CONNOR’S PICKS
Boys and girls basketball: 2A District 1 championships
5:30 and 7:15 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 14, Mount Vernon High School
The 2A District 1 championship games are always electric, especially in a gym like Mount Vernon’s, and they will be even more high stakes this year.
In previous seasons, the teams that reached the title games already secured state berths, with the third berth to be determined by the consolation final. Now, with just two berths to the 2A state tournament out of District 1, a championship win means one less game played and not having your season on the line with a loss.
It gets even juicier: Across the boys and girls brackets, there are seven teams ranked top 15 in the state, vying for four total berths, according to the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association’s RPI rankings.
On the boys side, No. 3 Lynden, No. 5 Cedarcrest and No. 6 Anacortes will compete for two state spots. In the girls bracket, No. 1 Lynden, No. 6 Archbishop Murphy, No. 8 Burlington-Edison and No. 13 Squalicum must also be narrowed down to two. No. 17 Sehome is also in the mix.
These games are going to be close, and this may be one of the tightest tournaments District 1 has ever seen.
WWU: Softball vs. University of British Columbia
11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, Viking Field
Western Washington University softball will return home after a nine-game, season-opening road trip in California to host the University of British Columbia at Viking Field.
As of Tuesday, Feb. 6, the Vikings are 4-0 — outscoring their opponents 25-11 at the 2024 CUI Kickoff Classic tournament, hosted by Concordia University Irvine.
Western was also slated to play two games against Biola University in La Mirada, California, on Feb. 6, but they were rained out.
The home doubleheader for Western, with nine games already played, will be the season opener for UBC. Assuming the Vikings stay hot, Western will be a tall task for the Thunderbirds as they try to shake off the rust.
Western split its doubleheader versus UBC last season on its way to a 26-23 season and Great Northwest Athletic Conference championship appearance. Eleven players returned from last year’s roster, while nine new players joined the fray — seven of whom are freshmen.
Recreation: Fragrance Lake 10k/half marathon/50k
6 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 17, Larrabee State Park
When it comes to difficult local running events, this one is high on the list.
This event includes a 10k (about 6.2 miles) a half marathon (13.1 miles) and a 50k race (31 miles). For reference, a full marathon is 26.2 miles.
To make it even tougher, the half marathon includes about 3,300 feet of elevation gain, according to the event’s website, while the 50k is more than twice that. The location, however, is among the best this region has to offer, with all races starting out of Larrabee State Park’s Lost Lake parking area.
The 50k race begins first at 6 a.m. before the half marathon gets going at 9 a.m. The 10k begins 30 minutes later at 9:30 a.m. (All participants must finish by 4 p.m.) Prices vary based on the race, and registration is open until 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 12.
FULL CALENDAR
Friday, Feb. 9
Boys basketball
2A District 1 consolation first round, 5:30 p.m., at higher seeds
2A District 1 semifinals, 5:30 p.m., Mount Vernon High School
3A District 1 quarterfinals, 7 p.m., at higher seeds
Boys swim
2A District 1 prelims, 2:45 p.m., Fidalgo Pool
3A District 1 prelims, 5:15 p.m., Snohomish Aquatic Center
WWU
Track and field at Husky Classic, all day, University of Washington
Softball at Sonoma State, 10 a.m.
Softball vs. Cal State Monterey Bay, 3 p.m., San Rafael, California
Recreation
Open Roller Skate, 6 p.m., Depot Market Square
Saturday, Feb. 10
Boys basketball
1A District 1 semifinals, 12 p.m. and 3 p.m., Lynden High School
Girls basketball
1A District 1 semifinals, 1:45 p.m. and 4:45 p.m., Lynden High School
2A District 1 semifinals, 5:30 p.m., Mount Vernon High School
2A District 1 consolation first round, 5:30 p.m., at higher seeds
3A District 1 quarterfinals, 7 p.m., at higher seeds
Boys swim
3A District 1 prelims, 10 a.m., Snohomish Aquatic Center
2A District 1 prelims, 11:15 a.m., Fidalgo Pool
Boys wrestling
1A regionals, time TBD, Vashon Island High School
2A regionals, time TBD, Highline High School
3A regionals, time TBD, Oak Harbor High School
Girls wrestling
1B/2B/1A/2A regionals, time TBD, White River High School
3A/4A regionals, time TBD, Monroe High School
WWU
Track and field at Husky Classic, all day, University of Washington
Softball vs. Chico State. 10 a.m., San Rafael, California
Softball vs. Cal State Monterey Bay, 12:30 p.m., San Rafael, California
Women’s basketball at Central Washington, 4 p.m.
Men’s basketball vs. MSU Billings, 7 p.m., Carver Gym
WCC
Women’s basketball at Shoreline, 2 p.m.
Men’s basketball at Shoreline, 4 p.m.
NHL
Seattle Kraken at Philadelphia Flyers, 4 p.m.
Recreation
Winter Twigs and Buds at Lake Whatcom, 9 a.m., North Lake Whatcom Park
Galbraith Community Race Series No. 4, 10 a.m., Galbraith Mountain and Padden Trails Parking Lot
Northern State Winter Run/Walk, 10 a.m., Northern State Recreation Area
Ski Dattle, 11 a.m., Salmon Ridge SnoPark Parking Lot
Sunday, Feb. 11
Recreation
Walking soccer, 6 p.m., Bellingham Sportsplex
Monday, Feb 12
Boys basketball
2A District 1 consolation quarterfinals, 5:30 p.m., Mount Vernon High School
2A District 1 consolation quarterfinals, 7:15 p.m., Mount Vernon High School
NHL
Seattle Kraken at New Jersey Devils, 4 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 13
Boys basketball
3A District 1 semifinals, 5 p.m., Marysville-Pilchuck High School
3A District 1 consolation semifinals, 7 p.m., at higher seeds
Girls basketball
2A District 1 consolation quarterfinals, 5:30 p.m., Mount Vernon High School
2A District 1 consolation quarterfinals, 7:15 p.m., Mount Vernon High School
NHL
Seattle Kraken at New York Islanders, 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 14
Boys basketball
2A District 1 championship, 7:15 p.m., Mount Vernon High School
Girls basketball
2A District 1 championship, 5:30 p.m., Mount Vernon High School
3A District 1 semifinals, 5 p.m., Marysville-Pilchuck High School
3A District 1 consolation semifinals, 7 p.m., at higher seeds
WCC
Women’s basketball vs. Olympic, 5:15 p.m., Whatcom Pavilion
Men’s basketball vs. Olympic, 7 p.m., Whatcom Pavilion
Recreation
Badminton at Bloedel, 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., Bloedel Donovan Multipurpose Room
Thursday, Feb. 15
Boys basketball
2A District 1 consolation semifinals, 7:15 p.m., Mount Vernon High School
Girls basketball
2A District 1 consolation semifinals, 5:30 p.m., Mount Vernon High School
Boys swim and dive
State championships, all day, King County Aquatic Center
WWU
Women’s basketball vs. Western Oregon, 7:15 p.m., Carver Gym
Men’s basketball at Alaska Fairbanks, 7:30 p.m.
NHL
Seattle Kraken at Boston Bruins, 4 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 16
Boys basketball
1A District 1 winner-to-state game, 5:30 p.m., Lynden High School
Girls basketball
1A District 1 winner-to-state game, 7:15 p.m., Lynden High School
Boys and girls wrestling
Mat Classic XXXV, all day, Tacoma Dome
Boys swim and dive
State championships, all day, King County Aquatic Center
Recreation
Therapeutic Movement and Meditation, 6 p.m., Bloedel Donovan Park’s Community Building
Saturday, Feb. 17
Boys basketball
2A District 1 winner-to-state game, 7:15 p.m., Mount Vernon High School
3A District 1 championship, 6 p.m., Marysville-Pilchuck High School
3A District 1 consolation finals, 10 a.m., Marysville-Pilchuck High School
Girls basketball
2A District 1 winner-to-state game, 5:30 p.m., Mount Vernon High School
3A District 1 championship, 8 p.m., Marysville-Pilchuck High School
3A District 1 consolation finals, 12 p.m., Marysville-Pilchuck High School
Boys and girls wrestling
Mat Classic XXXV, all day, Tacoma Dome
Boys swim and dive
State championships, all day, King County Aquatic Center
WWU
Softball vs. British Columbia, 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., Viking Field
Men’s basketball at Alaska Anchorage, 5:15 p.m.
Women’s basketball vs. Saint Martin’s, 7 p.m., Carver Gym
WCC
Women’s basketball vs. Bellevue, 2 p.m., Whatcom Pavilion
Men’s basketball vs. Bellevue, 4 p.m., Whatcom Pavilion
Recreation
Fragrance Lake 10k/Half/50k, 6 a.m., Larrabee State Park
Spacewolf Trail Day, 9 a.m., Spacewolf Mountain Biking Trail
Woolley Trail Runs, 9 a.m., Sedro-Woolley
Bushcraft Crash Course: Survival Basics, 10 a.m., Deming
Sunday, Feb. 18
Recreation
Ski Shuttle to Mount Baker, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Convergence Zone Recreation Center
Maple Creek Park Photography Walk, 11 a.m., 7842 Silver Lake Road, Maple Falls
CDN’s sports calendar is published online Thursdays and in print Fridays. To submit an event for consideration, email connorbenintendi@cascadiadaily.com. News Producer Eric Trent compiled the featured listings.
Connor J. Benintendi is CDN’s sports editor; reach him at connorbenintendi@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 104.
