Whatcom Hoops Girls Top 30: #4 Lainey Kimball 

In a season filled with outstanding players, Whatcom Hoops ranked the top 30 girls. Each day we featured an amazing player in our county and counted down until we got to #1. We hope you enjoyed the countdown as we honored the best of the best.

#4

Lainey Kimball, junior, Nooksack Valley

WHY SHE’S #4: No one played with more energy and enthusiasm than Kimball, who was the key to Nooksack Valley’s devastating fullcourt press and the Class 1A state champion’s most tenacious one-on-one defender. But what set her apart was her ability to fire up her teammates and shift the momentum of a game — by turning steals into fastbreak layups and crashing the offensive boards to turn misses into Nooksack baskets. The 5-foot-10 wing averaged 12 points on 58 percent shooting, 5 rebounds, nearly 2 assists, and almost 3 steals a game and was an easy pick for first-team all-Northwest Conference.

COACH SHANE WICHERS: “Lainey was a defensive bulldog for us this year, was the top of our press and caused havoc there. She also was matched up on the best or second-best player on the other team. Aggressive, strong, and fast, Lainey created match-up problems for other teams. She could drive or post up depending who was guarding her. And she was a great teammate.”

Links to the Whatcom Hoops Top 30

#1: Devin Coppinger, Nooksack Valley

#2: Grace Hintz, Lynden Christian

#3: Payton Mills, Lynden

#4: Lainey Kimball, Nooksack Valley

#5: Madi Cooper, Sehome

#6: Maddy Barter, Mount Baker

#7: Avery Neal, Meridian

#8: Demi Dykstra, Lynden Christian

#9: Mari Binning, Squalicum

#10: Hallie Kamphouse, Nooksack Valley

#11: Haylee Koetje, Lynden

#12: Tana Hoekema, Nooksack Valley

#13: Kalanie Newcomb, Lynden

#14: Emmy Hart, Sehome

#15: Ellie Ochoa, Ferndale

#16: Adia Newcomb, Lynden

#17: Jemma James, Lummi Nation

#18: Makayla Heaton, Squalicum

#19: Jordyn Vezzetti, Blaine

#20: Daisy Poag, Lynden Christian

#21: Madisyn Butenschoen, Ferndale

#22: Mallory Butenschoen, Ferndale

#23: Deja Dube, Blaine

#24: Maris Baklund, Meridian 

#25: Aliesha Solomon, Lummi Nation 

#26: Raven Solomon, Lummi Nation

#27: Natalie Brewer, Sehome

#28: Reganne Arnold, Lynden Christian

#29: Ashley Lang, Ferndale

#30: Ellie Wolverton, Bellingham

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Jim Carberry of Whatcom Hoops

Author
Jim Carberry is a former Bellingham Herald sports editor and author of several books on Whatcom County prep basketball. Follow him on Twitter @whatcomhoops and visit the Whatcom Hoops Facebook page.

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