Maybe I was the only one in Kay LeMaster Gym on Tuesday night who thought these two games would be much closer with their final scores. Neither was ever in doubt as the Lynden Lions won the boys contest over the Nooksack Valley Pioneers 67-28, while the Pioneer girls won the nightcap, 67-52, over the Lions.
Boys: Lynden 67, Nooksack Valley 28
In the boys game, the Lions jumped out to a 15-4 lead after eight minutes, using their tactical half-court offense, while holding the Pioneers to a single field goal.
By halftime the Lions had built a 38-14 lead behind sharp shooting 6-6 junior forward, Brant Heppner, who scored 17 points in the first half, with 11 of those in the second quarter. Heppner went on to a game high 26. Senior forward Anthony Canales finished with 13 points, and all ten Lions cracked the scoring column.
The Pioneers, who did not make more than three field goals in any quarter, got ten points from junior guard Caden Heutink and eight from junior forward, Tristan Kamphouse. The two combined for six of the teams eight field goals in the game.
On Friday, the Lions (5-0/6-2) travel to Sedro-Woolley, while the Pioneers (3-2/5-2) pay a visit to Blaine.
Girls: Nooksack Valley 67, Lynden 52
The Pioneers had five players score in the first quarter as they jumped out to 21-12 lead over the Lions, and never looked back.
Senior post, Tana Hoekema, who led the Pioneers with 18 points, was a force inside, while also stepping behind the arc to nail three 3-pointers. She had 13 points by halftime, as the Pioneers built a 21-point lead. Hoekema finished with a team high 18 points.
The Lions did score 35 points in the second half, but could not get closer than the 15-point final difference. Freshman guard, Finley Parcher, led the Lions with 19 points, while sophomore Payton Mills added nine.
Senior Lainey Kimball also had a good shooting night for the Pioneers, netting 16 points, and we haven’t even mentioned University of Washington recruit, senior guard Devin Coppinger. Coppinger showed her general floor savvy, scoring when needed (15 points), while setting up teammates for scores.
The undefeated Pioneers (5-0/7-0) host Blaine on Friday, while the Lions (4-1/7-1) are at home to Sedro-Woolley.
~ Ted House
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