The Northwest Conference and Northwest 1B League are coming down to the stretch run of the regular season, and it seems every game has some playoff or seeding implication.
The playoffs for the 1A and 1B teams start later this week, with the 2A and 3A wrapping up their regular season before starting their post-season action next week.
Be sure to watch WhatcomHoops.com for previews of the various district tournaments and, of course, coverage of all the games.
GAME OF THE WEEK: Two of the best teams in the state regardless of classification battled at Jake Maberry Gym on Thursday, with Lynden Christian holding off Lynden in a defensive struggle, 37-34. It was LC’s 16th victory in 17 games and all but assured the Lyncs of another NWC title while also ending the Lions’ season-long 15-game winning streak.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Jenna Compton had 20 points in Nooksack Valley’s victory over Squalicum. …. Libby Stump had 20 points as Lynden Christian rallied to beat Nooksack Valley and then hit four free throws in the final 17 seconds on Thursday to help the Lyncs hand Lynden its first defeat of the season. … Aspen Garrison had 45 points in Sehome’s three games last week. … Raven Solomon had 17 points in Lummi Nation’s loss to Squalicum.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: Lynden Christian pulled out close victories against its biggest rivals, coming back in the fourth quarter to beat Nooksack Valley on Monday, 63-59, thanks to Kiley Roetcisoender’s 11 points; and knocking off previously undefeated Lynden on Thursday, 37-34, by hitting 13 of 14 free throws and getting 16 points from Riley Dykstra. The Lyncs closed out the week by clobbering Squalicum on Saturday, 53-14. Paige TeVelde and Stump had 12 points each and Emily Mellema added 11.
Nooksack Valley won two of three last week. The Pioneers nearly upset Lynden Christian on Monday, 63-59, behind Kora Larsen’s 16 points and 14 each from Jenna Compton and Hallie Kamphouse; defeated Squalicum on Thursday, 53-39; and held Lakewood to six or less points in three of the four quarters to run away with a 61-29 victory on Saturday. Against the Cougars, Kamphouse had 17 points, including four 3-pointers, and McKenna Wichers added 10 points.
Lynden had its winning streak snapped in a 37-34 loss to Lynden Christian on Thursday despite 11 points from Ruby VanderHaak and 9 from Liv Tjoelker. But the Lions had two big Class 2A victories, beating Lakewood on Monday, 69-21, and Burlington-Edison on Saturday, 56-46. Against the Cougars, Keylie Hershey had 16 points; Tjoelker had 11 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists; and VanderHaak had 11 points and 4 steals.
Lummi Nation won both its Northwest 1B League games to clinch at least a tie for the league title. The Lady Blackhawks defeated Shoreline Christian on Tuesday, 55-29, and Lopez on Thursday, 56-41. In between, Lummi Nation, a 1B school, lost a non-league game to 3A Squalicum on Wednesday, 54-35.
Mount Baker won two of three games last week. The Mounties defeated Sedro-Woolley on Monday, 53-46, and Meridian on Friday, 38-35, but then lost to Bellingham on Saturday, 46-45.
Ferndale ran its winning streak to six games with two victories last week. The Golden Eagles beat Bellingham on Tuesday, 55-40, and then had their highest offensive production of the season in Friday’s 81-42 win over Sedro-Woolley.
Sehome lost to Burlington on Tuesday, 64-55, despite 17 points from Eva Lunny and 13 each from Garrison and Kaylee Wilson, and then came back to beat Lakewood on Thursday, 60-36, and Blaine on Saturday, 46-29. The Mariners rallied from a slow start to club the Cougars as Garrison had 16 points and Ava Collins added 14 points, all in the second half. The Mariners held the Borderites to nine first-half points and went on to win thanks to 16 points from Garrison and 9 from Wilson.
Squalicum lost its three NWC contests last week, falling to Meridian on Tuesday, 39-24; to Nooksack Valley on Thursday, 53-39, despite 11 points from Leah Austin; and to Lynden Christian on Saturday, 53-14. The Storm did beat Lummi Nation in a non-league contest on Wednesday, 54-35, behind the 17 points of Kali Haizlip and 8 points each from Grace Schroder and Rachel Heinke.
Bellingham won two of its three games last week. The Red Raiders lost to Ferndale on Tuesday, 55-40, but then beat Blaine on Thursday, 53-24, and Mount Baker on Saturday, 46-45.
Meridian won two of three last week, topping Squalicum on Tuesday, 39-24, and Sedro-Woolley on Wednesday, 51-29, before losing to Mount Baker on Friday, 38-35.
Blaine dropped its three games last week. The Borderites fell to Anacortes on Tuesday, 59-26; to Bellingham on Thursday, 53-24; and to Sehome on Saturday, 46-29, despite 16 points and two 3-pointers from Hailey Pike.
Week 9 Standings
NORTHWEST CONFERENCE
| League | Overall | |||
| W | L | W | L | |
| Lynden Christian | 11 | 0 | 17 | 1 |
| Lynden | 9 | 1 | 16 | 1 |
| Burlington-Edison | 9 | 2 | 15 | 3 |
| Ferndale | 9 | 2 | 14 | 4 |
| Nooksack Valley | 8 | 3 | 14 | 4 |
| Sehome | 7 | 4 | 12 | 6 |
| Meridian | 5 | 5 | 12 | 6 |
| Mount Baker | 5 | 6 | 10 | 8 |
| Anacortes | 4 | 7 | 6 | 12 |
| Bellingham | 4 | 7 | 10 | 8 |
| Blaine | 2 | 9 | 5 | 13 |
| Squalicum | 2 | 9 | 4 | 13 |
| Sedro-Woolley | 1 | 10 | 5 | 13 |
| Lakewood | 0 | 11 | 2 | 16 |
NORTHWEST 1B CONFERENCE
| League | Overall | |||
| W | L | W | L | |
| Lummi Nation | 9 | 1 | 10 | 6 |
| Grace Academy | 8 | 2 | 13 | 3 |
| Tulalip Heritage | 8 | 3 | 10 | 7 |
| Lopez | 7 | 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Cedar Park Christian (MLT) | 3 | 8 | 4 | 11 |
| Shoreline Christian | 1 | 9 | 5 | 10 |
| Orcas Christian | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
WEEK 10
TOP GAMES: The regular season wraps up on Friday as Class 3A power Ferndale is at Lynden, the No.1-ranked Class 2A team in the state. In a Northwest 1B League showdown, Lummi Nation will try to claim the undisputed title Tuesday when the Lady Blackhawks are at Grace Academy.
SCHEDULE
Monday, Feb. 3: Mount Baker at Anacortes, Sehome at Ferndale, Meridian at Lynden Christian
Tuesday, Feb. 4: Lynden at Blaine, Sedro-Woolley at Bellingham, Burlington-Edison at Nooksack Valley, Lakewood at Squalicum, Lummi Nation at Grace Academy
Wednesday, Feb. 5: Mount Baker at Sehome, Lynden at Meridian
Thursday, Feb. 6: Bellingham at Meridian, Lynden Christian at Lakewood, Blaine at Nooksack Valley
Friday, Feb. 7: Ferndale at Lynden, Squalicum at Burlington-Edison
Saturday, Feb. 8: Class 1A District 1 play-in game (NWC #4 at North Sound #5); Class 1B District 1 semifinal (Lummi Nation vs. team TBD at Marysville-Getchell)
