The Evans Rankings website recently ranked the top boys basketball programs and individual teams in Washington state over the past decade and Whatcom County names are at the top of the lists.
Of the 400-plus high school boys basketball programs in the state, Lynden was rated No.5, Lynden Christian was No.7, and Lummi Nation was No.17.
Even more impressive, each of those programs had teams that were ranked as the best in their classification: the 2019 Lynden squad in Class 2A, the 2019 Lynden Christian squad in 1A, and the 2015 Lummi Nation squad in 1B.
To determined the most dominant programs and teams from 2011 to 2020, prep expert Matt Evans used his own formula that included winning percentage, percentage of points scored, opponents’ winning percentage and bonus points for state victories.
While the formula is subjective and the results certainly leave room for debate, his ratings are systematic and unbiased, and are a lot of fun to look through.
In the Evans Rankings, the top boys program in the state was Garfield followed by Zillah, Rainier Beach and Sunnyside Christian.
Coming in fifth overall with a score of .73476 and ranking as the top Class 2A school was Lynden with its three Class 2A state titles and eight top-three finishes.
Lynden Christian was right behind at seventh (.69760) and was the second-highest Class 1A school with its two state titles, four state finals appearances, and seven trophies.
Lummi Nation earned its No.17 ranking (.65052) with its 2015 state championship, two finals appearances and four trophies.
Here’s where the other Whatcom County boys programs stand in the state, according to the Evans Rankings:
* 56: Squalicum (.57672)
* 94: Sehome (.54603)
* 187: Meridian (.49848)
* 188: Ferndale (.49757)
* 211: Mount Baker (.48881)
* 245: Bellingham (.47129)
* 280: Nooksack Valley (.45120)
* 295: Blaine (.42013)
Evans Rankings for decade’s top boys and girls programs
Whatcom County Boys, Girls Rank High
The Evans Rankings mirrored two other websites — Max Preps and Eli Sports Network — that ranked the top programs in the state.
Max Preps, which used its own annual rankings regardless of classification, had Lynden No.5 and Lynden Christian No.15. The Lions were the top 2A school, and the Lyncs were the top 1A school.
Eli Sports Network came up with a point-system using state finishes to determine the top five programs in each classification. Lynden was No.1 among Class 2A schools, Lynden Christian was No.3 among Class 1A schools, and Lummi Nation was No.5 among Class 1B schools.
Eli Sports also ranked the top girls programs, and not surprisingly, Lynden Christian and Lynden were among the best.
You can read about it at the WhatcomHoops.com link below.
Lynden, LC boys and girls lead all-decade programs
County’s Best Teams Dominate Best Of Decade List
In determining the top teams for the decade, Evans ranked them by classification and, not surprisingly, Whatcom County squads dominated the rankings.
Besides the top-ranked 2019 squad, Lynden’s 2013 team was ranked fifth among Class 2A teams, the 2020 team was ranked eighth, the 2018 team was ranked ninth, the 2016 team was ranked 12th and four other Lions teams were ranked in the top 33.
Other county schools ranked among the top 160 Class 2A teams were Squalicum with four teams and Sehome with two. Squalicum also had one team ranked among the top 160 Class 3A schools.
In the 1A ranks, Lynden Christian had the top two teams — the 2019 and 2018 squads — and seven more in the top 100. Also ranked in the top 160 Class 1A teams were Meridian’s 2020 squad, Nooksack Valley’s 2011 squad and Mount Baker’s 2018 and 2013 squads.
Lummi Nation’s unbeaten 2015 state championship team was No.1 among the Class 1B teams, and the 2017 Blackhawks were No.12. Lummi Nation had seven teams that would finish in the 1B’s top 130.
Evans Rankings top boys and girls teams in each classification
