CONNOR'S PICKS

WWU: Volleyball vs. Central Washington
7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18, Carver Gym

Western Washington University volleyball is approaching the end of its regular season, and the Vikings currently sit third in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.

A four-game winning streak has powered Western (11-13, 11-5 GNAC) to quality postseason positioning with two matches remaining in the season. The Vikings' overall record remains skewed by nine straight non-league losses to begin the season.

The regular-season finale vs. Central Washington will be big for Western. Central Washington (18-6, 12-4 GNAC) is ranked No. 20 nationally and eighth in the West Region. The Wildcats beat Western in the teams' first meeting, 3-1, on Sept. 14.

The eight-team West Regional tournament begins on Thursday, Nov. 30 at an undetermined campus site. 

WWU: Men's basketball vs. Douglas College
1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, Carver Gym

By the time this game rolls around, Western men's basketball (4-2) will have played seven of its first eight games on the road to begin the 2023–24 season.

The Vikings will return home for a game against Douglas College from British Columbia to continue its early-season non-league schedule. 

Douglas has only two players not from B.C., and one of them is Carson Lehnert — a former prep star who helped lead Blaine boys basketball to a third-place finish in the 1A state tournament last season.

Western will have Douglas supremely overmatched, but it's always a treat when former Whatcom County hoops stars return.

 Western Washington University’s Kai Johnson goes up for a layup Oct. 26, 2022 as the Vikings beat Lincoln University in a preseason game. (Andy Bronson/Cascadia Daily News)  

Recreation: Thanksgiving Day XC World Championships XIV
9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 23, Cornwall Park

A 14-year tradition, this Thanksgiving morning event takes ordinary people and has them wear anything but ordinary costumes while running a cross country course.

The course at Cornwall Park is 3.4 miles, which should be more than enough to put you in a calorie deficit ahead of your Thursday feast. 

No registration is required, and the event is hosted by BBAY Running in Bellingham. Anyone can show up and run, and there is a possibility of prizes, according to the event's website.

 The upcoming Thanksgiving Day XC World Championships XIV of Bellingham will be hosted at Cornwall Park on Thursday, Nov. 23.  (Hailey Hoffman/Cascadia Daily News)  

FULL CALENDAR

Friday, Nov. 17

Football
1A state quarterfinal: Lynden Christian vs. Nooksack Valley, 7 p.m., Civic Stadium

Girls bowling
Ferndale vs. Squalicum, 3:15 p.m., 20th Century Bowl

Nooksack Valley vs. Meridian, 3:15 p.m., Mt. Baker Lanes

WWU

Women's basketball vs. Cal State San Marcos, 4 p.m., Azusa, California

Men's basketball vs. Concordia, 5 p.m., Brougham Pavilion

Saturday, Nov. 18

Football

2A state tournament, quarterfinals: Lynden at North Kitsap, 3 p.m., North Kitsap High School

WWU

Women's cross country at NCAA II Championships, 8:15 a.m. PST, Tom Rutledge XC Course (Joplin, Missouri)

Men's cross country at NCAA II Championships, 8:15 a.m. PST, Tom Rutledge XC Course (Joplin, Missouri)

Men's basketball vs. Azusa Pacific, 5 p.m., Brougham Pavilion

Women's basketball at Azusa Pacific, 6 p.m.

Volleyball vs. Central Washington, 7 p.m., Carver Gym 

NHL
Seattle Kraken at Vancouver Canucks, 7 p.m.

Recreation

North Cascades Audubon Society bird walk, 8:30 a.m., Whatcom Falls Park

Girls on the Run Fall 5K, 9:30 a.m., Bloedel Donovan Park and Whatcom Falls Park

Fire with Flint & Steel: An Outdoor Skills Course, 12 p.m., Larrabee State Park

Salmon Sighting: Fishtrap Creek, 12 p.m., Bender Fields, Lynden

Sunday, Nov. 19

NFL
Seattle Seahawks vs. Los Angeles Rams, 1:25 p.m., CBS

Recreation
Greater Bellingham Running Club Turkey Trot, 9 a.m., Squalicum Creek Park

Pine Needle Basketry: A Beginner's Course in Weaving, 12:30 p.m., Chuckanut Center

Monday, Nov. 20

NHL
Calgary Flames at Seattle Kraken, 7 p.m.

Recreation
Spin dances, 6 p.m., Bloedel Donovan Community Building

Tuesday, Nov. 21

Girls bowling
Ferndale vs. Meridian, 3:15 p.m., Mt. Baker Lanes

Blaine vs. Squalicum, 3:30 p.m., 20th Century Bowl

Wednesday, Nov. 22

NHL
San Jose Sharks at Seattle Kraken, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 23

NFL
San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks, 5:20 p.m., NBC

Recreation
Thanksgiving Day XC World Championships XIV, 9 a.m., Cornwall Park

Friday, Nov. 24

WWU
Women's basketball vs. MSU Moorhead, 7 p.m., Carver Gym 

NHL
Vancouver Canucks at Seattle Kraken, 7 p.m.

Recreation

WMBC's: Opt Outside Volunteer Trail Day, 9 a.m., Galbraith Mountain

Salmon Sighting: Chuckanut Creek, 12 p.m., North Chuckanut Mountain Trailhead

Saturday, Nov. 25

Football
1A state tournament, semifinals: teams TBD

2A state tournament, semifinals: teams TBD

WWU
Men's basketball vs. Douglas College, 1 p.m., Carver Gym 

Women's basketball vs. Hawai'i Pacific, 7 p.m., Carver Gym

Recreation
Salmon Sighting: Chuckanut Creek, 12 p.m., North Chuckanut Mountain Trailhead

Sunday, Nov. 26

MLS
Western Conference semifinals: Los Angeles FC at Seattle Sounders, 6:30 p.m.

Recreation
Shimmies & Shakes Belly Dance Workshop, 3 p.m., Fairhaven Library auditorium

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.