YAKIMA — Just call them kings and queens of the court.
North Whatcom County proved once again why it is the prep basketball mecca of Washington state when both Lynden boys and girls, and Nooksack Valley girls, all clinched state championship victories Saturday, March 2 at the Yakima Valley SunDome.
The Lynden boys earned the first three-peat in 2A state history with an 85-54 drubbing of Grandview early Saturday night. The Lynden girls followed that up by snapping Ellensburg’s 75-game win streak with a 43-40 victory. Nooksack Valley girls capped the night by winning its second straight state title in a 70-67 victory over Deer Park.
Canales wins third state tourney MVP, Lions clobber Grandview
Senior Anthony Canales and junior Brant Heppner combined for 57 points as Lynden throttled Grandview, 85-54, to secure their third straight state title.
Canales (29 points) won his third 2A state tournament MVP and junior forward Brant Heppner (28 points) became a five-time state champion — combining football and basketball.
The win gave Lynden its 13th title in program history and its fifth in the last six seasons. Brian Roper, Lynden’s head coach, won his seventh as the Lions’ coach.
Lions capture first championship since 2020 in low-scoring battle
Senior Haylee Koetje scored the would-be game-winning shot for Lynden with 32 seconds remaining in the game to give the Lions a 43-40 win over two-time defending champion Ellensburg.
The Bulldogs had two opportunities to respond, including on a clean 3-point attempt by Bulldogs freshman Bella Standish just before the buzzer, but fell short of both.
The win gave Lynden its first state championship since 2020 and fourth overall. Lynden head coach Rob Adams — who returned to the program this season after a three-year hiatus — has won all four with the team.
Pioneers clinch back-to-back state titles in 70-67 win over Deer Park
Nooksack Valley senior Devin Coppinger iced the game on four free throws in the final 20 seconds and the Pioneers clinched their second straight 1A state title in a 70-67 win over Deer Park.
Coppinger, a University of Washington signee, led all scorers with 27 points and gave the top-seeded Pioneers the lead late after she was fouled. The scrambling No. 2 Stags were unable to sink an equalizer in the closing seconds.
NV, coming off its first-ever title last season, erased multiple double-digit deficits throughout via key 3-pointers from senior guard Kaylee Anderson, who finished the game with 18 points — all on triples.
