The Lynden Lions not only won their 13th state basketball championship, but they also accomplished something even they had never done before: they are now winners of three straight state 2A titles.
The Lions used their superior size and tournament experience to cruise past the Grandview Greyhounds, 85-54, in the 2A State Championship game, Saturday afternoon, in the Yakima SunDome.
No team had ever won three straight 2A titles since the reforming of classifications in 1998. Only Rainier Beach, at the 3A level, has won three straight championships including teams in the 1A classification and higher.
It is also the Lions fifth basketball championship in the past six tournaments, and the seventh in the coaching career of head coach, Brian Roper.
They got it done as they have the past three days. They used their size advantage to dominate the smaller Greyhounds near the rim, at both ends of the floor.
With 6-6 Brant Heppner, 6-6 Jack Stapleton, 6-4 Anthony Canales, or 6-7 Ty Holleman, the Lions out rebounded the Greyhounds 46-18 for the game, providing them 11 more shots from the field, where they hit at a 54% clip.
It was a see-saw event through the first eight minutes, as Canales and Heppner scored 14 of the Lions 15 points, ending in a one-point lead.
In the second quarter, the Lions built some breathing room as Heppner, Canales, and senior guard Charlie Ayres hit 3-point shots, making it double-trouble for the Greyhounds. The Lions used a 19-5 second quarter to settle for a 34-19 lead at halftime.
The lead was only nine points until the final 35 second when Canales hit a top of the key-three, and after a defensive stop, Heppner connected from the deep right corner before the buzzer to push the lead to 15.
The fiercest battle in the second half was between Canales and Heppner, as to who would end up as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. The two combined for 35 points through three quarters and added 21 more in the fourth quarter. Canales finishing with 29, to Heppner’s 27.
It takes a village to win a championship, and the Lions village also included Jack Stapleton’s eight points, and eight more from Holleman, off the bench. Holleman gave the Lions valuable minutes in the tournament, along with starting guards Brady Elsner and Charlie Ayres. Weston VanDalen, Kael Stapleton and Dani Bowler also provided solid minutes when called upon.
The Lions finish with a record of 24-4, and the CWAC champion Greyhounds end with a record of 23-4, and the nod for best comeback in a tournament game, overcoming a 17-point deficit against North Kitsap in the semifinals.
The Greyhounds were led by the 17 points of Francisco Medina, 15 for Cameron Draculan, and 12 for Marcelino Armendariz.
Anthony Canales was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player for the third consecutive year. Brant Heppner was also named to the first team.
Other first teamers include Bremerton freshman, Jalen Davis; Grandview junior Marcelino Armendariz; and North Kitsap senior Cade Orness.
The second team consists of Anacortes junior Davis Fogle; Renton junior Dennis Johnson; Prosser junior Koby McClure, and senior Kory McClure; Grandview junior Cameron Draculan; and Sammamish sophomore Rakiin Showki.
(The teams are not WIAA sanctioned).
With five state titles in the past six tournaments, that says all you need to know about the coaching staff of the Lynden Lions. There is a lot of roster turnover in that many seasons, but the coaching staff of head coach Brian Roper, and assistants, Mike Elsner, Kent Victor, Blake VanDalen, Brian Heppner, and Rod Tenkley has been the glue that keeps it all together.
The Lions have now won five state championships since their last Northwest Conference title.
~ Ted House
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