield, Biondolillo 3, Harmon, Newhouse, Van Liew, Burke, DeHoog 10.
Lynden Christian: Fritts 14, T. Dykstra 5, Eshuis 12, D. Dykstra 3, Camping 3, Russell 6, Van Loo, Pierce 5, Lenssen, DeJong 10.
CLASS 1A GIRLS DISTRICT 1 TOURNAMENT
Wednesday, Feb. 11
Play-in game
Meridian 44, Blaine 34 (loser out)
Friday, Feb. 13
Semifinals
Lynden Christian 66, Meridian 28
Nooksack Valley 56, Mount Baker 47
Tuesday, Feb. 17
At Lynden High
Championship game
Lynden Christian 58, Nooksack Valley 27 (winner first, to state regionals)
Friday, Feb. 20
At Lynden High
Consolation game
Mount Baker vs. Meridian, 5:40 p.m. (loser out)
Saturday, Feb. 21
At Lynden High School
Consolation final, 1 p.m. (winner second, to state regionals, loser out)
1A Boys: LC Boys Down Nooksack With Big Third Quarter, 76-58
With Lynden Christian missing its all-state guard, it appeared to be the right night for Nooksack Valley to catch the short-handed Lyncs. And for the first half, it looked like an upset might be brewing. But then came the third quarter.
Thirty LC points later, second-ranked Lynden Christian had pulled away to an 18-point lead on the way to a 76-58 victory in the district championship game over the Pioneers.
“The third quarter, they scored 30,” said Nooksack Valley coach Jason Heutink, whose team dropped to 9-14 on the season. “I wasn’t disappointed in the effort. But when you let a team get 30…”
…. you don’t pull off the major upset.
Lynden Christian only led by five at the half as the Pioneers’ box-and-one on LC’s other all-star guard, Gunnar Dykstra, slowed down the high-powered Lyncs attack that was already missing Dawson Hintz’s 20-plus points a game.
But then came the fireworks.
Dykstra and fellow junior Harvest Howell hit back-to-back 3-pointers two minutes into the quarter, Dykstra drove for a three-point play and hit another 3-pointer during a 16-5 LC run, sophomore Traden Ridnour hit his second 3-pointer of the quarter with under a minute to go, and when Howell found Dykstra for a layup with two seconds left in the period, LC suddenly led, 61-43.
“We were getting open 3s (in the first half) but weren’t making them,” said LC coach Tim Zylstra. “At halftime, we just talked about staying the course. The boys executed and that gave us separation.”
Dykstra’s 21 points and four 3-pointers for the game were no big surprise; he had 30 points on Friday with Hintz absent. Eleven of his points and two of his 3s were in the big 30-point third period.
But Ridnour’s two 3s in the third and the reserve guard’s four for the game were not what Nooksack Valley had planned for. Toss in 17 points by rugged senior Boyce Robertson, who battled inside with the taller Pioneers, and you have the recipe for a loss.
“We were ready for Gunnar,” said Heutink, who said he was also happy to hold LC’s all-star forward Kaden Veldman to 12 points. “But Ridnour and Boyce. That’s 29 points. That was the difference.”
In addition to Ridnour’s 12 points, Howell added 7 points, and senior Eli Maberry had 6 points.
“Everybody stepped up,” said Dykstra. “Boyce’s defense and Traden’s 3s really helped. They helped a lot.”
The Pioneers had their usual balanced attack with senior Cole Coppinger’s 11 points leading the way. Seniors Jayden Anderson and Brian Leyerly had 10 points each with Anderson hitting a pair of 3s, senior Owen Wichers had 9 points, and senior Dane Ackerman had 6 points.
The Pioneers will now await Friday’s loser-out game between Meridian and Blaine to see who they’ll play in the consolation final. A victory Saturday would send Nooksack Valley to state for the first time since 2011.
Meanwhile, the Lyncs will take the rest of the week off — in fact, most of next week, too, as they await the seeding for the state regionals, which will determine the opponent, date, and location.
Of course, all that really matters is that they’re back at state, where they’ve placed nine times in the past 10 tournaments, reaching the finals six times including four of the past five years, and won state championships in 2018, ’22, and ’23.
“I watched all my cousins and family do it,” Gunnar said of the Dykstra clan’s well-documented legacy of state success. “But I’d rather play than watch. It’s my time.”
Lynden Christian 76, Nooksack Valley 58
Nooksack Valley 11 15 17 15—58
Lynden Christian 13 18 30 15—76
Nooksack Valley: Coppinger 11, Bauman 2, E. Anderson, L. Anderson 3, J. Anderson 10, Wichers 9, Leyerly 10, Martin 4, Scheenstra 1, Silves 2, Ackerman 6.
Lynden Christian: Dykstra 21, Howell 7, Maberry 6, Kamphouse, Ridnour 12, Robertson 17, Kooiman, Veldman 12, Herwerden 1.
CLASS 1A BOYS DISTRICT 1 TOURNAMENT
Wednesday, Feb. 11
Play-in game
Blaine 60, Mount Baker 43 (loser out)
Friday, Feb. 13
Semifinals
Lynden Christian 66, Blaine 54
Nooksack Valley 65, Meridian 61
Tuesday, Feb. 17
At Lynden High
Championship game
Lynden Christian 76, Nooksack Valley 58 (winner first, to state regionals)
Friday, Feb. 20
At Lynden High
Meridian vs. Blaine, 7:15 p.m. (loser out)
Saturday, Feb. 21
At Lynden High School
Consolation final, 2:50 p.m. (winner second, to state regionals, loser out)
1B Girls: Lady Blackhawks Crush Concrete Again, 71-23
It almost wasn’t fair. After having lost to Lummi Nation in the District 1 championship game, 72-28, just a week ago, Concrete was thrown in the same bracket as the Lady Blackhawks and forced to face them on Tuesday in the District 1/2/3 quarterfinals.
It turned out to be almost a perfect repeat — perfect for Lummi Nation that is — as the Blackhawks jumped out early and left Concrete in the dust, 71-23, to guarantee themselves a top-six tri-district finish and an automatic berth in the state regionals.
That makes the third straight trip to state for Lummi Nation and only the ninth state appearance in the school’s history.
“Three straight trips to state says everything about this group,” said Lummi Nation coach David James, whose team raised its record to 20-2. “I’m proud of these girls. They earned it.”
On Tuesday, the Blackhawks’ defense held the Lions to nine points in the first half in flying out to a 27-point lead.
On offense, it was the youngest Blackhawk who led them. Eighth-grader Jordy Reeder, who wasn’t even alive the last time Lummi Nation earned a state trophy in 2009, had 21 points thanks to hitting four of Lummi’s 11 3-pointers.
The veterans also chipped in. Senior Bri Metteba had 13 points, junior Jemma James had 11 points and three 3-pointers, junior Ailina Rabang had 10 points and two more 3s, and sophomores Laraya Dennis and Celestine James had 10 and 6 points, respectively.
The victory over Concrete, which fell to 18-7, puts sixth-ranked Lummi Nation in the tri-district semifinals against Crosspoint Christian of Bremerton. The Wildcats are 19-4 and ranked ninth.
“Now the focus is on the tri-district championship,” said coach James,. “The semifinal game against Crosspoint will be a great test.”
Lummi Nation 71, Concrete 23
Concrete 4 5 9 5—23
Lummi Nation 19 17 18 17—71
Concrete: Selin 7, Dalton 3, A. Damian 2, Dellinger, J. Damian, Nick 10, Huntley, Law, Morgareidge 1, Martinez.
Lummi Nation: J. James 11, Rabang 10, B. Metteba 13, Reeder 21, Morris, Dennis 10, Lajuan, M. Metteba, C. James 6.
CLASS 1B GIRLS TRI-DISTRICT 1/2/3 TOURNAMENT
Saturday, Feb. 14
Play-in games
Grace Academy 29, Summit Classical Christian 23 (loser out)
Concrete 61, Crescent 29 (loser out)
Evergreen Lutheran 55, Cedar Park Christian (Lynnwood) 12 (loser out)
Lopez Island 39, Quilcene 29 (loser out)
Tuesday, Feb. 17
Quarterfinals
Neah Bay 76, Lopez Island 8
Crosspoint Christian 71, Grace Academy 19
Lummi Nation 71, Concrete 23
Muckleshoot Tribal 56, Evergreen Lutheran 52
Thursday, Feb. 19
Consolation round
Grace Academy vs. Concrete at Marysville-Pilchuck, 4 p.m.
Lopez Island at Evergreen Lutheran
Semifinals
Lummi Nation vs. Crosspoint Christian at Sequim HS, 4 p.m.
Neah Bay vs. Muckleshoot Tribal at Sequim HS, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 21
At Muckleshoot Community Center
Consolation games
(winner seventh to state regionals, loser out)
(winner fifth, loser sixth, both to state regionals)
(winner third, loser fourth, both to state regionals)
Championship game
(winner first, loser second, both to state regionals)
1B Boys: Blackhawks Easily Run Past NW Yeshiva, 81-34
Defending state champion Lummi Nation was off and running with a 19-point first-quarter lead and was never threatened in defeating Northwest Yeshiva of Mercer Island, 81-34. The victory gives the Blackhawks a state berth for the seventh season in a row.
“The boys played great tonight,” said Lummi Nation coach Jerome Toby Jr., whose squad improved to 21-1-1. “We set the tone from the tipoff. On the defensive end, we got after it. The ball was moving on offense. I really liked the energy and effort we had.”
Senior post Chayce Waite-Kellar continued his domination in the paint with 24 points, but it was a special night for senior Jerome Toby Jr.
The Blackhawks point guard, who has started since he was an eighth-grader, scored 22 points and with six minutes remaining in the second quarter, he hit a short floater in the lane to break the school record of 2,156 points previously held by Sarah (Brady) Tom.
Junior Dyson Edwards added 14 points, junior Deandre James had 8 points, junior Landon LaFontaine had 6 points, and senior Isaiah Yrizarris had 5 points.
Next up for the champs is a semifinal matchup with Summit Classical Christian. The Archers are 18-6.
“We’re looking forward to a tough game on Thursday versus a good Summit Classical Christian team,” said coach Toby.
With Tuesday’s loss, Northwest Yeshiva dropped to 16-9 and fell into the consolation bracket.
Lummi Nation 81, Northwest Yeshiva 34
Northwest Yeshiva 5 10 12 7—34
Lummi Nation 24 22 23 12—81
Northwest Yeshiva: Kaufthal 20, Yoav, Weichbrodt 5, Jassen, Sandorffy, Feurer, Goldsmith 4, Turgeman, Negrin, Chernicoff 5, Varon.
Lummi Nation: Toby Jr. 22, LaFontaine 6, Edwards 14, Revey 2, Yrizarris 5, Hawk, Waite-Kellar 24, D. James 8, Toby-Williams, Jones.
CLASS 1B BOYS DISTRICT 1/2/3 TOURNAMENT
Thursday, Feb. 12
Play-in game
Cedar Park Christian (Lynnwood) 51, Crosspoint Christian 45
Saturday, Feb. 14
First round
Evergreen Lutheran 94, Clallam Bay 59 (loser out)
Concordia Christian Academy 71, Shoreline Christian 39 (loser out)
Summit Classical Christian School 84, Cedar Park Christian (Lynnwood) 29 (loser out)
Northwest Yeshiva 71, Darrington 60 (loser out)
Tuesday, Feb. 17
Quarterfinals
Lummi Nation 81, Northwest Yeshiva 34
Tulalip Heritage 90, Evergreen Lutheran 45
Neah Bay 55, Concordia Christian Academy 50
Summit Classical Christian 65 Muckleshoot Tribal 56
Thursday, Feb. 19
Consolation round
Concordia Christian Academy at Evergreen Lutheran
Northwest Yeshiva vs. Muckleshoot Tribal
Semifinals
Lummi Nation vs Summit Classical Christian at Marysville-Pilchuck, 5:30 p.m.
Tulalip Heritage vs. Neah Bay at Marysville-Pilchuck, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 21
At Muckleshoot Community Center
Consolation games
(winner seventh to state regionals, loser out)
(winner fifth, loser sixth, both to state regionals)
(winner third, loser fourth, both to state regionals)
Championship game
(winner first, loser second, both to state regionals)
