New Hoops Season Brings Back Normalcy (Sort Of)

Meridian's Maris Baklund gives the new season two thumbs up.

After surviving perhaps the most unusual season in Whatcom County hoops history earlier this year, our 22 boys and girls basketball teams are tipping off the new 2021-22 season with high expectations and the hope of returning to some sort of normalcy. Unfortunately, it hasn’t started normally. All the Whatcom County schools delayed their opening … Read more

No.1 LC Girls Lead Whatcom Teams In Final ‘Unofficial’ State Rankings

LC's five seniors were 39-1 the past two years.

With no state playoffs or RPI ratings and no media or coaches polls, it’s hard to know where the best boys and girls basketball teams stood against the rest of the state this past season. So one website did its own final state rankings. And to no one’s surprise, the Lynden Christian girls led our … Read more

Best Of Whatcom Hoops: End-Of-The-Year Awards

Thanks to all the seniors who made 2021 special.

Despite a shortened-season, having to wear masks, limiting the number of fans at games, and missing both injured stars and state playoffs, the 2021 basketball season still had a lot of highlights. So, after covering all 22 Whatcom County boys and girls teams at least once and getting feedback from coaches and fans alike during … Read more

2021 All-Whatcom Hoops: Boys Second Team

Clay Kochuten (left) and Scott Baldwin head up our second team.

Because this COVID-crazy season has taken so much from us — fans, games, state tournaments —  Whatcom Hoops has decided to add something for teams and fans alike: our all-Whatcom Hoops all-star teams … with our own little twist. First of all, these will be all-WHATCOM COUNTY teams, which means the Lummi Nation players will … Read more

2021 All-Whatcom Hoops: Girls Honorable Mentions

Maddie Canales (left) and Ripley Reardon head up our honorable mentions.

Because the Northwest Conference will not have all-league teams for this COVID-crazy season, Whatcom Hoops has decided to unveil its own all-star teams … with a little twist. First of all, these will be all-WHATCOM COUNTY teams, which means the Lummi Nation players will be included but no Skagit or Snohomish County players will be … Read more

Whatcom Hoops: Girls Week 5 Recap (June 7-12)

Bellingham's Adi McKay (12) set the career school record for 3-pointers. (File photo)

And then there was only one week. It wasn’t that long ago when we were wondering if there would be a basketball season, and now we have only six more days left. Except for Lummi Nation, which  is already done with its season (the Blackhawks started a week earlier than the rest of the county), … Read more

Whatcom Hoops: Boys Week 5 Recap (June 7-12)

Senior Jaie Leighton (24) and Lummi Nation end their season on a high note.

The last time the Whatcom County high schools got together for a post-season boys basketball tournament to determine the county champion was 1940 … and, unfortunately, in this crazy and chaotic COVID time, we won’t be having one this year either. BUT … if we did, depending on the format, we might have ended up … Read more

All In The Family: Coach Leads Lummi Nation To Win In Finale

Coach Jerome Toby and his Blackhawks enjoy their final game.

It’s all about family. That’s been the theme for the Lummi Nation boys basketball team for 18 years, and it was the theme Saturday night, June 12, as the Blackhawks wrapped up their 2021 season. Lummi Nation did it in impressive fashion, dominating the second half in a 59-39 victory over Meridian on the Blackhawks’ … Read more

Whatcom Hoops: Boys Week 4 Recap (May 31-June 5)

Squalicum's Reed Richardson (23) hit the biggest shot of the week. (File photo)

In this crazy and chaotic COVID season, it’s no wonder that the Northwest Conference is not declaring an official league champion. The athletic directors decided not to crown a champion and for good reason. Not everybody is competing on a level playing field … or basketball court. The biggest reason is the abbreviated schedule as … Read more

Whatcom Hoops: Girls Week 4 Recap (May 31-June 5)

Bellingham's Alexa Mee scored 31 points for last week's top performance. (File photo)

The good news is that we had our first Whatcom County basketball player honored as a WIAA athlete of the week. It was Kadance Blankers from Meridian for her performance the week of May 24-29 (the WIAA’s Week 15). The junior guard had two good games, averaging 11 points, five rebounds, four assists and one … Read more