After watching eight teams play 20 games over four days in two venues — all on about 12 hours of sleep — let me reflect on the 2025 state basketball tournaments.
Although there was a ton of emotions, the word I heard used most was “proud.”
Every coach, regardless if they won a state title or got knocked out in the first round, said they were proud of their players and the effort they gave.
Almost every player interviewed, whether holding back tears of disappointment or grinning the victor’s smile, mentioned how proud they were to play with their teammates.
Even now, days later, social media is being flooded by families and fans saying how proud they are of their teams, bands, cheerleaders, and schools.
And that is wonderful to see. Because having lived in Whatcom County for 47 years, I’ve never seen expectations for our basketball teams higher than they are now.
That’s what happens when you win multiple state championships five of the six previous tournaments, including three state titles three of those years.
So at the beginning of the season, knowing that many talented players had graduated, I was concerned that we would be expecting too much from this year’s state teams. It certainly appeared a “down” year was in store.
As Lynden coach Brian Roper, already a Hall of Famer with seven state titles to his credit, said even before state, “It has to end sometime.”
Well, it didn’t, thanks to the Lynden girls and the Lummi Nation boys, who claimed Class 2A and 1B state crowns, respectively, on Saturday night.
And those two teams need to be celebrated.
The Lynden girls showed they were one of the best teams in the state regardless of classification by dominating every team they played all year, even undefeated Ellensburg in the championship game.
With all-staters Finley Parcher and Payton Mills heading the best all-around starting five maybe in the state and the “Electric Company” providing the energy off the bench, the Lions’ closest game all season was 16 points. They went 28-0 and will go down as one of the best and maybe the best girls teams in Whatcom history … and that’s saying a lot.
And the Lummi Nation boys, who are the most fun team in the county to watch that you haven’t seen, brought home their second state title by upsetting the No.1-ranked team in the most exciting state final.
A year after going to Spokane as favorites and finishing a disappointing sixth, the Blackhawks, with three sophomore starters, won close games in the semifinals and finals. Tournament MVP Jerome Toby, all of 5-foot-9 and unlimited energy, led the way but this was truly a team effort all season long.
But a case can be made, that the other six teams that didn’t win state titles also deserve to be celebrated. In no particular order, here are the other Elite Eight:
The Trojans are happy with a fourth-place finish.
MERIDIAN BOYS
The Trojans had to win three loser-out games to earn their fourth-place trophy, and their only losses in the playoffs were to the top three ranked Class 1A teams in the state. All-stars Talon Jenkins and Jaeger Fyfe deservedly got most of the attention, but no team hustled harder from player 1 to 12 than the Trojans.
And as I’ve pointed out to too many Lynden and LC fans, winning state every year is not normal and shouldn’t be expected. That’s why winning the fourth state trophy in school history will be celebrated by all Meridian fans.
Senior Kate Shintaffer and the Pioneers gave their all.
NOOKSACK VALLEY GIRLS
No team in Yakima had to live up to a higher standard than the Pioneers, who with all-everything Devin Coppinger and all-stars galore, won the past two 1A state championships. But with only senior Kate Shintaffer and three key reserves returning, the Pioneers were never going to reach that standard. No team could.
Still, using Shintaffer as its role model, this became a feisty crew that left it all on the court. Even though they failed to earn a trophy for the fourth straight year, they didn’t fail to make the purple-clad Valley fans proud of another trip to Yakima.
LC senior Gannon Dykstra was always at the center of the action.
LYNDEN CHRISTIAN BOYS
The Lyncs were another team with big question marks at the beginning of the season. They had to replace four starters but behind senior Gannon Dykstra, who became one of the state’s elite guards, Lynden Christian reached the 1A state final.
And while the Lyncs couldn’t beat an Annie Wright team that many crowned the best team in the state in any classification, the young Lyncs proved that if any team could have beaten the Gators, it was them. Not bad considering they started three sophomores most of the season.
Even in defeat, the Lyncs seniors were inspiring.
LYNDEN CHRISTIAN GIRLS
No program has a higher standard of winning perhaps in the state than the Lady Lyncs, who have won championships every decade since the 1970s and have dominated the 1A tournament to the tune of 14 state titles and 38 trophies in 39 state appearances, only failing to make it to state one time.
While it was the tournament’s heart-breaking moment for LC fans when the Lyncs lost in the semifinals on a last-second 3-pointer, the way coach Brady Bomber and especially seniors Danya Dykstra and Allison Shumate handled the disappointment was inspiring. They deserved the joy of winning the third-place game the next day.
Junior Ailina Rabang and the Lady Blackhawks were fun to watch. (Photo courtesy of Ray Morris)
LUMMI NATION GIRLS
No group showed its emotions more than the Lady Blackhawks, who loved to smile, laugh, and cheer whether on the court or on the bench. It fit their personalities that they also were fun to watch with their run-and-gun offense and pressing defense led by all-stars Jemma James and Ailina Rabang.
After not going to Spokane for nine years the Lummi girls have now reached state three times in the past five tournaments, including the past two. With no seniors among their top six players, the hope is that they will not only make it to Spokane again next year but bring home their first trophy since 2009.
Lynden senior Brant Heppner fires up the Lions.
LYNDEN BOYS
I understand how the green and gold can be disappointed not bringing home a trophy after being undefeated and ranked No.1 most of the season. I understand, but I don’t agree. Despite the two upset losses in Yakima, this might have been Brian Roper and his staff’s best coaching job in his 20 years at Lynden.
He had one returning starter and one injured starter from last year’s state championship team and basically added last year’s JV team. Yet this team might have exceeded expectations more than any of our other 21 Whatcom teams.
With Brant Heppner’s brilliance on the court and leadership off the court and Jack Stapleton’s inspirational play through pain, the Lions continued their winning legacy.
So that wraps up another incredible week of state performances by our Whatcom teams. As we remember all the highs and lows — mostly highs — let me leave you with these thoughtful words from 17-year-old philosopher Kiki York.
When asked what she would tell her younger teammates after winning state for the second straight year, the Lynden senior said simply:
“Enjoy it while it lasts.”
Thanks, Kiki, and all the teams, coaches, and schools who made us all proud.
Lynden senior Kiki York enjoying her moment. (Photo courtesy of York family)
