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.”