The Nooksack Valley and Meridian girls basketball teams took another step closer to qualifying for state with blowout victories Wednesday night, Feb. 19.
The Pioneers unleashed a barrage of 3-pointers to overwhelm visiting Cedar Park Christian (Bothell), 75-32, and Meridian dominated host Bush School, 65-27, in Class 1A Bi-District 1/2 consolation action.
Wednesday, however, was not as good for the Squalicum boys, who lost to Meadowdale in overtime, 69-55, and were eliminated from the Class 3A District 1 tournament.
The Nooksack Valley and Meridian girls will both hit the road for consolation games Thursday at 7 p.m. with the winners advancing to the regional round of the state tournament.
Meridian is at King’s for the second time in the playoffs, while Nooksack Valley travels to Redmond to take on Overlake.
1A Girls: Pioneers Demolish Cedar Park Christian (Bothell)
No.12 Nooksack Valley (19-6) had control during the first half, but the Pioneers crushed No.15 Cedar Park Christian (18-8) in the second half, outscoring the Eagles, 41-10.
Freshman guard Hallie Kamphouse was the main crusher, hitting five 3-pointers on the way to a game-high 21 points.
But almost all the Pioneers got in on the demolition as eight of nine scored, and six of them hit 3-pointers as Nooksack Valley was 10 of 17 from beyond the arc.
Senior guard Kora Larsen and junior guard Maya Galley had 10 points each, junior forward Jenna Compton and sophomore guard Tehya Moore had 9 each, and sophomore guard Ellie Van Berkum came off the bench to add 7 points.
“We shot the ball very well in the second half,” said Nooksack Valley coach Shane Wichers. “We also did a great job in the second half limiting Cedar Park Christian from getting easy shots.”
The Pioneers are now one victory away from returning to the state tournament after a one-year absence. A win over No.19 Overlake (14-8) on Thursday would secure a berth in regionals.
Should they lose Thursday, the Pioneers would have one last chance in a winner-to-state, loser-out consolation final on Saturday.
Nooksack Valley 75, Cedar Park Christian (Bothell) 32
Cedar Park Christian (Bothell) 13 9 8 2—32
Nooksack Valley 18 16 27 14—75
Cedar Park Christian (Bothell): Trinity Michel 2, Reagan Hicks, Skye Bonner, Abby Perrigoue 2, Megan Perrigoue 5, Olivia Decker 4, Irena Korolenko 12, Tia Johnson, Mikaehla Brown 5, Marianna Brown 2.
Nooksack Valley: Kora Larsen 10, Tehya Moore 9, Maya Galley 10, McKenna Wichers 5, Hallie Kamphouse 21, Ellie Van Berkum 7, Renae Hoekema 4, Jenna Compton 9, Taylor Lentz.
1A Girls: Trojans Give Bush School A Beating
No.20 Meridian (13-13) held No.36 Bush School (11-11) to just 19 points through the first three quarters and blew the game open with a 23-point third quarter as the Trojans made their trip to Seattle worth it.
Enjoying the big city the most was one of the smallest Trojans, 5-foot-5 freshman guard Maris Baklund, who had a team-high 15 points, including three 3-pointers. But she wasn’t the only youngster who had a good time Wednesday.
Sophomore guard Finnley Claeys added 12 points and a pair of 3-pointers, and sophomore guard Ellie DeWaard added 11 points and another 3-pointer.
“We had great balance,” said Meridian coach Mark Gilmore after seeing 11 of his 12 players score 3 or more points. “It was a good team effort.”
Thursday’s game against No.6 King’s (17-6) will be the third time the teams have met this season. The Knights won on a 3-pointer at the buzzer in the Cloud 9 Christmas tournament, and beat the Trojans, 42-36, in the district tournament.
“We need to attack gaps, make passes, and shoot well,” said Gilmore. “They are playing well.”
Meridian 65, Bush 27
Meridian 10 14 23 18—65
Bush 5 2 4 16—27
Meridian: Madeline Bowler 3, Kayla Aalpoel 4, Maris Baklund 15, Brynn Neal 3, Finnley Claeys 12, Amanda Schleimer 5, Emilee Swanson, Kandance Blankers 3, Avery Neal 3, Ellie DeWaard 11, Skyleigh James 6.
Bush: Lili Firth 6, Cherlyn Ferguson, Sigrid Fredlund 2, Anne Fitzgerald, Eva Supane 8, Sosna Biniam 2, Angali Berryman, Aniyah Grant 9.
CLASS 1A BI-DISTRICT 1/2
Monday, Feb. 17
Meridian 57, University Prep 25 (loser out)
Cedar Park Christian (Bothell) 60, Bear Creek 48 (loser out)
Wednesday, Feb. 19
Meridian 65, Bush 27 (loser out)
Nooksack Valley 75, Cedar Park Christian (Bothell) 32 (loser out)
Thursday, Feb. 20
Meridian at King’s, 7 p.m. (winner to regionals)
Nooksack Valley winner at Overlake, 7 p.m. (winner to regionals)
Friday, Feb. 21
Lynden Christian vs. Seattle Academy at Shorewood HS, 5 p.m. (winner first, loser second, both to regionals)
Saturday, Feb. 22
Consolation final at Shorewood HS, 5 p.m. (winner fifth, to regionals; loser out)
3A Boys: Storm Come Up Short In Overtime
No.29 Squalicum couldn’t hit the last shot in regulation, and then watched Meadowdale hit almost all its shots in overtime as the Storm fell to No.25 Meadowdale (11-10).
“We fought hard,” said Squalicum coach Dave Dickson, whose team finished the season with an 11-12 record. “Unfortunately, they hit shots in OT, and we didn’t.”
Down seven going into the fourth quarter, the Storm rallied behind sophomore Clayton Bell. The 5-foot-10 guard hit three 3-pointers and had 11 of his team-high 17 points in the final period as Squalicum sent the game into overtime.
But in the extra period, the Storm only managed a pair of free throws and senior forward Lincoln Hofer’s 3-pointer while the Mavericks scored 19 points by hitting a pair of 3-pointers and 13 of 14 free throws.
Senior guard Devante Powell ended his outstanding Storm career with 10 points, including six in the fourth-quarter comeback, and Hofer added 9 points.
Dickson praised his senior class: “We will greatly miss our four seniors: Dedrick Mitchell’s leadership at the point, Devante Powell’s extraordinary effort at both ends of the floor, Lincoln Hofer’s competitive nature, and Elliott Aslan’s toughness and positive character.”
Meadowdale 69, Squalicum 55
Squalicum 8 10 12 20 5—55
Meadowdale 8 9 20 13 19—69
Squalicum: Leland Zender 5, Elliott Aslan, Clayton Bell 17, Reed Richardson, Dedrick Mitchell 6, Devante Powell 10, Aiden Aune, Djouvensky Schlenbaker 8, Lincoln Hofer 9.
Meadowdale: Hopkins, J. Jackson 4, Moen 15, Vaughn 9, Z. White, Nelson 24, McKinley, Bagvian 17.
CLASS 3A DISTRICT 1
Thursday, Feb. 13
Arlington 63, Ferndale 61 (loser out)
Squalicum 63, Shorewood 51 (loser out)
Saturday, Feb. 15
Shorecrest 65, Marysville-Getchell 61
Stanwood 63, Arlington 61
Edmonds-Woodway 69, Meadowdale 45
Marysville-Pilchuck 63, Squalicum 46
Wednesday, Feb. 19
Meadowdale 69, Squalicum 55 OT (loser out)
Marysville-Getchell 77, Arlington 70 (loser out)
Shorecrest 68, Stanwood 58
Marysville-Pilchuck 59, Edmonds-Woodway 56
Friday, Feb. 21
Edmonds-Woodway vs. Marysville-Getchell at Jackson HS, 6 p.m. (loser out)
Stanwood vs. Meadowdale winner at Jackson HS, 7:30 p.m. (loser out)
Saturday, Feb. 22
Consolation final at Everett CC, 4:15 p.m. (winner third, to regionals; loser out)
Shorecrest vs. Marysville-Pilchuck at Everett CC, 8 p.m. (winner first, loser second, both to regionals)
(Top three advance to state regionals)
