The craziness from last season has carried over to the start of the 2021-22 season.
Blaine and Squalicum had their first week of games postponed because of COVID, and Lummi Nation has yet to start its abbreviated schedule. All three teams are scheduled to open their seasons this week.
Then there’s the 0-3 record of reigning state champions Lynden and Lynden Christian. Granted, the Class 2A and 1A state titles were won two years ago, both teams are in a rebuilding mode, and both like to schedule tough non-league games, but it’s still a surprise to see the Lions and Lyncs going into Week 2 without a win.
For a look back at Week 1 for our county boys team, check out Whatcom Hoops boys recap.
Here are the girls highlights from Week 1.
GAME OF THE WEEK
Reigning Class 1A state champion Lynden Christian had its 34-game unbeaten streak end in its season opener against Class 3A power Snohomish on Wednesday. The Lyncs rallied in the fourth quarter to take a one-point lead with eight seconds left, but the Panthers hit a 10-footer at the buzzer for the 59-58 victory.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Junior guard Maddy Barter had 19 points to lead Mount Baker on Friday and followed that with 31 points in the Mounties’ victory on Saturday. … Skyleigh James had 27 points and fellow senior Ellie DeWaard had 19 as Meridian overwhelmed Olympic on Friday. … Lynden Christian’s Libby Stump made all nine of her field goal attempts, including a pair of 3-pointers, for 22 points on Wednesday and then added 18 points on Friday. … Senior McKenna Wichers had 18 points in Nooksack Valley’s season-opening victory on Wednesday. … Senior Claire DeVries led Lynden with 17 points and three 3-pointers in the Lions’ season opener.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK
Meridian gave Bree Park a big victory in her coaching debut, routing Olympic on Friday, 81-12. James (27 points, 11 rebounds) and DeWaard (19 points, 12 rebounds) had double-doubles, junior Avery Neal had 9 points and 10 assists, and senior Kadance Blankers had 7 assists.
Ferndale opened its season with an impressive 52-36 victory over Edmonds-Woodway on Friday. Junior guard Ashley Lang led the Golden Eagles with 12 points as Ferndale used runs of 15-0 and 11-0 to notch the non-league win.
Nooksack Valley opened its season Wednesday with an impressive 65-53 road victory over Class 2A Archbishop Murphy and then dropped a 41-40 thriller at Class 2B power La Conner on Friday. Wichers led the Pioneers with 18 points against Archbishop Murphy, and sophomores Devin Coppinger and Lainey Kimball added 13 and 10 points, respectively. Against the Braves, Coppinger had a game-high 14 points and Wichers added 8, but the Pioneers fourth-quarter rally came up one point short.
Bellingham started its season with a 33-15 victory over Friday Harbor on Tuesday to give new coach James Wolverton his first win. The Bayhawks then fell to Class 3A Marysville-Getchell on Wednesday, 41-37, and to Anacortes on Friday, 60-36. In the opener, senior Mazy Wright had 11 points, junior Ellie Wolverton had 9, and sophomore Genevieve Blum had 11 rebounds. On Wednesday, Wolverton led the Bayhawks with 16 points, including three 3-pointers, and Wright added 12 points. Wright’s 19 points led Bellingham against Anacortes with Blum and freshman Katie Knies collecting 6 each.
Sehome lost its opener on Friday to Class 3A Meadowdale, 65-52, despite the 20 points of senior Maddie Schumacher. Junior Mac Cooper and sophomore Madi Cooper added 9 and 8 points, respectively.
Lynden dropped its opener to Class 2B power La Conner on Wednesday, 70-40, despite the 17 points and three 3-pointers of DeVries and the 8 points of junior Adia Newcomb.
Mount Baker dropped its season opener to Seattle Academy on Friday, 66-30, but came back to beat Class 3A Mountain View, 58-44, on Saturday to give new coach Tiffany Ramirez her first victory. Barter had 50 points in the two games to lead the Mounties. Sophomore Lauren Valum was the only other Mountie to score more than two points with 6 on Friday, and she added 11 on Saturday.
Lynden Christian lost to Snohomish on Wednesday, 59-58, and then lost to another 3A power, Arlington, on Friday, 61-54. Stump led the team with 22 points on Wednesday and 18 on Friday, and freshman Grace Hintz had 13 and 9 points in the two games. Junior Daisy Poag and senior Alli Van Kooten each had 9 points and 8 rebounds against Snohomish, and junior Demi Dykstra had 9 points and junior Reganne Arnold 8 points against Arlington.
Lummi Nation will open its season by hosting Blaine this Saturday, Dec. 11, at 2 p.m.
Blaine had its first three games postponed because of COVID. Thursday’s non-conference game at home against Squalicum may not be rescheduled since the teams play a conference contest at Squalicum on Jan. 25. Saturday’s non-league game at Concrete and this coming Monday’s home game with Sehome have yet to be rescheduled. The Borderites are set to open their season at Burlington-Edison on Friday, Dec. 10.
Squalicum had its first two games postponed. Tuesday’s home game with Mount Baker has been rescheduled for Dec. 17 and Thursday’s home non-conference contest with Blaine will not be rescheduled since the two teams will play a conference game at Squalicum on Jan. 25. The Storm will open its season on Monday Dec. 6, at home against Oak Harbor.
WEEK 2
TOP GAME
In an early-season Northwest Conference showdown between two teams with high expectations, Ferndale travels to Nooksack Valley on Monday for a 7:15 p.m. contest.
SCHEDULE
Monday, Dec. 6: Bellingham at Burlington-Edison, Ferndale at Nooksack Valley, Meridian at Mount Baker
Oak Harbor at Squalicum
Tuesday, Dec. 7: Ferndale at Mountlake Terrace, Lynden at Mount Vernon, Sedro-Woolley at Lynden Christian, Meridian at Archbishop Murphy
Wednesday, Dec. 8: Sedro-Woolley at Meridian
Thursday, Dec. 9: Lynden at Bellingham, Squalicum at Lynden Christian, Mount Vernon at Mount Baker, Nooksack Valley at Anacortes
Friday, Dec. 10: Blaine at Burlington-Edison, Sehome at Ferndale
Saturday, Dec. 11: Mount Baker at Friday Harbor, Blaine at Lummi Nation
NORTHWEST CONFERENCE
| League | Overall | |||
| W | L | W | L | |
| Anacortes | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Bellingham | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Blaine | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Burlington-Edison | 0 | 0 | 1 | o |
| Ferndale | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Lakewood | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lynden | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Lynden Christian | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Meridian | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Mount Baker | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Mount Vernon | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Nooksack Valley | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Oak Harbor | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Sedro-Woolley | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Sehome | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Squalicum | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
