It’s no big surprise that after winning three state championships and five state trophies, Whatcom boys and girls dominated the all-Northwest Conference all-star teams announced by the league’s head coaches.
It’s also no surprise that after going unbeaten and largely untested in league play, the Lummi Nation boys and girls dominated their Northwest 1B League all-star squads.
Here’s a look at both leagues:
Northwest Conference
On the girls side, Devin Coppinger of Class 1A state champion Nooksack Valley was named the conference player of the year for the third year in a row, Brady Bomber of Lynden Christian was picked as the head coach of the year, and Chris Scrimsher of Meridian was chosen as the assistant coach of the year.
Be sure to check out Whatcom Hoops on Thursday for a preview of Friday night’s John Clark Whatcom County Seniors Classic featuring the top seniors in boys and girls all-star games at Lynden High.
Joining Coppinger on the first team was teammate senior Lainey Kimball. Nooksack Valley senior Tana Hoekema was named to the second team.
Class 2A state champion Lynden had two players on the first team — sophomore Payton Mills and freshman Finley Parcher. Senior Mallary Villars of the Lions was named to the second team.
Other Whatcom girls named to the first team were sophomore Ella Fritts of Lynden Christian, senior Madi Cooper of Sehome, and senior Mari Binning of Squalicum.
Named to the second team were seniors Tabby DeJong of Lynden Christian, Jordyn Vezzetti of Blaine, Mallory Butenschoen of Ferndale, and Emmy Hart of Sehome, and junior Brooklyn Fuller of Meridian.
Also named to the first team were junior Chesah Holmes of Burlington-Edison, sophomore Suki Warden of Oak Harbor, and senior Malia Garcia of Mount Vernon. Also named to the second team were junior Claire Bishop of Burlington-Edison, junior Mikiah Dunham of Anacortes, and freshman Reagan Evans of Sedro-Woolley.
On the boys side, Brett Farrar of Mount Vernon was named the head coach of the year, junior Davis Fogle of Anacortes and senior Quinn Swanson of Mount Vernon were chosen co-players of the year, and Brian Sipma of Lynden Christian was the assistant coach of the year.
Making the first team from 2A state champion Lynden were senior Anthony Canales and junior Brant Heppner. Senior Brady Elsner of the Lions was named to the second team.
Also named to the first team from Whatcom County were seniors Dawson Bouma and Jeremiah Wright and junior Gannon Dykstra of Lynden Christian; senior Wyatt Stephan of Bellingham; and junior Talon Jenkins of Meridian.
Earning second-team honors were sophomore Nolan Wright of Sehome, junior Marcus Nixon of Squalicum, and junior Jaeger Fyfe of Meridian.
Also named to the first team was sophomore Caleb Greenland of Lakewood. On the second team were juniors Michael Johnson and Xavier Neyens of Mount Vernon, sophomore Micah Dickinson of Anacortes, senior Rex Wilson of Burlington-Edison, sophomore Ethan DeJong of Sedro-Woolley, and junior Evan Stacey of Lakewood.
Northwest 1B League
The Lummi Nation boys were honored with several of the top awards while the Lady Blackhawks had four players selected for the all-league teams, which were chosen by the coaches.
On the boys side, Jerome Toby Sr. was named co-coach of the year along with Michael Worley of Providence Classical Christian, and sophomore Jerome Toby Jr. was named co-player of the year along with senior Jaden Colver of Shoreline Christian. Lopez Island was given the team sportsmanship award.
Three other Blackhawks were honored — senior Desmond Bailey on the first team, senior Mathias Johnson on the second team, and junior Tony Abrams was an honorable mention choice.
Also on the first team were freshman Judah MacGillivray of Providence Classical Christian; and freshman Jaylan “JJ” Gray of Tulalip Heritage. On the second team were senior Pearce Hess of Grace Academy; junior Ethan Patrick of Lopez Island; juniors Alex Bravo-Jump and David Knudsen of Providence Classical Christian; and senior Ponciano “Chano” Guzman of Tulalip Heritage. Sophomore Ryker Steward was an honorable mention pick.
On the girls side, Lummi Nation freshman Jemma James and senior Serena Jo Pantalia were named to the first team, and seniors Zeta Landsem and Keyonee Morris of the Lady Blackhawks were named to the second team.
Senior Candice Mugo-Wainaina of Grace Academy was named the player of the year, and Elizabeth Callaghan of Grace Academy was named the coach of the year. Grace Academy also was given the team sportsmanship award.
All-state tournament teams
In case you missed it, here are the all-tournament teams from the Class 2A, 1A, and 1B state tourneys last week. (Note: The WIAA does not sanction all-tournament teams, but the media and tournament staff sometimes vote on it.)
BOYS
Class 2A: First team—Anthony Canales, Lynden (MVP); Marcelino Armendariz, Grandview; Jalen Davis, Bremerton; Cade Orness, North Kitsap; and Brant Heppner, Lynden. Second team—Dennis Johnson, Renton; Koby McClure, Prosser; Davis Fogle, Anacortes; Cameron Draculan, Grandview; Kory McClure, Prosser; and Rich Showki, Sammamish.
Class 1A: First team—Nic Navarre, Zillah (MVP); Jeremiah Wright, Lynden Christian; Kaiden Wilson, Seton Catholic; Tanner Goldsmith, Freeman; Amare Breedlove, Annie Wright; and Dekker Van DeGraaf, Zillah. Second team—Martin Kaupanger, Annie Wright; Alex McLeery-Brown, Seattle Academy; Gannon Dykstra, Lynden Christian, Reggie Lester, Annie Wright; and Daniel Schneider, Riverside.
Class 1B: First team—Grant Denison III, Wellpinit (MVP); Collin Delaney, Columbia Adventist; Spencer Green, DeSales; Johnny Ferguson, Moses Lake Christian-Covenant Christian; Tyler Swan, Neah Bay; and Zack Munoz, Mossyrock.
GIRLS
Class 2A: First team is Payton Mills, Lynden (MVP); Jamison Philip, Ellensburg; Julia Dalan, W.F. West; Deidra Phillips, Prosser; and Ella Leavitt, Clarkston. Second team— Finley Parcher, Lynden; Lay’lee Dixon, Prosser; Layne Rogel, Ellensburg; Kendall Wallace, Clarkston; and Vivian Kingston, White River.
Class 1A: First team is Devin Coppinger, Nooksack Valley (MVP); Grace Hintz, Lynden Christian; Ashlan Bryant, Deer Park; Trin Wheeler, Wapato; and Kaleo Anderson, King’s. Second team—Tana Hoekema, Nooksack Valley; Brianna Talley, Cashmere; Kobe Johnson, Wapato; Avery Haff, Lakeside; Brooklyn Coe, Deer Park; and Rylee Darnold, Lakeside.
Class 1B: First team—Allie Heino, Mount Vernon (MVP); Taylor Andringa, Sunnyside Christian; Brystal Nelson, Wilbur-Creston-Keller; Delainey Nelson, Waterville-Mansfield; Ezrah Ray, Neah Bay; and Amber Swan, Neah Bay.
