Here are the first and second team honorees as voted on by NWC coaches, and the first thing that comes to my mind about each player.
Head Coach of the Year: Brett Farrar, Mount Vernon
38-11 record and an NWC title in two years with the Bulldogs.
Assistant Coach of the Year: Brian Sipma, Lynden Christian
Mainstay on the Lyncs staff that is loaded with LC grads.
Co-Players of the Year:
Davis Fogle, junior, Anacortes
Highest scoring average in NWC history. Dangerous with the ball. No shot he can’t make.
Quinn Swanson, senior, Mount Vernon
Exceptional offensive player with extremely high IQ.
1st Team:
Anthony Canales, senior, Lynden
Three state championships and three state tournament MVP awards spells W-I-N-N-E-R.
Dawson Bouma, senior, Lynden Christian
Complete player. Can create for himself and others, and often defends opponent’s best player.
Gannon Dykstra, junior, Lynden Christian
Also creates offense like his running mate, and will be the focus of opponent’s defenses next year.
Brant Heppner, junior, Lynden
Came on as a tall 3-point shooter last year, added huge inside presence this year.
Wyatt Stephan, senior, Bellingham
No one on the floor plays harder, and an excellent jump shooter.
Talon Jenkins, junior, Meridian
Tremendous outside shooter with super-smooth release. At 6-5, tough to get a hand in his face.
Caleb Greenland, sophomore, Lakewood
Swiss Army Knife for the Cougars. Can rebound it and go. At 6-2, can play inside and out.
Jeremiah Wright, senior, Lynden Christian
Unstoppable near the hoop and can step out and hit a three. Great hands and athleticism.
2nd Team
Nolan Wright, sophomore, Sehome
Similar game as Stephan, and excellent QB whether on the field or the court.
Marcus Nixon, junior, Squalicum
Soft touch and can score in bunches.
Xavier Neyens, junior, Mount Vernon
Home run hitter on the diamond and the court. Basketball skills get overlooked.
Micah Dickison, sophomore, Anacortes
Athletic and aggressive player, who gives the Seahawks a solid inside presence at both ends.
Jaeger Fyfe, junior, Meridian
Long range and can go to the hoop. Will be part of an even tougher duo to stop next year.
Brady Elsner, senior, Lynden
Back-up point in ’23, to team’s single season assist record holder this year. Makes teammates better.
Rex Wilson, senior, Burlington-Edison
Smooth and steady scorer for the Tigers.
Ethan DeJong, sophomore, Sedro-Woolley
Averaged 19 points per game, and can score from anywhere.
Evan Stacey, junior, Lakewood
3-year starter for the Cougars and one of the league’s top defender. Quick hands and anticipation.
Honorable Mention:
This list is not associated with the coaches vote, but my list of others around the league who deserve recognition.
Michael Johnson, junior, Mount Vernon
Gave the Bulldogs another quality outside threat when your focus was elsewhere.
Jack Stapleton, junior, Lynden
Important #3 scorer for the Lions. Good face-up shooter and Hi-Lo game with Heppner.
Charlie Ayres, senior, Lynden
Hit some clutch shots this season, and became a top defender.
Kayden Stuit, senior, Lynden Christian
Heavy duty rebounder, and can pick a dime off the top of the backboard.
Jake Andrew, junior, Anacortes
Quick and deadly outside shooter. Was there to beat defenses that focused on Fogle.
Joe Harward, sophomore, Bellingham
Started the year on the JV’s, but finished the year coming off the varsity bench scoring in double-figures.
Ben Rucker, senior, Lakewood
Another great in a long line of Cougar shooters.
Hunter Calloway, freshman, Squalicum
Smooth player who made a quick impact for the Storm. Great potential, and three more years.
Brady Ackerman, junior, Nooksack Valley
Improved inside game and has the potential to dominate next year.
Mantaj Singh, sophomore, Ferndale
Good outside shooter that had some big offensive games for the Golden Eagles.
Jonah Brillowsky, junior, Ferndale
Had some big games and his inside presence will be a good combo with Singh next year.
Logan Heigert, sophomore, Burlington-Edison
Tall lefty has many offensive weapons, and scored 15 points a game this year.
Christian Clawson, senior, Meridian
Showed great improvement through the year, and was pivotal in the Trojans late season run.
Abdul-Fattah Kanagie, junior, Blaine
Very raw, but looking forward to the level he can reach next year.
Kell Reardon, freshman, Mount Baker
Another raw player with great athleticism and potential over the next three years.
Xavier Ochoa, sophomore, Oak Harbor
Heady guard will be a key in the Wildcats future.
~ Ted House
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