MOUNT VERNON — Two years after the last team snipped down nets at Mount Vernon High School, the Lynden Lions wielded the scissors following a 76-49 victory over the Sehome Mariners on Friday at the 2A District 1 boys basketball title game.
The Lions used 10 3-pointers and forced 18 Sehome turnovers to craft an early lead and blow the game open in the third quarter on the back of a 16-3 run spanning the halftime break. Lynden never loosened its grip on the lead, grabbing a 30-point advantage early in the fourth and grabbing the season’s first trophy.
“It was awesome, a great environment,” said Lynden junior guard Coston Parcher. “It was like a state environment and felt like home. We came out and treated them like just another opponent and played loose. It was a great effort.”
Senior Dawson Adams hit five 3-pointers, at least one in each quarter, for 15 points while senior Jordan Medcalf added three 3-pointers en route to a game-high 21 points and nine rebounds. Lynden sophomore Anthony Canales added 15 points and three steals while Parcher hit a three as part of his 15 points while distributing three assists.
“I found myself open and shot it,” Adams said about his 50% shooting from beyond the arc. “This lasts for the night and then we worry about the next one.”
Both teams had already earned spots in the 16-team regional round of the 2A state basketball tournament. They now await seeding and matchups, released by the WIAA on Sunday, all in a bid to reach the Yakima Valley SunDome.
“Our coach is very introspective and told us to keep our heads high,” said Sehome junior Mathew Storms, who led the Mariners with 16 points. “Twenty-six senior classes didn’t get to play in this game, and we did. We are back to practice focused and ready to go to the [Sun]Dome.”
Sehome received additional offense from Isaac Lawrence, who had nine points on three 3-pointers, junior Grant Kepley’s nine points and seven from junior Dane Dominguez.
Lynden outrebounded Sehome 30-25, had half the turnovers and more than twice the assists (17-6). Lynden head coach Brian Roper credited the guard rotation of Parcher, senior Kaleo Jandoc and junior Kobe Baar for the pressure.
“We wanted to be relentless on both sides of the ball for 32 minutes,” Roper said. “I felt like our ball pressure disrupted their timing. We are wanting to play downhill, and our mantra is no easy baskets. With our quickness we can extend (our defense).”
The Lions said playing looser helped them play aggressively.
“I was trying to tell the guy you don’t have to stress,” Adams said. “Every win gives us confidence.”
Medcalf credited a hard week of practice following Monday’s semifinal victory for preparing the team for the district title contest. “We wanted this and played hard,” he said. “It was a team effort.”
But Medcalf, the rest of the Lions and the entire group of Mariners know that they’re striving to hold scissors and get their hands on a little larger trophy come March 5.
“Yeah,” Medcalf said, “that state trophy would be nice.”
