Whatcom Hoops Girls Top 30: #2 Payton Mills

In an incredible season filled with outstanding players, Whatcom Hoops is ranking the top 30 girls. Each day we’ll feature an amazing player in our county and count down until we get to #1. So join us daily as we honor the best of the best.

Payton Mills, junior, Lynden

WHY SHE’S #2: No one is more of a matchup problem perhaps in the state than the 6-foot-2 forward. She can post up anyone smaller, outrebound and finish against anyone her size, and hit a 3-pointer in the face of anyone who tries to guard her outside. Her numbers would be staggering if she wasn’t on a team of all-star players, but they were impressive enough — 15 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1.5 steals a game. What made her one of the best in the state was her ability to ignore the pressure and rise to the occasion as shown by her being named to the Class 2A state tournament first team for the second year in a row. After helping the Lions win back-to-back state titles, she also was named to the SB Live 2A all-state second team and all-Northwest Conference first team.

COACH ROB ADAMS: “She is tremendously consistent and has the ability to hurt you at all three levels — in the paint, mid-range, and 3-point line.”

NOTE: Thank you to Tyler Anderson and WhatcomPreps.com for season stats.

Links to previous Whatcom Hoops Top 30

#3: Rebeca Soares, Mount Baker

#4: Ella Fritts, Lynden Christian

#5: Allison Shumate, Lynden Christian

#6: Grace DeHoog, Nooksack Valley

#7: Jillea Fox, Ferndale

#8: Jemma James, Lummi Nation

#9: Brooklyn Fuller, Meridian

#10: Danya Dykstra, Lynden Christian

#11: Ailina Rabang, Lummi Nation

#12: Lexi Hermanutz, Lynden

#13: Taylor Turrell, Sehome

#14: Lexi Robbins, Squalicum

#15: Kiki York, Lynden

#16: Kate Shintaffer, Nooksack Valley

#17: Tiana Thompson, Squalicum

#18: Kate Schroeder, Sehome

#19: Payton Bartl, Nooksack Valley

#20: Brooklyn Larrabee, Ferndale

#21: Kayla Washington, Ferndale

#22: Melania Short, Meridian

#23: Rian Stephan, Lynden

#24: Abbey White, Ferndale

#25: Maddy Swanson, Meridian

#26 Merritt Jensen, Bellingham

#27: Chayleigh Davis, Nooksack Valley

#28: Loretta Murphy-Kangas, Squalicum

#29: Brie Smith, Blaine

#30: Addison Kettman, Squalicum

Honorable mentions

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