CONNOR’S PICKS
Boys basketball: 2A District 1 semifinals
5:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9, Mount Vernon High School
We’ve made it to the point in the basketball season where we can’t predict matchups, so all I can do is inform you of the annual events that never disappoint. The 2A District 1 boys basketball semifinals are near the top of that list.
Last season, both semifinal games were decided by three points or less, with Sehome and Anacortes going on to meet in the title game and the latter claiming the district title. Sehome beat Lynden, 46-44, while Anacortes edged Lakewood, 52-49. This year’s semifinal matchups may feature three teams all ranked top-10 in the state, between Lynden, Cedarcrest and Anacortes.
Lynden (16-3, 13-0 Northwest Conference) is currently ranked second among Class 2A schools in the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association’s RPI Rankings, which uses win percentage as a tool for heavily influencing state tournament seeding.
Cedarcrest (16-3, 11-3 WESCO) is right below the Lions in fourth, and Anacortes (14-4, 10-3 NWC) is ranked No. 7. If all three teams make it to the semifinals, two will have to face each other.
It would be a matchup we would expect to see at state, but nearly two weeks earlier — made even more fascinating by the fact only two of the three can reach the 2A state tournament. District 1’s 2A state allocations decreased from three to two this season.
Regardless of what teams make it to the penultimate stage of districts, history has shown these are must-attend games.
WWU: Men’s basketball vs. Montana State Billings
7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, Carver Gym
Montana State Billings’ teams have emerged as the ones to beat in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Western Washington University’s women’s team slid into first place in the league after beating the Yellowjackets on Saturday, Jan. 27, and now the Vikings’ men’s group needs a momentum shift.
Western (12-8, 4-5 GNAC) plummeted to sixth place in the league standings after consecutive losses last week to Central Washington and Northwest Nazarene. The 97-75 loss to rival Central Washington was made worse by it being the team’s largest margin of defeat so far this season.
League-leading MSUB (14-5, 8-1 GNAC) will be exactly the test the Vikings need to gauge their postseason viability. After losing to the Yellowjackets, 97-84, on Jan. 11, Western has a chance to make a statement on its home floor.
Offensively, it will be a backcourt battle between Western junior guard Kai Johnson, the GNAC’s leading scorer, and MSUB junior guard Jalen Tot. Johnson is averaging 22.4 points per game, which has him ranked eighth in the nation at the NCAA Division II level. Tot ranks seventh in the GNAC with 14.8 points per game.
Western has lost its last three matchups with MSUB, dating back to Jan. 5, 2023. The last time the Vikings beat the Yellowjackets was at Carver Gym on Feb. 17, 2022.
Recreation: Open track night
5:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 5, Civic Stadium
If you have ever attended or heard of the all-comers track and field events at Civic Stadium in the summer, this is similar — albeit a bit less organized.
Open track night is a recurring event, organized by Bellingham Parks and Recreation, for two hours on Mondays through Feb. 26, with the exception of Feb. 19. The event invites people of all ages to use the Civic Stadium facilities with the lights on and restrooms unlocked.
Better yet: It’s a drop-in event, so no registration is required. If you decide you want to get a workout inside under the lights on a whim, that is now an option.
FULL CALENDAR
Friday, Feb. 2
Boys basketball
Bellingham at Mount Vernon, 7:15 p.m.
Squalicum at Meridian, 7:15 p.m.
Sehome at Nooksack Valley, 7:15 p.m.
Girls basketball
Mount Vernon at Bellingham, 7 p.m.
Meridian at Squalicum, 7:15 p.m.
Nooksack Valley at Sehome, 7:15 p.m.
Boys wrestling
2A sub-regionals, 4 p.m., Sedro-Woolley High School
3A sub-regionals, 6 p.m., Marysville-Pilchuck High School
Girls wrestling
4A/3A sub-regionals, 4 p.m., Oak Harbor High School
Boys swim
Northwest Conference B Championships, 3:30 p.m., Arne Hanna Aquatic Center
Girls bowling
3A state tournament, time TBD, Bowlero South Seattle in Tukwila
WWU
Softball vs. Cal State Dominguez Hills, 8:30 a.m., Irvine, California
Softball vs. San Francisco State, 1:30 p.m., Irvine, California
Recreation
Drop-in Hockey, 12 p.m., Bellingham Sportsplex
Youth Soccer Clinic, 6 p.m., Bellingham Sportsplex
Saturday, Feb. 3
Boys basketball
Lynden at Lynden Christian, 2:30 p.m.
Girls basketball
Lynden Christian at Lynden, 7:15 p.m.
Boys wrestling
2A sub-regionals, 9 a.m., Sedro-Woolley High School
3A sub-regionals, 10 a.m., Marysville-Pilchuck High School
Girls wrestling
1B/2B/1A/2A sub-regionals, 10 a.m., Squalicum High School
4A/3A sub-regionals, 10 a.m., Oak Harbor High School
Girls bowling
3A state tournament, time TBD, Bowlero South Seattle in Tukwila
WWU
Softball vs. Cal State East Bay, 8:30 a.m., Irvine, California
Men’s basketball at Western Oregon, 2 p.m.
Softball vs. Concordia Irvine, 4:30 p.m., Irvine, California
Women’s basketball vs. Alaska Anchorage, 7 p.m.
Recreation
Winter Community Work Party, 9 a.m., Lowell Park
La Conner Race, 9:45 a.m., La Conner Public Boat Launch
Whatcom Falls 5K, 10 a.m., Bellingham Hatchery at Whatcom Falls Park
Sunday, Feb. 4
WWU
Softball vs. Cal State San Marcos, 11:30 a.m., Irvine, California
Recreation
Daddy Daughter Skate Night, 5:30 p.m., Skagit Skate
Walking Soccer, 6 p.m., Bellingham Sportsplex
Monday, Feb, 5
Boys basketball
1A District 1 playoffs, 7 p.m., at higher seeds
2A District 1 play-in, time TBD, at higher seeds
Girls basketball
1A District 1 playoffs, 7 p.m., at higher seeds
Recreation
Gangball, 4 p.m., Bloedel Donovan Community Building
Pound.Rockout.Workout!, 5:30 p.m., Maritime Heritage Park Pavilion
Open Track Night, 5:30 p.m., Civic Field
Tuesday, Feb. 6
Girls basketball
2A District 1 play-in, time TBD, at higher seeds
WWU
Softball at Biola University, 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 7
Boys basketball
1A District 1 playoffs, 7 p.m., at higher seeds
2A District 1 playoffs, time TBD, at higher seeds
3A District 1 playoffs, 7 p.m., at higher seeds
Girls basketball
1A District 1 playoffs, 7 p.m., at higher seeds
WCC
Women’s basketball vs. Peninsula College, 5 p.m.
Men’s basketball vs. Peninsula College, 7 p.m.
Recreation
Badminton at Bloedel, 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., Bloedel Donovan Multipurpose Room
Thursday, Feb. 8
Girls basketball
2A District 1 playoffs, time TBD, at higher seeds
3A District 1 playoffs, 7 p.m., at higher seeds
WWU
Softball at Dominican University of California, 12 p.m.
Women’s basketball at Northwest Nazarene, 5:15 p.m.
Men’s basketball vs. Seattle Pacific, 7 p.m., Carver Gym
Friday, Feb. 9
Boys basketball
2A District 1 loser-out rounds, 5:30 p.m., at higher seeds
2A District 1 semifinals, 5:30 p.m., Mount Vernon High School
3A District 1 playoffs, 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 loser-out games, 5:30 p.m., at higher seeds
3A District 1 playoffs, 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
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.
