As expected, Lynden Christian and Nooksack Valley easily won their District 1/2 crossover playoff games on Saturday, Feb. 18, and are officially going to state.
The Lyncs defeated Sultan, 69-34, and the Pioneers beat Bush, 69-16, at King’s High School.
With their victories, the Lyncs and Pioneers advance to the state regionals, which will take place either Friday or Saturday, Feb. 25 or 26. Regional pairings and sites will be announced on Sunday afternoon.
Depending on their RPI rankings and the regional results, both teams hope to move on to the Class 1A state tournament in the Yakima SunDome, which runs from March 2 through 5.
Here’s what happened Saturday:
Lynden Christian Rolls Past Sultan
There’s was a difference between Lynden Christian’s 18-4 and Sultan’s 18-3. Those were the two teams’ records coming into their Saturday matchup. Of course, LC’s four losses were to Nooksack Valley and highly ranked teams in bigger classification.
And now Sultan’s fourth loss is to Lynden Christian.
The defending Class 1A state champion Lyncs started slow — only leading 16-10 after the first quarter — but quickly showed why they are the District 1 champions. Twenty points in the second quarter and 20 more in the third left the Turks in the dust.
Senior Libby Stump and freshman Grace Hintz led the Lyncs with 20 points each, junior Demi Dykstra had 13 points, and junior Daisy Poag added 6 more.
Although LC held Sultan to its second lowest point total of the season, don’t be shedding too many tears for the Turks, who finished fifth in District 2/Emerald Sound tournament. The 18-win team will only graduate one player and has nine freshmen on their roster.
Lynden Christian 69, Sultan 34
Lynden Christian 16 20 20 13—69
Sultan 10 6 10 8—34
Lynden Christian: Libby Stump 20, Demi Dykstra 13, Taryn Herwerden, Lexi Kaptein, Alexie Hagen 2, Grace Hintz 20, Charley Dykstra 1, Katrin Fay 3, Daisy Poag 6, Reganne Arnold 4, Andi Anderson.
Sultan: Shyann Rylah, Taylor Cushing 2, Wendy Asper, Grace Trichler 14, Anna Meadows, Addison Forte-Saldana, Bailey La Rue, Ranah Rylah 5, Gabriela Yepez-Suarez 2, Cascadia Yates 8, Faith Anderson 3, Amelia Brumley.
Nooksack Valley Brushes Aside Bush
When you’re ready for the running clock to start in the first half, that’s a pretty good indication it’s going to be a blowout.
Nooksack Valley took control early and the Bush Blazers never stood a chance as the Pioneers won going away, 69-16, in the crossover game with the District 2 fourth-place finisher from Seattle.
Nooksack Valley only allowed one field goal in each of the first two quarters to go up 43-4 at the half. The Blazers managed to double their score in the second half, but all that was left was for the final buzzer to go off and give Nooksack Valley its 19th victory against only three losses.
Sophomore Devin Coppinger easily outscored the Blazers by herself with 22 points, but it was a team effort as all 11 Pioneers scored.
Sophomore Tana Hoekema had 7 points, and junior Ella Perry, sophomore Lainey Kimball, senior McKenna Wichers, and junior Taylor Lentz had 6 points each for the Pioneers, who finished second to Lynden Christian in the District 1 tournament.
The Blazers ended the year at 10-9.
Nooksack Valley 69, Bush 16
Nooksack Valley 23 20 15 11—69
Bush 2 2 4 4—16
Nooksack Valley: Lainey Kimball 6, Tehya Moore 2, Devin Coppinger 22, Hallie Kamphouse 4, McKenna Wichers 6, Ellie Van Berkum 5, Ranae Hoekema 4, Tana Hoekema 7, Kaylee Anderson 1, Taylor Lentz 6, Ella Perry 6.
Bush: Elise Fischer, Lena Benson-Gregory, Anjali Berryman, Kara Ma, Cheryln Ferguson, Sosna Biniam 8, Mia Hutchison 2, Aniyah Grant 2, Grace Hove.
CLASS 1A DISTRICT 1/2 CROSSOVER
Saturday, Feb. 19
At King’s High School
District 1 #2 Nooksack Valley 69, District 2 #4 Bush 16 (winner to state regionals, loser out)
District 1 #1 Lynden Christian 69, District 2 #5 Sultan 34 (winner to state regionals, loser out)
STATE REGIONALS
Friday and Saturday, Feb. 25 and 26
STATE TOURNAMENT
At Yakima SunDome
Wednesday-Saturday, March 2-
