NOTE: Playoff stories will be updated as new information is reported. For the latest news on all the games, keep visiting www.whatcomhoops.com.
The visiting Bellingham girls knocked off Northwest Conference rival Sedro-Woolley, 49-46, to stay alive in the Class 2A District 1/2 tournament Thursday night, but the road was not as hospitable to two other Whatcom County teams.
Sehome, at 12th the lowest seeded team in the tournament, gave fifth-seeded Liberty (10-11) all it could handle before falling in Renton, 44-38, in the loser-out contest. The Mariners end their season with a 7-14 record.
In Thursday’s other first-round contest, Blaine had its season end at Sammamish with a 71-54 defeat. The Borderites fell to 6-15 with the loss.
The road doesn’t get any easier for the Red Raiders (9-12) although they do move into the double-elimination part of the tournament.
Bellingham must head to Everett to play top-seed Archbishop Murphy (17-2) on Saturday at 3 p.m. The game time was moved up because of weather concerns.
The county’s other 2A team, second-seeded Lynden (17-3), had a first-round bye and will host Cedarcrest (12-8) on Saturday. The game also was moved up to 3 p.m. because of weather concerns.
Cedarcrest was a 58-32 winner over Mountlake Terrace on Thursday.
CLASS 2A DISTRICT 1/2 GIRLS TOURNAMENT
First-round games (Thursday)
Sammamish 71, Blaine 54 (loser out)
Cedarcrest 58, Mountlake Terrace 32 (loser out)
Liberty 44, Sehome 38 (loser out)
Bellingham 49, Sedro-Woolley 46 (loser out)
Second round (Saturday)
Cedarcrest (12-8) at Lynden (17-3), 3 p.m.
Sammamish (12-10) at Burlington-Edison (17-3), 6 p.m.
Liberty (10-11) at Anacortes (13-7), 7 p.m.
Bellingham (9-12) at Archbishop Murphy (17-2), 3 p.m.
Consolation games (Tuesday)
At Mount Vernon Christian, 6:30 p.m. (loser out)
At Mount Vernon Christian, 8 p.m. (loser out)
Semifinals (Tuesday)
At Mount Vernon High School, 6 p.m.
At Mount Vernon High School, 7:30 p.m.
Consolation games (Next Thursday, Feb. 14)
At Mount Vernon High School, 6 p.m. (loser out)
At Mount Vernon High School, 7:30 p.m. (loser out)
Consolation final (Next Saturday, Feb. 16)
At Mount Vernon High School, 6 p.m. (winner third, loser fourth, both advance to state)
Championship final (Next Saturday, Feb. 16)
At Mount Vernon High School, 7:30 p.m. (winner first, loser second, both advance to state)
(Full schedule and bracket at nwcathletics.com)
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.
