The Best of the Best #9: 2006
Whatcom County high schools have produced some amazing basketball seasons, but of those 100-plus years of state championship seasons and all the other great successes at state tournaments, which years were the best for the county as a whole?
Well, we at www.whatcomhoops.com came up with our top 12 greatest years of boys basketball. Why 12? Because a top 10 just wasn’t enough.
Before you start arguing with our picks, remember that any time you pick the “best” or “greatest” you have to be somewhat subjective. That is really true when looking at seasons that span more than a century of changes.
For example, from the first state tournament in 1923 until 1957, our county’s schools, both big and small, almost always competed in the one “big” state tournament that included all the big-city teams. It may be no coincidence that we had to wait until the new Class A tournament for smaller schools was formed in 1958 for our first state title.
Then there’s the fact that we have more schools now — 12 — than we had for most of the past 100 years, and they are competing in four different classifications (3A, 2A, 1A and 1B). So it’s easier for more teams in the 21st century to qualify and place at state than it was in the 20th century.
Finally, this is not meant to rank the greatest teams or even best tournaments, which would be completely subjective (and maybe we’ll do that sometime in the future).
Our goal was to rank the county’s best years by looking at all the county teams’ accomplishments, particularly their state finishes. The only accomplishment we required to be eligible for the top 10 was that at least one county team had to have won a state championship that year.
And now, let’s count down the top 12 years for Whatcom County boys basketball:
#9
2006
Lynden Christian was the county’s state champion in 2006 thanks to outstanding seniors Kyle Coston and Greg Burgers. They guided the Lyncs through a 25-2 season and a 16-point victory over rival King’s in the championship game giving LC its only 2A title. Lynden, playing its last year at 3A, took third at state with a sparkling 26-2 record.
All-stater Chris Bolt and the talented Lions would go on to win state the following year. Nooksack Valley earned the county’s third trophy placing fourth in the 2A tournament thanks to the Skillman brothers, Dan and Rich.
Squalicum, in the midst of eight state appearances in 11 years, qualified for the 3A state tourney but did not place. And county newcomer Lummi Nation began its own tradition of hoop excellence by qualifying for 2B state for the first time although the Blackhawks did not place.
