MOUNT VERNON — They’re technically still the Class 2A defending state champions, but this year’s Lynden Lions girls basketball team is young and lacks playoff experience.
The only player left from the 2020 title team is junior Adia Newcomb.
With no playoffs last year, this team of mostly sophomores is getting their first taste of the postseason.
That inexperience showed Tuesday in a 43-38 loss to Archbishop Murphy in the semifinal round of the district tournament.
The Lions got tossed around in the first quarter, falling behind 10-0 before a 3-pointer from senior Claire DeVries got them on the scoreboard.
Lynden trailed 16-5 after one. Lions coach Vic Wolffis gave credit to the Archbishop Murphy defense.
“Archbishop didn’t make very many mistakes on defense,” Wolffis said. “Our shots were tough, and, in the first half especially, I thought we missed what I thought were some pretty good looks and opportunities.”
Despite an off night for the offense, the Lynden defense was doing its job and kept the Lions in the game.
Lynden scored the last five points of the first half and trailed only 21-15 at halftime.
A big run was elusive the whole game from the Lions. Every time they cut the deficit to five or six points, the Wildcats pushed it back up to nine or 10.
“[Archbishop Murphy] doesn’t ever let you get a clean look,” Wolffis said. “They really hustled at our shooters. They harassed the ball when we drove. They just close up the lanes and I think, in a little bit of a panic, we didn’t recognize those lanes closing down early enough.”
It was the same script in the second half as the Lynden offense never found its stride.
Sophomore Haylee Koetje led the Lions with 14 points. Newcomb scored 10 and DeVries added seven.
With such a young team, they just have to keep playing to get used to the playoff atmosphere.
“We’re taking it one game at a time and focusing on getting ready for the next game we have,” Koetje said.
The loss puts the Lions in the consolation bracket in the tournament.
Lynden will play Sehome in a loser-out match Thursday.
“We just need to execute on offense and bring the same intensity we had this game,” Koetje said of their next game.
A win in their next game would put the Lions in the third-place game in the tournament. They would need another win there to qualify for regionals while a loss would end their season.
