Lynden Wins Double-Header Over Sehome

This week, there are nine Northwest Conference games involving same-classification teams.  It’s a good week to get read on the order of finish, headed into their respective district tournaments. 

On Wednesday night In Lynden, the Lions broke away from the Sehome Mariners early in the third quarter, on their way to an important 51-39 win. 

As of this night, six of the seven 2A teams have conference records above .500, which puts them in the top eight in the league.

Mount Vernon surprised Lakewood on Wednesday, as the Bulldogs won in the Cougars gym, 61-42.  The Bulldogs host Sedro-Woolley on Friday.

The Cubs got a win over 3A foe, Ferndale, 57-47, also on Wednesday.

The Mariners were the aggressor against the Lions in the first quarter.  Senior 6-2 post Cole Turrell, scored six of the Mariners 12 first-quarter points, as the Mariners forced the Lions into some early turnovers and missed 3-point shots for a three-point lead after eight minutes.

Sophomore guard Jayden Navarre hit back-to-back threes early in the second quarter to give the Lions a 15-14 lead, but the teams continued to struggle against the defenses, and were tied at 19-19 with 2:30 left in the half.

This game was void of any transition opportunities. 

Lions 6-7 senior forward, Ty Jorgenson, scored six points on the night, but four of those accounted for the Lions 25-21 lead at halftime.  Jorgenson hit consecutive buckets in the final minute of the half.

Lynden quickly built on that lead in the third quarter, as junior guard Malachi Koenen started the half with a 3-pointer from the left corner, then 6-6 senior forward Spencer Adams scored inside to push the lead to nine.  Koenen hit another from beyond the arc seconds later to give the Lions an 8-0 run and a 12-point lead with less than three minutes played in the third quarter.

This game featured a couple of very unusual scores, one by each team.

In the middle of the third quarter, Turrell was at the free throw line.  His second shot clipped the front rim and bounced quickly back to the middle of the key.  It then ricocheted off the hands of two different Lions, then was knocked into the air by Mariners senior forward Carter Duckworth.  The ball hit the front of the rim, and was easily followed in off the backboard by Mariners senior forward Xavier Kelley.

Then, with 39 seconds left in the game, and the Lions leading by ten, Adams was at the free throw line, and hit the first of two.  The Mariners had three players on the lane and the rest of the Lions were in back court.

Adams missed his second free throw, perfectly off the back rim.  The Mariners did not react quickly to the miss as it caromed back toward Adams.  He rebounded the ball going toward the hoop and scored from five feet away off the glass.

Those two plays and the interaction between the players was a very interesting part of the game.  I love sportsmanship, and both teams exhibited that very well. 

There was a battle all game between the bulky 6-2 Turrell, and the Lions new post defender, 6-0 Brody Price, who is also very well put together.

In the middle of the fourth quarter, Price had Turrell blocked out in the middle of the key for a rebound.  Turrell then tried to tie things up for a held ball, but Price, in trying to pull the ball free, had his momentum send him to the floor.  A foul was called on Turrell, but the two slapped hands, and Turrell gave Price a friendly pat on the head.

Late in the game, Turrell had Price posted up, and making a move to the hoop, but was called for an offensive foul as Price hit the floor.  Turrell did not hesitate to offer his hand to Price to help him up.

Back to the numbers, Adams scored 14 of his game-high 18 points in the second half.  Navarre added ten and Koenen nine, as both hit three 3-pointers.

Kelley was the only Mariner in double-figures with ten points.  Wright finished with nine, and Duckworth eight.

Both have important games on Friday, with Sehome traveling to Lakewood, and the Lions on the road at Burlington-Edison.

The Lynden girls started the evening with a 70-19 win over Sehome.  The Lions are now 13-0 on the season and are up to 61 consecutive wins.  Junior guard Finley Parcher led the Lions with 31 points. 

The team exhibits pin-point passing, stifling defense, accurate outside shooting, and several capable scorers.  Their focus remains at a high level, and they boast an incredible 41-point score differential. 

They have won two straight 2A state championships, but this is their most dominant season of the three, so far.  I have been asked about their place in local history, and I think they will be spoken of similarly to that of the 1996 Sehome Mariners, who just celebrated their 30-year anniversary.  But they will certainly have to finish the season, still with the gold ball in their possession.

The Mariners are a very solid 10-4 on the season, and remain in good position for a state tournament berth. 

~ Ted House