With almost all their players returning after winning league titles and making it to state last season, the Lummi Nation girls and boys basketball teams already were considered state contenders.
But after getting some additions this season, the Blackhawks may be doing more than just contending in their Class 1B state tournaments.
They proved it by completely dominating Shoreline Christian in a home doubleheader on Tuesday, Dec. 10. The Lummi Nation girls nearly blanked the Chargers, 65-3, and the boys won going away, 74-20,
“We want to win state,” junior point guard Jerome Toby Jr. said of the boys team although he could be speaking for the Lady Blackhawks as well. “That’s always got to be our goal. That’s how we push ourselves.”
The victory raised the Lummi girls’ record to 3-1 overall and 2-0 in Northwest 1B League play, and the boys stayed unbeaten with their fourth straight win and also are 2-0 in league. The Shoreline Christian girls fell to 0-2 overall and in league, and the boys dropped to 0-4 overall and 0-2 in league.
Lady Blackhawks Nearly Earn Shutout In 65-3 Win
There was no doubt that the heavily favored Lummi girls would win Tuesday, but there was some doubt if the Lady Blackhawks would give up any points to the winless Chargers.
For the record, Shoreline Christian did manage a bucket a little over three minutes into the second half — it was 37-0 by then — and got a final point on a foul shot after the final buzzer. And this was after the Blackhawks mercifully called off their fullcourt press after the first quarter.
“We’re small and fast, which helps with the press,” said Lummi Nation coach Krista Mahle of the pressure defense that recorded 33 steals. When asked if it was a fun game for the girls, she said, “It’s always fun.”
One player who was enjoying herself was newcomer Kashlyn Mack, a junior transfer from the tiny community of Bella Coola up the coast in British Columbia. She came into the game averaging a dozen points and used her size, quickness, and jump shot to score 17 points, pull down 5 rebounds, and nab 5 steals Tuesday night.
“I’ve felt very welcome, like I’ve lived here all my life,” she said. As to what she liked best about the transition to her new school, she smiled and said, “The basketball, of course.”
While the addition of Mack bolstered the Blackhawks, they already had a pair of all-Whatcom Hoops guards in junior Ailina Rabang and sophomore Jemma James. On Tuesday, Rabang had 18 points, including four 3-pointers, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocked shots, and point guard James flirted with a triple double, collecting 6 points, 9 steals, and 8 assists.
For Rabang, who transferred in from Sehome last season to help Lummi Nation reach state where they were knocked out in the first round, this year’s Blackhawks still haven’t reached their potential.
“We’ve got a new set of girls so it’s getting used to each other and trusting each other,” she said. “I think we’re going to be really good. Our goal is to go further than last year. We’re going for the ’ship (championship).”
Against Shoreline Christian, the Blackhawks spread the offense around with nine different players scoring. Juniors Bri Metteba and Makaya Morris added 8 and 7 points, respectively, to the Lummi Nation attack with Metteba also grabbing 8 steals.
It was the second of three games in four days for the Lummi Nation girls, who are back in action on Thursday when they travel to Lopez Island for another NW1B League game.
Lummi Nation 65, Shoreline Christian 3
Shoreline Christian 0 0 2 1— 3
Lummi Nation 20 13 19 13—65
Shoreline Christian: Taylor, DeKoekkoek, Moore, Cope, Hernandez 2, Smith, Tjoelker, Felure, Hoss 1.
Lummi Nation: Morris 7, J. James 6, Rabang 18, B. Metteba 8, Mack 17, Jones 2, Lopez 3, Dennis, M. Metteba, L. LaJuan, J. LaJuan 4, C. James 2.
Blackhawks big men Trevon Lee and Tracy Powell (40) crash the boards.
Blackhawks Boys Roll To 74-20 Victory
Having won their first three games by an average of 29 points, it was no surprise the Lummi Nation boys beat the winless Chargers. But having a 40-point margin and starting the running clock early in the third period was a testament to how dominating the Blackhawks were.
And a big reason was the addition of their big men. After depending on 6-foot Tony Abrams to be their inside presence last year, the Blackhawks have seen the emergence of senior Trevon Lee, sophomore Deandre James, and junior Tracy Powell — all 6-foot-2 or taller and able to battle inside as well as run the court.
“We’ve had some great teams in the past,” said coach Jerome Toby Sr., whose Blackhawks have a trophy case full of state hardware including a state championship. “But this team has got size, a lot of shooters around them, and experience.”
All were on display Tuesday night. Lummi Nation used its traditional press and fastbreak to run out to a 15-0 lead. When Shoreline Christian “threatened” to cut the lead to a dozen, the Blackhawks hit three 3-pointers on a 14-0 run to start the second quarter and went up 46-11 at the half.
What was even more impressive than the scoring was the offensive balance. All nine Blackhawks scored five or more points with senior Abrams leading the way with 12 and James finishing with 11. Abrams also had 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals.
Sophomore Dyson Edwards added 9 points and 6 assists, and Toby, sophomore Landon LaFontaine, senior RayShawn Bob, and senior Karson Revey had 8 points each. In another showing of the team’s depth, LaFontaine and Bob came off the bench to each hit a pair of 3s.
Coach Toby attributed the balance to the team’s willingness to make the extra pass to a teammate, which resulted in 22 assists Tuesday. “This is one of the most unselfish teams we’ve had,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of guys who can score, but they all celebrate whoever scores. They enjoy playing with one another.”
There’s no better example than the young Toby, who was called upon to take the scoring load last year even as a sophomore. But Tuesday, the point guard only took one shot in the second half and was satisfied to run the efficient offense and play defense. He finished with a game-high 8 assists.
“Last year, we were undersized, but now our defense is better and if we need a bucket, we can go inside,” he said of the team’s additional size. “Everyone is able to score.”
If the Blackhawks needed anything else to motivate them, there was the way last season ended. After being No.1-ranked almost the entire season and winning league, district, and tri-district championships, Lummi Nation had a couple of bad breaks and injuries, which led to losses in their final two games at state.
The result was a sixth-place finish, worthy of another trophy, but not the one the team wanted.
“Last year’s finish … they remember,” Toby Sr. said of the seven returnees. “They’re motivated and a little bit hungry.”
And this year’s you can add “big.”
It was also the second of three games in four days for the Lummi Nation boys, who wrap up their busy week on Thursday when they also travel to Lopez Island in a NW1B game.
Lummi Nation 74, Shoreline Christian 20
Shoreline Christian 7 4 4 5—20
Lummi Nation 21 25 14 14—74
Shoreline Christian: Abraham 6, Pierre 5, Haile, Rosler, Zael 3, Brown, Ribeira, Bother, Hoss 6.
Lummi Nation: Toby 8, LaFontaine 8, Edwards 9, Abrams 12, Bob 8, Lee 5, Revey 8, James 11, Powell 5.
