Of the four basketball tournaments taking place in the Yakima SunDome this week, three of them will have obvious favorites or at least co-favorites. Then there’s the 2A girls state tournament, where almost any team could get hot and win the whole thing. “It is literally wide open,” said Lynden coach Rob Adams, whose Lions … Read more
For the Lynden girls basketball team, the sum is greater than the parts. But that doesn’t sound cool. How about… “Tougher together!” That’s what the undersized but overly determined Lions are as they begin their quest for a second Class 2A state championship in three years starting with Thursday’s quarterfinals in the Yakima SunDome. “Tougher … Read more
One of the great things about coming to state tournaments is watching teams from other parts of the state, teams you might never have seen before. So, barring upsets, guess who the Lynden Christian boys basketball team would end up playing in the Class 1A state tournament: King’s, Seattle Academy and LaCenter, teams they’ve already … Read more
One is the best team. The other has the best player. And that’s why LaSalle and Cashmere will be the co-favorites when the Class 1A girls basketball tournament tips off Wednesday at Yakima’s SunDome. The top-ranked and undefeated Lightning of LaSalle return all their top players from last year’s third-place squad and have mowed down … Read more
When the Lynden Christian boys basketball team runs out on the court Thursday for its first game at the Class 1A state tournament, the rest of the SunDome crowd will see the numbers: No.1 ranked, 24-0 record, #22 — the Lyncs’ all-state guard Cole Bajema. But LC coach Roger DeBoer will see a group of … Read more
Maybe it’s time to stop painting the Meridian girls basketball team as the underdogs and remind any doubters that despite the seventh-seed, the Trojans are already in the Class 1A state tournament quarterfinals. And if they keep playing as they have been in their late-season run, then they are looking at bringing home some hardware … Read more
Whenever a Lynden Christian girls basketball team comes to the Class 1A state tournament — which is pretty much every year — it’s easy to focus on the program’s great history: the championships, the trophies, the all-star players. But when the latest version of the Lyncs opens play in Yakima’s SunDome on Thursday, it will … Read more
When it comes to Class 1B boys basketball in Washington state, one team has dominated the state tournament the past two decades … and once again Sunnyside Christian is the favorite to win it all this year. “Their tradition speaks for itself,” said Lummi Nation coach Jerome Toby, whose Blackhawks will be one of 11 … Read more
With his young team coming off a difficult loss, it might be tempting for Lummi Nation boys basketball coach Jerome Toby to reevaluate everything as the Blackhawks prepare for their biggest game of the season. Then again, why mess with what’s worked all year? “We’ve been successful with the way we’ve been playing,” said Toby … Read more
It’s state tournament time! The Class 1B, 1A and 2A state tournaments tip off Wednesday, and Whatcom County will be represented by three boys teams and three girls teams. The Lummi Nation boys will start things off Wednesday at 3:45 p.m. in the Spokane Arena, while the other five begin play Thursday in Yakima’s SunDome. … Read more