LYNDEN — While most students are enjoying their winter break, eight championship-caliber girls basketball teams met at the Lynden Christmas Classic Dec. 26–28 to test their early-season mettle at Lynden Christian High.
The Lyncs hosted Brookswood, British Columbia, 4A powerhouses Emerald Ridge and Issaquah, 3A contenders Meadowdale, Snohomish and White River, and defending 2A champion Lynden.
“(Lynden) coach (Rob) Adams and I try to build relationships throughout the season,” Lynden Christian coach Brady Bomber said. “People respect the basketball and community in Lynden and we are already working on the field for next year. We are looking for high-talent teams but also schools that represent their community well.”
Gallery: Lynden girls claim Lynden Christmas Classic title
The Lynden Christmas Classic began in 2021 and has grown into an eight-team bracket since then. In the four years, Lynden has won twice in 2023 and 2024, Eastlake won in 2022 and Tumwater in 2021.
This year, Lynden defeated Meadowdale in the first round, 69-51, Issaquah in the second round, 65-49, and White River in the title game, 72-51. Lynden Christian finished fourth after defeating Brookswood 47-42, then losing to White River 56-53 and Issaquah 68-58.
“It feels amazing because it shows the hard work we have put in has paid off,” Lynden’s Payton Mills said.
Each team that entered the tournament paid a $550 registration fee and played three games; one each day. The fees cover the cost of the referees, the use of the gymnasium and two hotel nights for the traveling teams.
“It takes a lot of work with volunteers and sponsors that sacrifice a lot of hours to give these athletes a great experience,” Bomber said. “We have dozens of volunteers working the scorebooks, clocks and serving food to kids and coaches after the game.”
With all the talented teams on the court, players have the ability to make themselves a household name. In the past four years, 22 players who played in the Lynden Christmas Classic have gone on to compete in college, including LC alums Demi Dykstra and Libby Stump, who are now at Western, and former Nooksack Valley’s Devin Coppinger, who plays for the University of Washington.
“Every team we bring here, we ask ourselves if it would be a good game for us,” Bomber said. “There are lessons we learn we can use for later in the year and try to prepare for the games in March.”
Lynden’s Mills and Finley Parcher are the newest names who helped the Lions with the tourney title last season. Parcher, who won the tournament MVP award this year, broke the tournament record of points scored in a single game (40).
“It feels good but the work is not done yet,” Parcher said. “We still have work to do to make it to state. It is a small milestone.”
Mills, who was last year’s tourney MVP, broke her previous record of most rebounds in a single game (18) this year.
After another successful tournament, Bomber and his crew will look at the feedback in the next few weeks and begin preparing for the 2025 version.
Nick Zeller-Singh is CDN's sports reporter; reach him at nickzellersingh@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 104.
