The Lynden Lions are headed for the state semifinals for the eighth consecutive season,
following a 58-41 win over the Sammamish Redhawks, Thursday at the Yakima SunDome.
It was a brutal beginning for both teams as they raced up and down the floor with few positive results and were tied 5-5 with 3:10 left in the opening quarter. The Redhawks led 8-7 after one.
The rough start for the offenses can be attributed to their defenses, especially near the rim, where you took your fate into your own hands.
Junior forward Brant Heppner was the first Lion to get into an offensive flow. He hit three 3-point shots in the first half, and dominated the inside the rest of the contest, finishing with 25 points.
The Lions got a second quarter boost from the bench, as senior forward Ty Holleman got a bucket, senior guard Weston VanDalen hit a long 3-pointer, then sophomore guard Dani Bowler got the shooters bounce on a baseline jumper, just before the halftime buzzer, giving the Lions a 27-19 lead at the break.
The Lions scored the first eight points of the third quarter by pounding the interior of the Redhawks defense. Senior guard Charlie Ayres was responsible for two offensive rebounds that led to Lion scores in that stretch, along with two wide open lay ins by Holleman and senior guard, Brady Elsner.
The Lions pushed the lead to 16 in the third quarter before the Redhawks cut it to ten, but the Lions responded when they had to.
Two-time State Tournament Most Valuable Player, senior Anthony Canales scored 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Holleman played a key role inside and scored eight points, including a one-hand dunk off a high post feed from Heppner.
The Redhawks had one player in double-figures. That was sophomore guard, Rakin Showki, who scored 16.
The Lions (22-4) will take on #11 Bremerton (20-6), who was a 65-60 upset winner over #4 Renton. The previous day, the Knights knocked out #6 Mark Morris.
The Lions and the Knights will play the first 2A semifinal, Friday at 715pm.
~ Ted House
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