With a new name and a new class of exciting boys and girls basketball players, the annual John Clark Whatcom County Senior Classic will be held on Friday, March 8, in Lynden High School’s Jake Maberry Gymnasium.
The girls events begin at 6 p.m. with a 3-point contest followed by the girls game. Then around 7:30 p.m., the boys will have their 3-point contest and a dunk contest with their game following.
Not only will you get to see some of the best players in the state — as proven in Yakima last weekend — but you’ll be able to see these seniors have fun playing with teammates for the last time and on the same team with some of their season-long rivals.
Proceeds from the event will benefit Open Hands, a non-profit helping to fight hunger in elementary-age children in Whatcom County by providing weekend meals during the school year.
Be watching Whatcom Hoops as we begin our countdown of this season’s top 30 boys and girls players next week.
The event was renamed to honor John Clark, who led Lynden to its first state championship as a senior in 1961.
He would go on to coach the Mount Baker and Lynden boys and be elected to the Washington State Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame. He coached the Mounties for 11 season, guiding them to second in state in 1974, and coached nine years at Lynden, leading the Lions to state titles in 1991 and ’92 and a runner-up finish in 1986.
On Friday night, our state championship teams will be well represented.
On the boys side, five members of Lynden’s Class 2A state title club will be on the County Team. They will be joined by four players from Lynden Christian, which placed third in the 1A state tournament, as well as two players from Nooksack Valley.
The boys City Team will have three players from Ferndale, two each from Sehome and Meridian, and one each from Bellingham, Blaine, Mount Baker, and Lummi Nation.
On the girls side, all four seniors on Nooksack Valley’s Class 1A state championship squad and two from Lynden’s 2A state title squad team will be on the County Team. Joining them will be two Blaine Borderites, and one player each from Lynden Christian, Meridian, and Mount Baker.
Ferndale, Sehome and Squalicum will have three players each on the girls City Team, and Lummi Nation will have two players.
Players from Bellingham, Lynden, and Meridian also were selected but unable to participate.
Ticket prices are $6 for adults and $3 for students and children. ASB cards will not be accepted.
Girls
CITY TEAM
Mallory Butenschoen (Ferndale)
Maleah Singson (Ferndale)
Naomi Stanley (Ferndale)
Serena Jo Pantalia (Lummi Nation)
Zeta Landsem (Lummi Nation)
Natalie Brewer (Sehome)
Madi Cooper (Sehome)
Emmy Hart (Sehome)
Mari Binning (Squalicum)
Makayla Heaton (Squalicum)
Caitlyn Richardson (Squalicum)
COUNTY TEAM
Deja Dube (Blaine)
Jordyn Vezzetti (Blaine)
Mya VanderYacht (Lynden)
Mallary Villars (Lynden)
Tabby DeJong (Lynden Christian)
Malia McCauley (Meridian)
Jenna Wineinger (Mount Baker)
Kaylee Anderson (Nooksack Valley)
Devin Coppinger (Nooksack Valley)
Tana Hoekema (Nooksack Valley)
Lainey Kimball (Nooksack Valley)
Selected but unable to participate: Haylee Koetje (Lynden), Kalanie Newcomb (Lynden), Allie Richter (Meridian), Savannah Storgaard (Meridian)
Boys
CITY TEAM
Jesse Harward (Bellingham)
Noah Tavis (Blaine)
Bhavnoor Grewal (Ferndale)
Bishop Ootsey (Ferndale)
Kevin Woods (Ferndale)
Desmond Bailey (Lummi Nation)
Taran Burks (Meridian)
Christian Clawson (Meridian)
Braeden Scott (Mount Baker)
Braddock Duckworth (Sehome)
Austin McKay (Sehome)
COUNTY TEAM
Charlie Ayres (Lynden)
Anthony Canales (Lynden)
Brady Elsner (Lynden)
Ty Holleman (Lynden)
Weston Van Dalen (Lynden)
Treven Blair (Lynden Christian)
Dawson Bouma (Lynden Christian)
Kayden Stuit (Lynden Christian)
Jeremiah Wright (Lynden Christian)
Joey Brown (Nooksack Valley)
Wayne Silves (Nooksack Valley)
Selected but unable to participate: Wyatt Stephan (Bellingham), Elias Togagae (Bellingham)
