Whatcom Hoops: Girls Week 3 Recap (Dec. 16-21)

Unbeaten Lynden joined by Ferndale, LC, Meridian, and Sehome atop NWC standings.

GAME OF THE WEEK: Ferndale came back from a 10-point halftime deficit to defeat Nooksack Valley on Tuesday, 72-59. Kaelee Bungard led four Golden Eagles in double figures with 17 points.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Riley Dykstra had 22 points in Lynden Christian’s big showdown victory over Burlington-Edison. … Aspen Garrison had 21 points and 22 points in a pair of Sehome victories. … Kora Larsen scored 22 points in Nooksack Valley’s victory over Mount Baker. 

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: Lynden remained the Northwest Conference’s only unbeaten as the Lions cruised past Mount Baker, 59-16, on Tuesday and Sedro-Woolley, 64-30, on Thursday. Lynden then continued its daunting non-league schedule by beating 3A Bellevue, 57-46, on Saturday.

Ferndale won its two league games this week, knocking off Nooksack Valley on Tuesday, 72-59, and then stopping Squalicum, 47-38, on Friday. Brianna Byrnes had 14 points against the Pioneers, and Jaclyn Denham added 13 and Ashley Thomas 11. The Golden Eagles had their six-game winning streak snapped on Saturday with a 61-54 loss to Edmonds-Woodway.

Sehome continued its hot streak with impressive victories over Sedro-Woolley on Monday, 59-41, and over Bellingham, 47-33, on Friday. Ava Lunny had 14 points against the Cubs, and Kaylee Wilson and Mikayla Wefer each had 9 points against the Red Raiders as the Mariners have now won six of their first seven games. 

Lynden Christian knocked off  Burlington-Edison, 72-54, on Monday thanks to 14 points from Emily Mellema. Libby Stump and Paige TeVelde had 15 points each and Dykstra chipped in 11 on Friday, but it was the Lyncs’ defense that made the difference in their 66-19 victory over Blaine. LC’s five-game winning streak came to an end Saturday with a 61-52 non-league loss to No.2-ranked 4A Woodinville, 61-52.

Meridian got off to a strong start with two league victories this week. The Trojans raced past Lakewood, 61-17, on Tuesday, and then handed Anacortes its first league loss, 43-36, on Saturday.

Nooksack Valley got 17 points, including three 3-pointers, from Hallie Kamphouse but it wasn’t enough in a 72-59 loss to Ferndale on Tuesday. The Pioneers got back to their winning ways on Thursday as Maya Galley had 12 points and Kamphouse had 11 in Nooksack Valley’s 64-55 victory over Mount Baker. On Saturday, Nooksack easily beat Coupeville in a non-league game, 52-30, thanks to 14 points from Tehya Moore, 11 from Jenna Compton and 10 from Galley. 

Mount Baker dropped its first two league games, losing to Lynden on Tuesday, 59-16, and falling to Nooksack Valley on Thursday, 64-55, despite Trinity Anderson’s four 3-pointers and 15 points, and 12 points from Abby Yost.

The Mounties got back on the winning track with a 45-32 non-league victory over Klahowya on Saturday thanks to 15 points from Madison Barter and 10 points from Madelyn Valum. 

Squalicum notched its first victory of the season, a 37-25 win against visiting Blaine on Monday as Kali Haizlip scored 14 points and Grace Schroder added 12. But in a 3A battle with Ferndale, the Storm came up short on Friday, 47-38.

Bellingham lost its first two NWC contests, coming up short in a 41-38 loss to Anacortes on Monday, and then falling to city rival Sehome on Friday, 47-33, despite the 16 points of Alexa Mee. In between, the Red Raiders put it all together against Mountlake Terrace for a 65-36 non-league win.

Blaine dropped all three of its games this week starting with Monday’s 37-25 loss to Squalicum despite Krystin Kamrath’s 15 points. The Borderites then fell to Anacortes on Wednesday, 52-29, and to Lynden Christian, 66-19, on Friday. Against the Lyncs, Hailey Pike had 12 points but the rest of the team could only manage seven more.

After a season-opening loss and two close victories, Lummi Nation extended its winning streak to four games — all league contests — with two big wins this week. The Lady Blackhawks destroyed winless Orcas Christian, 67-4, on Tuesday, and then topped Cedar Park Christian (Mountlake Terrace), 48-33, on Saturday to remain atop the Northwest 1B League standings.

Week 3 Standings

NORTHWEST CONFERENCE

 League   Overall
W L W L
Ferndale 2 0 6 1
Lynden 2 0 6 0
Lynden Christian 2 0 5 1
Meridian 2 0 4 2
Sehome 2 0 6 1
Anacortes 1 1 2 5
Burlington-Edison 1 1 3 2
Nooksack Valley 1 1 5 2
Squalicum 1 1 1 5
Bellingham 0 2 4 3
Blaine 0 2 2 5
Lakewood 0 2 1 5
Mount Baker 0 2 4 4
Sedro-Woolley 0 2 2 5

NORTHWEST 1B CONFERENCE

 League   Overall
W L W L
Lummi Nation 4 0 4 1
Tulalip Heritage 3 1 3 2
Grace Academy 2 1 4 2
Lopez 2 1 2 3
Cedar Park Christian (MLT) 1 2 1 4
Shoreline Christian 1 4 3 4
Arlington Christian 0 0 0 0
Fellowship Christian 0 0 0 0
Providence Christian 0 0 0 0
Skykomish 0 0 0 0
Orcas Christian 0 4 0 4

WEEK 4

TOP GAMES: It’s holiday tournament time, and there are two good ones in Whatcom County. Check out the Blaine Holiday Tournament at Blaine High School or the Cloud 9 Christmas Classic at Lynden Christian and Lynden high schools — or go to both tournaments either Friday or Saturday.

SCHEDULE
Friday, Dec. 27: Blaine Holiday Tournament (Lummi Nation vs. Bellingham, University Prep vs. Blaine), Cloud 9 Christmas Classic (Gig Harbor vs. Meridian, Overlake vs. Lynden, Port Angeles vs. Ferndale, Seattle Prep vs. Lynden Christian, Sequim vs. Sehome), Nooksack Valley at Chelan Tournament

Saturday, Dec. 28: Squalicum at Port Townsend Tournament, Cloud 9 Christmas Classic (Overlake vs. Sehome, Montesano vs. Lynden, King’s vs. Meridian, Sequim vs. Lynden Christian, Gig Harbor vs. Ferndale), Blaine Holiday Tourney (Lakewood vs. Lummi Nation, Bellingham vs. University Prep, Renton vs. Blaine), Nooksack Valley at Chelan Tournament

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.

You can support our student-athletes, teams, and schools
by using the businesses that support Whatcom Hoops.

Want to advertise your business? Click here for advertising options.