CONNOR’S PICKS
1A regional boys basketball: Life Christian Academy at Meridian
8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23, Mount Vernon High School
If you missed the shot that rocked the Whatcom County prep basketball world last weekend, go read about it.
Meridian’s Cohen Fuller saved the Trojans’ season with a buzzer-beating layup, and now they are looking to get out of regionals and into the state tournament’s 12-team bracket. Meridian (12-11) was seeded No. 10 in the regional round, and it will host No. 15 Life Christian Academy (13-10) as a result.
It’s the first time Meridian is headed to regionals since 2020, and this is one of just two elimination games that will be played by local teams this weekend. The last time the Trojans faced elimination at this stage was that same 2020 season, and they made it all the way to the state quarterfinals before losing two in a row.
Can Fuller replicate his magic from the district final? Is Life Christian Academy as good as its record despite playing in an all-around easier league? How do the Trojans stack up to the other teams in the state tournament?
All those questions and more should be answered by the end of this game.
WWU: Softball vs. Simon Fraser
11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., March 2–3, Viking Field
This year’s Western softball team is getting serious. Not just within the Great Northwest Athletic Conference or the West Region — but nationally.
The No. 18 nationally-ranked Vikings are off to their second-best start in the program’s 32-year history (they began 12-0 in 2011). Their 11-game win streak ranks fourth in program history. Western built on its 9-0 start, entirely on the road, by sweeping the University of British Columbia in its first home doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 17.
If Western remains undefeated by the time these four games against Simon Fraser roll around, we will be looking at the most prolific regular season run in Vikings history.
They have a pair of doubleheaders before then — both on the road — against Saint Martin’s (8-2) and Western Oregon (5-7). Saint Martin’s, especially, will test these mighty Vikings.
Recreation: Padden Mudfest
10 a.m. Sunday, March 3, Lake Padden Park
When I first read the name of this event, with no context whatsoever, I imagined a bunch of people gathering at Lake Padden Park and somehow celebrating mud with an obscure recreational sport — whether it was sledding in it, playing soccer in it, or something else.
Turns out it’s a pair of trail races (5K and 10K), and the event is in its 22nd year. The Padden Mudfest is named because it was originally held in early November, according to its website, when heavy rains often began to fall. That makes a little more sense.
The event offers “an introduction to conditions usually encountered in ultra-marathons,” but in a smaller-scale environment. That means winding trails, volatile inclines and declines, small hazards and, of course, mud.
Registration information, including pricing, is available online. The event even has merch available for purchase.
FULL CALENDAR
Friday, Feb. 23
Boys basketball
1A regionals: Life Christian Academy at Meridian, 8 p.m., Mount Vernon High School
2A regionals: Prosser at Lynden, 8 p.m., Lynden High School
Girls basketball
2A regionals: White River at Lynden, 6 p.m., Lynden High School
WWU
Track and field at Ken Shannon Last Chance Invite, 12 p.m., Dempsey Indoor (Seattle)
Softball at Saint Martin’s, 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 24
Boys basketball
1B regionals: Naselle at Lummi Nation, 2 p.m., Mount Vernon High School
1A regionals: Seton Catholic at Lynden Christian, 2 p.m., Lynden High School
Girls basketball
1B regionals: Taholah at Lummi Nation, 12 p.m., Mount Vernon High School
1A regionals: Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) at Lynden Christian, 12 p.m., Lynden High School
1A regionals: Toppenish at Nooksack Valley, 4 p.m., Mount Vernon High School
WWU
Track and field at Ken Shannon Last Chance Invite, 10 a.m., Dempsey Indoor (Seattle)
Softball vs. Western Oregon, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., at Saint Martin’s University
Women’s basketball vs. Seattle Pacific, 4:15 p.m.
Men’s basketball vs. Central Washington, 7 p.m., Carver Gym
WCC
Women’s basketball at Skagit Valley, 2 p.m.
Men’s basketball at Skagit Valley, 4 p.m.
NHL
Minnesota Wild at Seattle Kraken, 7 p.m.
Recreation
Bellingham Bay Outrigger Paddlers Winter Series Race #4, 10 a.m., Marine Park
Lord Hill Trail Runs, 8 a.m., Lord Hill Regional Park
Fort Ebey Kettles Trail Run, 9 a.m., Fort Eby State Park
Native Plant Restoration, 9 a.m., Galbraith Mountain and Padden Trails Parking Lot
Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition Oriental Express Trail Day, 9:30 a.m.
Sunday, Feb. 25
Recreation
Walking Soccer, 6 p.m., Bellingham Sportsplex
Monday, Feb. 26
NHL
Boston Bruins at Seattle Kraken, 7 p.m.
Recreation
Gangball, 4 p.m., Bloedel Donovan Community Building
Skagit County Birds, 4:30 p.m., Civic Athletic Complex
Open Track Night, 5:30 p.m., Civic Stadium
Tuesday, Feb. 27
Recreation
Sunnyland Park work party, 10 a.m., Sunnyland Park
Wednesday, Feb. 28
Boys basketball
1B state opening round: times and opponents TBD, Spokane Arena
1A state opening round: times and opponents TBD, Yakima Valley SunDome
2A state opening round: times and opponents TBD, Yakima Valley SunDome
Girls basketball
1B state opening round: times and opponents TBD, Spokane Arena
1A state opening round: times and opponents TBD, Yakima Valley SunDome
2A state opening round: times and opponents TBD, Yakima Valley SunDome
WCC
Women’s basketball vs. Everett, 5 p.m., Whatcom Pavilion
Men’s basketball vs. Everett, 7 p.m., Whatcom Pavilion
Recreation
Badminton at Bloedel, 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., Bloedel Gymnasium/Multipurpose Room
Thursday, Feb. 29
Boys basketball
1B state quarterfinals: times and opponents TBD, Spokane Arena
1A state quarterfinals: times and opponents TBD, Yakima Valley SunDome
2A state quarterfinals: times and opponents TBD, Yakima Valley SunDome
Girls basketball
1B state quarterfinals: times and opponents TBD, Spokane Arena
1A state quarterfinals: times and opponents TBD, Yakima Valley SunDome
2A state quarterfinals: times and opponents TBD, Yakima Valley SunDome
NHL
Pittsburgh Penguins at Seattle Kraken, 7 p.m.
Recreation
BBay LifeTrek Information Session, 5:30 p.m., 1431 N. State St.
Friday, March 1
Boys basketball
1B state semifinals, consolation rounds: times and opponents TBD, Spokane Arena
1A state semifinals, consolation round: times and opponents TBD, Yakima Valley SunDome
2A state semifinals, consolation rounds: times and opponents TBD, Yakima Valley SunDome
Girls basketball
1B state semifinals, consolation rounds: times and opponents TBD, Spokane Arena
1A state semifinals, consolation rounds: times and opponents TBD, Yakima Valley SunDome
2A state semifinals, consolation rounds: times and opponents TBD, Yakima Valley SunDome
WWU
Track and field at Puget Sound, all day
Saturday, March 2
Boys basketball
1B state finals, trophy rounds: times and opponents TBD, Spokane Arena
1A state finals, trophy rounds: times and opponents TBD, Yakima Valley SunDome
2A state finals, trophy rounds: times and opponents TBD, Yakima Valley SunDome
Girls basketball
1B state finals, trophy rounds: times and opponents TBD, Spokane Arena
1A state finals, trophy rounds: times and opponents TBD, Yakima Valley SunDome
2A state finals, trophy rounds: times and opponents TBD, Yakima Valley SunDome
WWU
Track and field at Puget Sound, all day
Softball vs. Simon Fraser, 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., Viking Field
Women’s basketball at Simon Fraser, 5:15 p.m.
Men’s basketball at Simon Fraser, 7:30 p.m.
NHL
Edmonton Oilers at Seattle Kraken, 1 p.m.
Recreation
Fort Fight Friday, 3 a.m., Bloedel Donovan Community Building
Double Down Trail Day, 9 a.m., Lost Lake parking lot
Sunday, March 3
WWU
Softball vs. Simon Fraser, 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., Viking Field
Recreation
Lowell Park work party, 9 a.m., Lowell Park
Padden Mudfest, 10 a.m., Lake Padden Park
Fire and Breadmaking: An Outdoor Skills Course, 11:30 a.m., 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.
