It’s here. It’s finally here.
The high school basketball postseason is back for the first time since 2020 and while things have changed drastically since then, one thing remains the same: Whatcom County teams have the potential to bring back some trophies from the state tournament. They just have to get there first.
That may not be as clear-cut as it seems. One local team, No. 7 Ferndale, hit a roadblock even before it left home: The team’s District 1 3A tournament was to open at Snohomish Monday, but the game was canceled without explanation early Monday and listed as a 2-0 loss for Ferndale (see below).
For other local schools, the first stop on the way to state is the district tournament.
Here’s a breakdown by classification.
Class 1A
Every 1A team in the Northwest Conference qualified for the district tournament. As the top two seeds, No. 1 Nooksack Valley and No. 2 Lynden Christian are automatically in the championship game Friday. It’ll be the first rematch between the Pioneers and Lyncs this season. Another could come in March in Yakima.
Nooksack Valley took round one 74-68 back in December.
While the championship game is already set, tournament action gets started Tuesday with No. 5 Mount Baker visiting No. 4 Blaine in a loser-out match.
The winner of that will take a trip Wednesday to No. 3 Meridian in another loser-out game. The winner of that game will play the loser of the championship game Tuesday, Feb. 15. The loser of that is out and the winner moves on to the District 1/2 crossover game Saturday, Feb. 19, at King’s High School to play the fourth and fifth seed out of District 2.
Winners of the crossover games advance to regionals. Losers are out.
The 1A bracket can be found here.
Meridian’s Allie Richter shoots a three-point shot during a game against Oak Harbor on Jan. 4. (Andy Bronson/Cascadia Daily News)
Class 2A
Bellingham locked down the No. 8 seed, meaning the Bayhawks will host No. 9 Lakewood Thursday in a loser-out contest.
If the Bayhawks come out with a win, they’ll move on to play at No. 1 Burlington-Edison Saturday. That game is not a loser-out match.
Lynden secured the No. 3 seed and will host No. 6 Squalicum Saturday.
As the No. 4 seed, Sehome also gets a home game and will play No. 5 Anacortes.
Starting Feb. 15, games will be played at Mount Vernon High School. This includes the semifinals, championship game and consolation bracket.
The top three teams out of the tournament advance to regionals.
The 2A bracket can be found here.
Lynden’s Mallary Villars and Haylee Koetje leap to block a shot by Lynden Christian’s Reganne Arnold in a girls basketball game on Jan. 27. (Andy Bronson/Cascadia Daily News)
Class 3A
The District 1 3A tournament begins Monday and No. 7 Ferndale was scheduled to open the tournament at No. 2 Snohomish.
That game has been canceled due to health protocols. The game on the Wesco and Northwest Conference websites is officially listed as a 2-0 win for Snohomish.
Ferndale will play Wednesday against an opponent that is to be determined.
The Department of Health recently changed its COVID-19 testing requirements for high-risk sports such as basketball and wrestling. These sports are now required to test on game day.
The 3A bracket can be found here.
