CONNOR’S PICKS
State basketball: 1A/2A championships
Various times, Saturday, March 2, Yakima Valley SunDome
Four Whatcom County teams have played in these games each of the past two seasons. The only game they haven’t dominated is the 2A girls championship, and the No. 2-seeded Lynden girls could change that this year.
Five teams are in contention: The Lynden boys (2A), Lynden girls, Lynden Christian boys (1A), LC girls and Nooksack Valley girls (1A). All five are top-three seeds in their respective tournaments, and each have a strong chance to play for a title.
Even though the claim could already be made, Whatcom County will truly own the 1A and 2A classifications if it can sweep all four championship games. Local teams have won three in consecutive seasons leading up to this year’s tournaments.
Championship Saturday in the Yakima Valley SunDome is, in my opinion, the best day of the year in Washington prep sports. Then again, I have been spoiled by a whole lot of championship trophies being hoisted in my time covering these teams.
WWU: Women’s basketball at GNAC Championships
Various times, March 7–9, Nicholson Pavilion (Ellensburg)
Unfortunately, Western Washington University’s athletics teams don’t host a single event this week. Thus, the Vikings’ women’s basketball team gunning for their fourth straight bid to the NCAA Division II West Regional tops the list. (The men’s team has not clinched a postseason berth, which is why it isn’t included here.)
Western is the defending Great Northwest Athletic Conference tournament champion, beating MSU Billings in a 76-71 thriller at Carver Gym last season in the title game. Last season, however, the Vikings were the top seed.
MSU Billings (24-4, 15-1 GNAC) currently has the upper hand this season after beating Western (21-5, 14-3 GNAC) in their last regular season meeting of the season on Thursday, Feb. 22. If the Yellowjackets win one of their two remaining games on Thursday, Feb. 29 or Saturday, March 2, they will clinch the top seed in the tournament.
Even if they don’t win the league championship, the Vikings can still earn an at-large bid to the West Regional, and likely would as the nation’s 13th-ranked team in Division II.
Western made its first-ever trip to the national championship in 2022 as an at-large selection — losing to Central Washington, 57-46, in the GNAC title game that year.
Recreation: Fort Fight Friday (dodgeball)
7 p.m. Friday, March 1, Bloedel Donovan Community Building
Why host a regular community game of dodgeball when you can add a fort-building contest to it and implement them as barriers? It’s genius.
This is an unconventional take on the game many of us played in grade school. The rules are simple: You bring your large fort materials (sheets, cardboard, etc.), and the organizer provides the pieces to put it all together (tape, paper, chairs, etc.)
Teams of two to four people have 30 minutes to construct their fort before the game begins, and the last fort standing after being pelted with dodgeballs wins. The game is open to all ages, meaning families can join as one team if desired.
When it comes to local indoor activities during the winter, this one sounds like a keeper. More information is available on the event’s website.
FULL CALENDAR
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
Recreation
Fort Fight Friday, 7 p.m., Bloedel Donovan Community Building
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 University of 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
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
Monday, March 4
WWU
Men’s golf at NNU Nighthawk Invitational, all day, Pleasanton, California
NHL
Seattle Kraken at Calgary Flames, 6:30 p.m.
Recreation
Gangball, 4 p.m., Bloedel Donovan Community Building
Tuesday, March 5
WWU
Men’s golf at NNU Nighthawk Invitational, all day, Pleasanton, California
NHL
Seattle Kraken at Winnipeg Jets, 5 p.m.
Wednesday, March 6
Recreation
Badminton at Bloedel, 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., Bloedel Gymnasium/Multipurpose Room
Thursday, March 7
WWU
Men’s basketball at GNAC Championships, time TBD, Nicholson Pavilion (Ellensburg)
Women’s basketball at GNAC Championships, time TBD, Nicholson Pavilion (Ellensburg)
Friday, March 8
Baseball
Blaine at Burlington-Edison, 4 p.m.
Nooksack Valley at Mariner, 4 p.m.
WWU
Men’s basketball at GNAC Championships, time TBD, Nicholson Pavilion (Ellensburg)
Women’s basketball at GNAC Championships, time TBD, Nicholson Pavilion (Ellensburg)
Men’s track and field at NCAA Division II Indoor Championships, all day, Pittsburg, Kansas
Women’s track and field at NCAA Division II Indoor Championships, all day, Pittsburg, Kansas
NHL
Winnipeg Jets at Seattle Kraken, 7 p.m.
Recreation
Open Roller Skate, 6 p.m., Depot Market Square
Saturday, March 9
Baseball
Nooksack Valley at Selah, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Oak Harbor at Ferndale, 12 p.m.
Mount Baker at Orcas Island, 12:30 p.m.
Sehome at Port Angeles, 1 p.m.
Lynden Christian at Bellingham, 1 p.m.
Sehome vs. Forks, 3:30 p.m., Civic Field, Port Angeles
Softball
Ferndale at Squalicum, 1 p.m.
Boys soccer
Squalicum at Marysville-Pilchuck, 7 p.m.
WWU
Men’s basketball at GNAC Championships, time TBD, Nicholson Pavilion (Ellensburg)
Women’s basketball at GNAC Championships, time TBD, Nicholson Pavilion (Ellensburg)
Men’s track and field at NCAA Division II Indoor Championships, all day, Pittsburg, Kansas
Women’s track and field at NCAA Division II Indoor Championships, all day, Pittsburg, Kansas
Men’s and women’s outdoor track and field at PLU Open, all day, Pacific Lutheran University
Women’s rowing at PLU Invitational, all day, American Lake
Sunday, March 10
Recreation
Walking Soccer, 6 p.m., Bellingham Sportsplex
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.
