Northwest Conference Basketball Championships: It’s Going to be a Close Finish
The race for the Northwest Conference basketball championships is heating up as the regular season comes to a close. With only three days remaining, the top teams are battling it out for the title.
College Basketball:
The Western Washington University men’s basketball team suffered two losses in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play, while the women’s team secured a big win. Additionally, the Vikings’ track and field team set new program records.
Here’s a recap of the highlights from the past week of winter sports:
Prep
Boys Basketball
The competition for the Northwest Conference title is intense, with Lynden, Lynden Christian, and Mount Vernon leading the pack.
Lynden (16-3, 13-0 NWC), Lynden Christian (18-1, 12-1 NWC), and Mount Vernon (16-2, 12-1 NWC) are all within one game of each other. The upcoming games between these teams will determine the conference champion.
Mount Vernon will face Lynden on Thursday, Feb. 1, followed by a match between Lynden and Lynden Christian on Saturday, Feb. 3. If Lynden defeats Mount Vernon and Lynden Christian defeats Squalicum on Jan. 31, the final game between Lynden and Lynden Christian will decide the league title.
In their most recent game, Lynden secured a 61-52 victory over Ferndale, with senior guard Anthony Canales leading the team with 21 points and nine rebounds. The win streak for Lynden has now reached nine games.
Lynden Christian has also been performing well, winning their last six games. The team defeated Meridian, 72-47, on Jan. 30.
Bellingham (11-8, 9-5 NWC) suffered a loss to Meridian but managed to bounce back with a 63-49 victory over Mount Baker.
Squalicum (9-9, 7-6 NWC) had back-to-back wins against Oak Harbor and Lakewood, placing them in seventh place in the league standings.
Nooksack Valley (11-8, 7-6 NWC) experienced two consecutive losses, but they remain in a good position as the 1A District 1 tournament’s second seed.
Girls Basketball
Nooksack Valley (18-1, 14-0 NWC) is on track to secure their third consecutive NWC title, needing just one more win against Anacortes to seal the deal.
Lynden (18-1, 12-1 NWC) is in a close second, with their only league loss against Nooksack Valley. If Nooksack Valley wins their remaining two games, they will secure the league title.
Lynden beat Burlington-Edison and Ferndale in their recent games, maintaining an impressive average margin of victory of 42.5 points in league games.
Lynden Christian (14-5, 11-2 NWC) has won their last six games, with a healthy Grace Hintz leading the team. They defeated Ferndale and Sehome in their most recent matchups.
In terms of district seeding, Sehome (11-5, 10-4 NWC) and Squalicum (13-6, 8-5 NWC) are in interesting positions. Sehome is likely to secure the third seed in the 2A District 1 tournament, while Squalicum is expected to be the fourth seed.
Ferndale (9-9, 8-5 NWC) will be an intriguing team to watch in the upcoming 3A District 1 tournament.
WWU
Track and Field
Western Washington University’s track and field team achieved notable milestones at the UW Invitational. Juniors Kevin McDermott and Sophie Wright broke indoor school records in the mile run.
McDermott set the men’s mile record with a time of 4:02.13, surpassing the previous record set in 2022. Wright broke the women’s mile record with a time of 4:53.96.
The team’s next meet will be the UW Classic, followed by the GNAC Indoor Championships.
Men’s Basketball
The Western Washington University men’s basketball team faced two defeats last week, continuing their recent struggles. They lost to Central Washington and Northwest Nazarene, marking their fifth loss in seven games.
In their most recent game against Northwest Nazarene, Western fought hard but couldn’t secure a last-second victory. The team is now in sixth place in the GNAC standings.
The Vikings will face Saint Martin’s in their upcoming game.
Written by: Connor J. Benintendi