There was one fantastic start. Then an incredible comeback. Finally, a fantastic finish. Plus, many game changing events in between.
The Lakewood Cougars had the incredible start and the fantastic finish. They claimed the 2025 2A District Championship, with a 50-49 win over the Lynden Lions, Wednesday, at Mount Vernon High School.
The Cougars have qualified for state, while the Lions will play for the second and final berth on Saturday. They will await the winner of Thursday’s game between Archbishop Murphy and Burlington-Edison.
The Cougars came out on fire at both ends of the floor. Their back-court harassment of Lynden guards paid dividends. And when in front court, the Lakewood zone was active, tipping pass after pass, knocking the Lions offense sideways.
The Cougars led 12-0 as the Lions used their second timeout in the first 4:10 of the game. The Lions suffered through shot clock violations and ten-second back-court violations, and when junior forward Caleb Greenland hit his third 3-point shot of the opening quarter, the Cougars led 18-0.
The Lions first points came on a 3-point shot by junior forward Spencer Adams with 30 seconds left in the first quarter. It was 18-3 after eight minutes.
The Lions were still stuck on three points until junior forward Ty Jorgenson hit a shot with 4:40 left in the half. By that time, senior guard Nash Espe was finding his way down the middle of the Lions defense for a variety of lay-ins and the Cougars had a lead of 25-5.
As the Lions defense began to take hold, they were able to rebound and transition into offense. Adams hit a 3-pointer that started a Lions run to halftime.
Senior forward Brant Heppner followed the Adams three with one of his own, in transition, then another bucket by Heppner, and the Lions crawled to within 12.
Jorgenson scored inside to complete a 10-0 run for the Lions. Espe hit two more runners inside around a Heppner 3-pointer. Sophomore guard Gordy Bedlington hit a 3-point shot to cap the scoring in the first half. The Lions run was 16-4, and trailed 29-21 at halftime.
The Lions kept the run going in the third quarter as Heppner hit the first shot, then sophomore guard Malachi Koenen added a 3-pointer.
By the time junior guard Brody Price completed a 3-point play, the scored was tied at 31-31. The Lions had overcome the Cougars 25-5 run with a 26-6 run of their own.
Espe hit a big-3-pointer to give the Cougars the lead back, but a jumper by Heppner gave the Lions their first lead of the game, 35-34, with 2:20 to play in the third quarter.
The Lions took control in the fourth quarter, even opening up a six-point lead, 46-40, with 3:55 left.
The Cougars got a bucket with three minutes left to cut the lead to two.
The Lions then had the ball for a while, as they were able to get two offensive rebounds on two misses. After a timeout, they failed to connect with just under two minutes to play.
The Cougars turned the ball over on their next possession, but the Lions did the same as the shot clock ran out during a scramble for a loose ball with 1:07 to go, with the Lions still leading by four.
With 50 second left, Greenland drove the middle around his defender, the Lions Jack Stapleton. With fouls to give, Stapleton reached out and got a hold of Greenland from behind, and was charged with an intentional foul.
Greenland hit both free throws, and with possession, senior guard Quinton Steen swished a 3-point shot from the left corner, off of an inbounds play, giving the Cougars a 5-point trip and a 47-46 lead.
The Lions worked the ball outside the Lakewood zone until Adams hit a long 3-pointer from the right wing, and the Lions had the lead back, 49-47, with 20 seconds left.
After a timeout, Lakewood senior guard Evan Stacey had the ball in the right corner, with not much room to operate, and his back to the basket and time running out. Espe came to his aid, took a short pitch and nailed the shot of the game. From deep in the right corner, in traffic, the ball hit nothing but net, and left five seconds on the clock.
After a Lynden timeout, everyone in “The Palace” knew that Heppner was the one the Lions would go to. He had to flash into back court to receive the inbounds pass. He went up the left sideline, and was able to maneuver for a shot from 28 feet away. The ball was on line, but hit the back rim, the Cougars celebrated their first district tournament championship.
The Lakewood win ends this season’s streak of 23 straight wins by the Lions, which extends to 31 straight over two seasons. The Cougars are now 18-6, and will rest with confidence, awaiting their regional matchup.
Espe was the Lion killer, scoring 23 points, including the game winner. Espe scored nine of his teams 11 points in the second quarter, and their first five points of the third quarter. Greenland had the three early 3-pointers, but did not score again until the two late free throws, finishing with 11 points.
Heppner’s 19 led the Lions, with Adams finishing with nine.
Forcing turnovers was the key to the Cougars early success, but in the end, both teams had trouble in that column, with the Lions ending up with 17 turnovers to Lakewood’s 15.
In 3A district tournament action, the Ferndale Golden Eagles had their season end in the hands of Marysville-Getchell, 56-38. Ferndale finished with an 11-11 record.
The news was better for the Sedro-Woolley Cubs, as they got a win at home over Snohomish, 56-50.
It was tight all the way until the Cubs opened an eight-point lead on two free throws by junior forward Ethan DeJohn with :59 seconds left. The lead slipped to just two points on a 3-point shot by the Panthers with 15 seconds to play. DeJong would hit four more free throws to seal the win for the Cubs.
The Cubs move on to a Saturday, winner to state game. The #6 seed Cubs (13-7) will take on #4 Shorewood (15-9), at noon, at Marysville-Pilchuck High School.
~ Ted House
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