Whatcom girls basketball teams continued to roll last week and remain at the top of the Northwest Conference and Northwest 1B League heading into the holiday break.
Lynden, Lynden Christian, Nooksack Valley, and Squalicum each won a pair of NWC games and after three weeks, the Lions, Lyncs, and Pioneers are all unbeaten in league play and the Storm are only one game behind.
For a look back at Week 3 for our Whatcom boys teams, check out Whatcom Hoops Boys Recap.
The most impressive victory, however, might have been Lynden’s shocking 43-point rout over previously undefeated Class 3A Stanwood in a non-league game Saturday.
Meanwhile, Lummi Nation continued its domination of the NW1B, winning a pair of league games by an average of more than 67 points. The Lady Blackhawks also notched a non-league win for a 3-0 week.
Here are the girls highlights from Week 3.
GAME OF THE WEEK (Part 1)
In the first overtime contest of the season, Bellingham trailed most of Monday’s game at Oak Harbor until junior Merritt Jensen’s left-handed shot tied it at 40-all with 16 seconds to force OT. Then senior Mary Lockhart took over. After sophomore Lucy Holland’s free throw with just under two minutes left gave the Bayhawks a one-point lead, Lockhart hit a left-handed hook, a layup, swiped two steals, and then iced the game with a free throw to give Bellingham the 50-46 victory.
GAME OF THE WEEK (Part 2)
The Nooksack Valley girls hadn’t played a game for two weeks due to the flooding, but they made of their return to the court with a thrilling, come-from-behind 64-62 victory over visiting Mount Vernon on Tuesday. After trailing all game by as much as 12 points until Payton Bartl hit a 3-pointer to give them their first lead with 1:10 left, the Pioneers needed another Bartl bucket and free throw in the last 35 seconds to hold off the Bulldogs.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Nooksack Valley’s Grace DeHoog had 26 points and fellow senior Payton Bartl had 19 points in the Pioneers’ big win on Tuesday. … Lynden junior Finley Parcher had 25 points on Monday and 25 more on Saturday, senior Degitu Bowler added 15 point for the Lions on Monday, senior Payton Mills had 16 points on Friday, and junior Lexi Hermanutz had 17 points on Saturday. … Sehome sophomore Taylor Turrell had 23 points on Tuesday. … Lummi Nation junior Jemma James had 23 points on Thursday and 26 more on Friday, eighth-grader Jordan Reeder had 18 points on Tuesday and 20 points on Thursday, senior Brianna Metteba had 16 points on Tuesday and 17 points on Thursday, and senior Ailina Rabang had 16 points on Thursday and and 15 more points on Friday. … Blaine senior Aaliyah Bowman had 23 points on Saturday. … Lexi Robbins had 17 points for Squalicum on Tuesday and fellow juniors Addison Kettman and Colee Harper had 16 points each on Thursday. … Bellingham senior Mary Lockhart had 15 points on Monday and junior Merritt Jensen had 17 points on Thursday. … Lynden Christian sophomore Tyra Dykstra had 17 points on Thursday. … Mount Baker junior Rebeca Soares had 15 points on Friday.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK
LUMMI NATION blasted Shoreline Christian on Tuesday, 73-10, and Lopez Island on Thursday, 91-19, before knocking off La Conner on Friday, 61-36. On Tuesday, the Lady Blackhawks actually trailed, 3-2, until Rabang hit a 3-pointer to start a 21-0 avalanche that propelled Lummi to the easy victory. Eight of nine Blackhawks scored with Reeder’s 18 leading the way followed by Metteba (16 points), Rabang (15), sophomore Celestine James (8), and junior Madelyn Williams (7). On Thursday, the Blackhawks once again jumped out to an early lead, 24-1, and coasted to their highest scoring total going back several years. Jemma James and Reeder both outscored the Lobos with 23 and 20 points, respectively, and James added eight of Lummi Nation’s 26 assists and eight of the Blackhawks’ 35 steals. Reeder also had 9 steals and 5 assists; Metteba had 17 points, 6 steals, and 5 rebounds to go with three 3-pointers; Rabang had 13 points, 7 rebounds, 7 steals, and 6 assists; and Celestine James had 6 points. On Friday, the Blackhawks turned a close game into a big non-league victory by outscoring the Braves, 45-23 over the final three periods. Jemma James had 26 points and four 3-pointers; Rabang had 15 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, and 6 steals; and Celestine James and Reeder had 6 points each with Reeder’s coming on a pair of 3s.
LYNDEN stomped Lakewood on Monday, 79-23; Ferndale on Friday, 65-28; and Stanwood on Saturday, 67-24. On Monday, the Lions had little trouble taming the Cougars, using a 19-1 start and 19-1 finish to win by 56 points. Parcher had her usual efficient and brilliant game with 25 points on 10-of-13 shooting, 11 rebounds, 7 steals, 6 assists, and two 3-pointers; Bowler had 15 points thanks to three 3s; Mills had 10 points; Hermanutz had 9 points; and senior Rian Stephan had 8 points, with Mills, Hermanutz, and Stephan each grabbing 6 rebounds, Mills nabbing 4 steals, and senior Jules Slayton pulling down 4 rebounds. On Friday, the Lions ruined the Golden Eagles’ first home game of the season by limiting them to 16 points through three quarters. Mills led the Lions with 16 points and 9 rebounds; Parcher and Hermanutz each had 14 points and 3 steals with Parcher also collecting 8 rebounds and 4 assists; and Bowler and Stephan adding 6 points each. On Saturday, the Lions stunned Stanwood by scoring 28 points in a row in the first half, eventually getting the running clock going with a 40-point lead, and shooting 62 percent from the field. Parcher had 25 points and 5 rebounds; Hermanutz had 17 points, 5 steals, 4 assists, 4 rebounds, and three 3-pointers; senior Reese Nyhoff hit all three of her shots including two 3s for 8 points; Mills had 5 rebounds; and senior Rilanna Newcomb had 4 assists and 4 steals.
LYNDEN CHRISTIAN defeated Sedro-Woolley on Wednesday, 70-21, and Sehome on Thursday, 51-33. On Thursday, the Lyncs put up 56 points in the first half to lead by 42 and put the game away by holding the Cubs to a season-low point total. Nine of 10 Lyncs scored with Dykstra leading the way with 17 points and three of LC’s 11 3-pointers. Junior Jocelyn Eshuis added 11 points and 5 rebounds; freshman Jessica DeJong had 10 points and 4 rebounds; senior Ella Fritts had 8 points, 6 rebounds, and a pair of 3-pointers; senior Sara Van Loo had 7 points; junior Grace Russell had 6 points on two 3s and 5 steals; and sophomore Maryn Camping had 5 points. On Thursday, the Lyncs used their defense to hand the Mariners their first NWC loss, holding Sehome to it lowest point total of the season. Juniors Ellie Pierce and Eshuis led the balanced attack with 11 points each and Eshuis pulling down 9 rebounds, Fritts had 10 points and 5 assists, Dykstra had 7 points, and DeJong had 6 points and 7 rebounds.
NOOKSACK VALLEY beat Mount Vernon on Tuesday, 64-62, and Sedro-Woolley on Thursday, 52-25.On Tuesday, the Pioneers trailed the whole way before outscoring the Bulldogs, 6-2, in the final 70 second in Nooksack’s NWC opener. DeHoog dominated inside with 26 points, 20 rebounds, and 3 blocks; Bartl had 19 points, eight coming in the fourth-quarter comeback; senior Chayleigh Davis had 7 points; freshman Mikaela Swaffield had 6 points on a pair of 3-pointers; and junior Raegan Burke had 5 rebounds. On Thursday, the Pioneers turned up their defense after the first quarter, holding the Cubs to 12 points in the final three periods and rolling to a 27-point victory. Senior Natalie Van Liew had 13 points and three 3-pointers to lead Nooksack; DeHoog had 12 points, 16 rebounds, and 6 blocks; Bartl added 8 points and 4 rebounds; and Davis dished out 7 assists. For the story and photos from Tuesday’s game, click on Nooksack Valley Girls. (NOTE: The postponed Nooksack Valley at Ferndale game on Dec. 13 has been rescheduled for Feb. 3.)
SQUALICUM defeated Meridian on Tuesday, 44-22, and Lakewood on Thursday, 57-53. On Tuesday, the Storm stormed out to an 11-0 first-quarter lead and never looked back, their defense giving up just 12 points in the first three quarters. Robbins led the way with 17 points, including seven in the deciding first period, hit three 3-pointers and had 5 assists; Harper added 10 points, all in the second half; Addison Kettman had 7 steals; and senior Jolie Paz and freshman Avery Kettman had 5 rebounds each. On Thursday, the Storm were in control with a nine-point halftime lead but had to hold off the clawing Cougars for the NWC win. Addison Kettman and Harper had 16 points each with Kettman grabbing 10 rebounds and Harper pulling down 6, and the two juniors helping stave off Lakewood by hitting all six of their fourth-quarter free throws. Avery Kettman added 10 points; Robbins had 8 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals; and junior Tiana Thompson had 6 rebounds.
BELLINGHAM beat Oak Harbor on Monday in overtime, 50-46, but lost to Anacortes on Thursday, 47-39. On Monday, the Bayhawks bounced back after suffering their first loss last week to tame the Wildcats by outscoring them in overtime, 10-6. Lockhart led the way with 15 points, 7 rebounds, 5 steals, and 3 assists; Lucy Holland had 13 points and 4 rebounds; Jensen had 12 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 steals; and sophomore Elise Holland had 5 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 assists. On Thursday, the second quarter proved to be the difference as the Seahawks outscored Bellingham, 18-9, to get a lead they would not relinquish. Jensen had 17 points and 14 rebounds, and Lockhart had 13 points, 14 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 blocked shots, but no other Bayhawk had more than four points.
MERIDIAN lost to Squalicum on Tuesday, 44-22, but came back to beat Blaine on Friday, 46-18. On Tuesday, the Trojans couldn’t get their offense going again the Storm, managing only a dozen points through the first three periods before outscoring Squalicum in the fourth quarter. Junior Kaitlyn Storgaard had 6 points and was the only Trojan with more than four. On Friday, the Trojans notched their first NWC win by holding the Borderites to 11 points in the final three quarters. Senior Taya Benson led the balanced attack with a dozen points and 10 rebounds, junior Sierra James had 9 points and 7 rebounds, sophomore Madyn Cline-Malarz had 8 points, and junior Maddy Swanson had 7 points. For the story and photos from Friday’s game, click on Meridian Girls.
MOUNT BAKER lost to Sehome on Tuesday, 44-33, but beat Burlington-Edison on Friday, 47-30. On Tuesday, the Mounties couldn’t get much going offensively, scoring only 12 points in the first half, and were never able to make up the deficit. Senior Reace Brown led Mount Baker with 9 points, but all-league post Rebeca Soares was held to 6 points, nearly 17 points below her average. Sophomore Kayln Abitia also had 6 points on a pair of 3-pointers. On Friday, the Mounties beat the long-time NWC power by starting and finishing strong, outscoring the Tigers in the first and fourth quarters by a combined 26-7 score. Soares had 15 points and 17 rebounds, junior Violet Fox had 10 points, 9 rebounds, 6 steals, and 4 assists, and Brown and sophomore Aurora George had 8 points each.
SEHOME topped Mount Baker on Tuesday, 44-33, but fell to visiting Lynden Christian on Thursday, 51-33. On Tuesday, the Mariners’ offense started slow with only six first-quarter points but their defense was ready from the tipoff, holding the Mounties to a season-low point total and snapping Mount Baker’s three-game winning streak. Turrell had a career-high 23 points, and junior Kate Schroeder and senior Aspen Barge had 8 points each with Barge’s defense a big reason Baker standout Rebeca Soares was held to one field goal. On Thursday, the Mariners couldn’t get their offense going, especially in the second half when they only managed 13 points, and lost for the first time in league play. Schroeder had 12 points and three 3-pointers, and junior Sadie Gustafson had 8 points and two 3s, but no other Mariner had more than four points.
FERNDALE had Wednesday’s game at Oak Harbor postponed because of road conditions and power outages on Whidbey Island but finally had a game on Friday, only to lose to Lynden, 65-28. The Golden Eagles struggled to score against the defending 2A state champs, managing only a combined six points in the first and third quarters. Senior Abbey White had 7 points, junior Brooklyn Larrabee had 6 points, senior Kayla Washington and junior Kenzie Dawson had 5 points each with Washington pulling down a team-high 6 rebounds, and senior Jillea Fox had 3 blocks. (NOTE: The postponed Nooksack Valley at Ferndale game on Dec. 13 has been rescheduled for Feb. 3.)
BLAINE was ahead in both home games but couldn’t hold on, losing to Meridian on Friday, 46-18, and to Cascade (Everett) on Saturday, 42-37. On Friday, the Borderites scored six of the first eight points but could only score 12 the rest of the game in producing their lowest point total of the season. Bowman had 12 points and junior Kate Koreski had 5 points with each of them recording 4 rebounds and 3 steals, but only three Borderites managed to score against the Trojans. On Saturday, Blaine outscored the Bruins, 16-6, in the third quarter to build up an 11-point lead but gave up 24 points in the final period to lose the non-league contest. Bowman had 23 points and 18 rebounds, Koreski had 7 points and 7 rebounds, and senior Mesa Puls had 9 rebounds. For the story and photos from Friday’s game, click on Blaine Girls.
NOTE: A big thank you to the coaches and Tyler Anderson of WhatcomPreps.com for providing statistics.
WEEK 4
TOP GAMES
With only two games scheduled this week, you have your choice of staying in Whatcom County and watching Bellingham host visiting Edmonds-Woodway or heading south to watch Lynden Christian face Class 4A power Arlington. Both non-league games are on Monday.
SCHEDULE
Monday, Dec. 22: Edmonds-Woodway at Bellingham, Lynden Christian at Arlington
NORTHWEST CONFERENCE
| League | Overall | |||
| W | L | W | L | |
| Lynden | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Lynden Christian | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Nooksack Valley | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Mount Baker | 3 | 1 | 5 | 2 |
| Sehome | 3 | 1 | 5 | 2 |
| Squalicum | 3 | 1 | 5 | 2 |
| Bellingham | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| Ferndale | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Anacortes | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Lakewood | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Meridian | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Mount Vernon | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Sedro-Woolley | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Burlington-Edison | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Blaine | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 |
| Oak Harbor | 0 | 4 | 1 | 5 |
NORTHWEST 1B LEAGUE
| League | Overall | |||
| W | L | W | L | |
| Lummi Nation | 4 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| Grace Academy | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| Lopez Island | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Tulalip Heritage | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Cedar Park Christian (Lynnwood) | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Providence Classical Christian | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Shoreline Christian | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 |
