In a repeat performance, the Lynden Christian Lyncs successfully defended their 2022 1A state championship and will keep the big Gold Ball for another year. The Lyncs defeated the Kings Knights in the title game for the second year in a row, 57-47, for their eighth state championship.
The game was knotted at 8-8 at the 4:50 mark of the opening quarter, but that would be it for the Lyncs as the Knights closed the quarter on a 13-0 run for a 21-8 lead.
At that point, the Lyncs focused their offense toward the interior, and went directly to their big man, 6-6 junior, Jeremiah Wright, who had size and strength on anyone the Knights could throw at him.
Wright scored on the Lyncs first possession of the second quarter. They went to him again the next time they had the ball and he drew a foul. Then drew another foul and finished it by hitting two free throws.
Then Lyncs senior forward Lane Dykstra hit a 3-pointer, and another 3-pointer, and the Lyncs had cut the lead to five.
The Lyncs finished a 10-2 run when Wright scored off of an inbounds pass from senior reserve guard, Dexter Zylstra. The Lyncs trailed 27-22 at halftime, as the hot shooting Knights began to cool.
Maybe it was his seeing that Wright’s success around the rim was the thing to do, senior guard Tyler Sipma used his quickness to his advantage, and repeatedly took his defender off the dribble to the rim, starting with the first possession of the third quarter.
That bucket started a 10-0 run for the Lyncs in which Sipma scored twice in the key, and served up a perfectly executed fast break with an assist to running mate, senior guard Dawson Bouma. Bouma then hit a tough 15-foot jumper to cap the run, putting the Lyncs up by five.
Later in the quarter, Lane Dykstra worked to secure an offensive rebound and was fouled going back to the rim. He missed both free throws, but ended up with another offensive rebound and was fouled again. This was the fourth personal on the Knights Nick Linhardt.
With the score tied at 36-36, senior Griffin Dykstra hit a long 3-pointer to beat the shot clock, and the Lyncs led by three, starting the fourth.
Linhardt picked up his fifth personal foul with 4:21 left in the game, and the Lyncs up by four.
With the Lyncs leading by five with just over three minutes to play, Lane Dykstra missed an open lay in, but after Kings scored at the other end, Dykstra nailed a 3-pointer from the right corner, giving the Lyncs a six point lead.
From there, the Lyncs built the lead, point by point, with their largest lead being the final score.
Lane Dykstra’s 11 points were the ones that hurt the Knights the most. Wright scored 15 points and had 14 rebounds and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
Sipma also scored 15 points for the Lyncs and was voted to the tournament’s second team.
After a hot start by the Knights, they ended up shooting 33 percent from the field for the game, including just 5-24 from 3-point land.
Hiatt led the Knights with 16 points, and Linhardt fouled out with 10. Both were named to the tournament’s first team. Also on the first team were Shane Rivera and Josh Perez of Toppenish.
Joining Sipma on the second team were Luke Navarre of Zillah, Mathew Russ of Blaine, Jake Shuey of Overlake and Boen Phelps of Freeman.
The Lyncs finish the season with a record of 26-2 and are 48-3 over the past two seasons.
Voting for the All-Tournament team has to be completed by halftime of the championship game and is not affiliated with the WIAA.
~ Ted House
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