Surprising Ferndale and not-so-surprising Lynden and LC are undefeated as the NWC heads into league play this week.
GAME OF THE WEEK: Highly rated (at least in 2A ranks) Lynden was expected to give defending 4A state champion Eastlake a battle on Saturday, but the Lions did more than that, shocking the Wolves on their home court in overtime, 64-60.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Ruby VanderHaak had 20 points in Lynden’s big upset of 4A Eastlake. … Abby Yost had 39 points in three games and pulled down more than a dozen rebounds in Saturday’s win over Cascade Christian. … Jamie Johnson led unbeaten Ferndale with 15 points against Mount Vernon and 21 against Black Hills. … Aspen Garrison had 14 points, 13 rebounds and 4 blocks in Sehome’s victory over Mount Baker. … Jenna Compton scored 22 points as Nooksack Valley easily defeated Friday Harbor. … Paige TeVelde hit five 3-points for 15 points in Lynden Christian’s victory over Stanwood.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: Lynden came from behind to win Tuesday at Port Angles, 46-42, thanks to Liv Tjoelker’s 14 points and 4 rebounds, Keylie Hershey’s 10 points and 6 rebounds, Anna VanderYacht’s 7 points and 11 rebounds, and VanderHaak’s 5 rebounds, 4 points and 3 steals. In Saturday’s big victory at Eastlake, Hershey added 15 points and Tjoelker had 10 points.
Mount Baker had a busy week, splitting its four games. The Mounties started the week with a 42-33 non-league win over Squalicum thanks to Trinity Anderson’s four 3-pointers and 9 deflections. On Wednesday, the Mounties fell, 86-44, to 2B power La Conner with Petra Allred and freshman Maddy Barter leading the Mounties with 14 and 12 points, respectively. On Friday, the Mounties couldn’t find a way to finish with a win, falling to Sehome, 42-39, despite outstanding play from Yost and 8 points each from Anderson, Barter and Allred. On Saturday, the Mounties got back in the win column with a 40-33 victory over Cascade Christian thanks to Yost’s double-double and Ripley Reardon’s defensive play and 6 points.
Ferndale proved to be an inhospitable host as the Golden Eagles knocked off Mount Vernon, 68-49, on Thursday thanks to 14 points from Kaelee Bungard and 11 from Ashley Thomas, and then beat perennial power Black Hills, 63-51, on Saturday as Brianna Byrnes had 13 points and Bungard added another 10.
Sehome split its two games on the road this week, coming up short at the end against Marysville-Gentchell, 48-40, on Thursday, and holding off Mount Baker, 42-39, in a non-league contest on Friday. Mikayla Wafer had 9 points and Ava Lunny added 8 points and 6 rebounds on Friday for the Mariners.
Nooksack Valley ran its season-opening winning streak to three by sinking Friday Harbor, 69-12, on Friday, holding the Wolverines to four points in the second half as Compton, Kora Larsen, Tehya Moore and Hallie Kamphouse all scored in double figures. On Saturday, the Pioneers suffered their first loss of the season, 72-51, to La Conner. Moore led the Pioneers with 14 points, and Compton added 8.
Lynden Christian had 11 of 12 players score in the Lyncs’ 75-27 victory over Stanwood on Friday. TeVelde led LC in scoring and Lexi Hernandez added 13 points, Riley Dykstra had 11 and Libby Stump had 10.
Squalicum could only come up with one field goal and 10 points in the second half as the Storm fell to Mount Baker, 42-33, in a non-league contest on Monday. The Storm hosted Liberty of Issaquah on Saturday, losing, 61-28.
Bellingham notched its third straight victory after a season-opening loss by defeating Blaine, 31-24, in a non-league game at home on Tuesday.
Meridian avenged last year’s one-point loss to Bellevue Christian by clobbering the Vikings, 52-13, on Thursday. On Friday, the Trojans ran into the 2B buzzsaw known as La Conner and were beaten, 66-38.
Blaine continued to play road warriors as the Borderites have now opened the season with four straight road games. They split their two games last week, falling to Bellingham, 31-24, in a non-league contest on Tuesday, and then thumping Sultan, 59-40, on Saturday. The Borderites are at Squalicum on Monday before playing their first home game on Wednesday against Anacortes.
Lummi Nation opened its season on Monday with a 61-29 non-league loss at Mount Vernon Christian, but the Lady Blackhawks then jumped to the top of the Northwest 1B League standings with two close league victories. They topped Shoreline Christian, 27-24, on Tuesday, and on Friday, played at home for the first time this season, beating Tulalip Heritage, 45-43, thanks to 16 points from freshman Raven Solomon and 15 points from Shaylynn Jojola.
Week 2 Standings
NORTHWEST CONFERENCE
| League | Overall | |||
| W | L | W | L | |
| Ferndale | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Lynden | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Lynden Christian | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Sehome | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| Bellingham | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Nooksack Valley | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Burlington-Edison | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Mount Baker | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| Blaine | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Meridian | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Sedro-Woolley | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Lakewood | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Anacortes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Squalicum | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
NORTHWEST 1B CONFERENCE
| League | Overall | |||
| W | L | W | L | |
| Lopez | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Lummi Nation | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Grace Academy | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Tulalip Heritage | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Shoreline Christian | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Arlington Christian | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fellowship Christian | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Providence Christian | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Skykomish | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cedar Park Christian (MLT) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Orcas Christian | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
WEEK 3
TOP GAME: Sehome is at Bellingham for their annual BellingHome boys and girls doubleheader on Friday, and this time the game counts. The Mariners, who are 4-1, handed the 3-1 Red Raiders their only loss in the two teams’ non-league season opener.
SCHEDULE
Monday, Dec. 16: Bellingham at Anacortes, Burlington-Edison at Lynden Christian, Blaine at Squalicum
Tuesday, Dec. 17: Mount Baker at Lynden, Meridian at Lakewood, Sedro-Woolley at Sehome, Ferndale at Nooksack Valley, Orcas Christian at Lummi Nation
Wednesday, Dec. 18: Mountlake Terrace at Bellingham, Anacortes at Blaine
Thursday, Dec. 19: Blaine at Lynden Christian, Nooksack Valley at Mount Baker, Lummi Nation at Providence Christian
Friday, Dec. 20: Sehome at Bellingham, Anacortes at Meridian, Squalicum at Ferndale, Lynden at Sedro-Woolley
Saturday, Dec. 21: Nooksack Valley at Coupeville, Lynden Christian at Woodinville, Klahowya at Mount Baker, Lynden at Bellevue, Ferndale at Edmonds-Woodway, Lummi Nation at Cedar Park Christian (Mountlake Terrace)
