CONNOR’S PICKS
Boys basketball: Lynden vs. Mark Morris
12 p.m., Friday, Dec. 29, Yakima Valley SunDome
This game may not be local, but it’s one of the best boys basketball games of the regular season.
Lynden, the reigning 2A state champion, will rematch with Mark Morris — the team it beat last season to secure its fourth state title in five seasons.
Both teams are much different than they were a year ago, which is why it remains an intriguing matchup.
Not only is it a rematch of the same teams, but it’s also in the same location that Mark Morris saw its title hopes come to an end in the season’s final game. The Monarchs are bound to be out for revenge in this one.
So far this season, Lynden is 7-2 overall (6-0 Northwest Conference) while Mark Morris is 5-3 (4-1 Greater St. Helens League).
Mark Morris lost four seniors but retained now-senior Brayden Olson, who averaged 21.6 points per game last season. Lynden lost five seniors, but the Lions still have senior guard Anthony Canales and junior forward Brant Heppner — two of the best players in the state at the Class 2A level.
WWU: Men’s basketball vs. Saint Martin’s
7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, Carver Gym
The Great Northwest Athletic Conference is a mess right now.
Western Washington University men’s basketball is 9-3 overall (1-0 GNAC) and in third place in the league standings. Saint Martin’s (11-1, 1-1 GNAC) is in fourth place in the conference purely due to splitting its first two league games.
Now, just a few days after returning from winter break, these two teams will face off in a game that is sure to shake things up in the early part of the conference schedule.
A loss here for Western wouldn’t move it up or down the standings much, but a loss for Saint Martin’s would leave a lot of questions about how competitive a two-loss Saints team truly is.
Both teams will have 15 regular season games remaining (all in the conference) after this contest, so nothing is determined. However, with extensive non-league schedules played already, this is a great test for each program.
Recreation: Resolution Walk/Run and Padden Polar Dip
11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 1, Lake Padden bathhouse
You will never see me plunge into water that is at or below 30 degrees Fahrenheit, but I certainly respect those who have made this an annual tradition.
Other polar plunges are happening in Whatcom County, including in Birch Bay, but this one is unique with the addition of a fun run ahead of the dip into frigid waters.
The run begins at 11 a.m., followed by the plunge at noon. No registration is required — just show up, run/walk and take a dip to celebrate the beginning of 2024.
A map of the course around Lake Padden and more information about the event is available on the City of Bellingham’s website.
FULL CALENDAR
Friday, Dec. 29
Boys basketball
Mark Morris vs. Lynden, 12 p.m., Yakima Valley SunDome
Nooksack Valley vs. Quincy, 12 p.m., Yakima Valley SunDome
Sequim at Meridian, 6 p.m.
Sehome vs. North Creek, 6 p.m., Mountlake Terrace High School
Bellingham at Marysville-Getchell, 7 p.m.
Lynden Christian at Mountlake Terrace, 7:30 p.m.
Girls basketball
Bellingham at Marysville-Getchell, 3:45 p.m.
Lynden Christmas Classic, semifinals: Teams TBD, 5:30 p.m., Lynden Christian High School
NHL
Philadelphia Flyers at Seattle Kraken, 7 p.m.
Recreation
Kids Escape Room Camp, 2 p.m., Anacortes Public Library
Saturday, Dec. 30
Boys basketball
Sequim at Bellingham, 3 p.m.
TBD vs. Lynden Christian, 6 p.m., Meridian High School
Girls basketball
Lynden Christmas Classic, championship: Teams TBD, 5:15 p.m., Lynden Christian High School
Sunday, Dec. 31
NFL
Pittsburgh Steelers at Seattle Seahawks, 1:05 p.m., FOX
Recreation
Last Chance Marathon and Half Marathon, 9 a.m., Fairhaven Park Pavilion
Monday, Jan. 1
NHL
Las Vegas Golden Knights at Seattle Kraken, 12 p.m.
Recreation
Polar Bear Plunge: Event, 10 a.m.; Plunge, 12 p.m., 7876 Birch Bay Drive, Birch Bay
Resolution Walk/Run & Padden Polar Dip, 11 a.m., Lake Padden bathhouse
Tuesday, Jan. 2
Boys basketball
Mount Vernon at Squalicum, 7 p.m.
Burlington-Edison at Meridian, 7 p.m.
Girls basketball
Squalicum at Mount Vernon, 7:15 p.m.
Meridian at Burlington-Edison, 7:15 p.m.
Boys wrestling
Bellingham, Blaine, Squalicum at Mount Baker, 6 p.m.
Boys swim
Oak Harbor at Ferndale, 3:30 p.m.
Squalicum at Mount Vernon, 3:30 p.m., Skagit Valley Family YMCA
Anacortes at Bellingham, 3:45 p.m., Arne Hanna Aquatic Center
Lynden at Burlington-Edison, 7:30 p.m., Skagit Valley Family YMCA
Wednesday, Jan. 3
Boys basketball
Friday Harbor at Nooksack Valley, 4 p.m.
Mount Baker at Lynden Christian, 7:15 p.m.
Ferndale at Foster, 7:15 p.m.
Sehome at Oak Harbor, 7:15 p.m.
Girls basketball
Lynden Christian at Mount Baker, 7:15 p.m.
Oak Harbor at Sehome, 7:15 p.m.
Boys wrestling
Meridian, Nooksack Valley, Sehome at Lynden, 6 p.m.
Girls wrestling
Ferndale at Meridian, 6 p.m.
Mount Baker, Sehome at Mount Vernon, 6 p.m.
Bellingham, Ferndale at Meridian, 6:30 p.m.
Girls bowling
Blaine at Cascade (Everett), 3 p.m., Evergreen Bowling Lanes
Nooksack Valley at Burlington-Edison, 3:15 p.m., Riverside Lanes
Everett at Meridian, 3:15 p.m., Mt. Baker Lanes
Ferndale at Anacortes, 3:15 p.m., Riverside Lanes
Thursday, Jan. 4
Boys basketball
Bellingham at Lynden, 7:15 p.m.
Squalicum at Anacortes, 7:15 p.m.
Sedro-Woolley at Blaine, 7:15 p.m.
Meridian at Mount Vernon, 7:15 p.m.
Girls basketball
Lynden at Bellingham, 7:15 p.m.
Blaine at Sedro-Woolley, 7:15 p.m.
Anacortes at Squalicum, 7:15 p.m.
Girls wrestling
Blaine, Lynden, Nooksack Valley, Squalicum at Burlington-Edison, 6 p.m.
Boys wrestling
Ferndale at Lakewood, 6 p.m.
Boys swim
Oak Harbor at Lynden, 3:30 p.m., Forge Pool
Mount Vernon at Bellingham, 3:45 p.m., Arne Hanna Aquatic Center
Sehome at Burlington-Edison, 7:30 p.m., Skagit Valley Family YMCA
Girls bowling
Mount Vernon at Squalicum, 3:30 p.m., 20th Century Bowl
WWU
Men’s basketball vs. Western Oregon, 7 p.m., Carver Gym
Women’s basketball at Alaska Anchorage, 7 p.m., Alaska Airlines Center
NHL
Ottowa Senators at Seattle Kraken, 7 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 5
Boys basketball
Oak Harbor at Ferndale, 7:15 p.m.
Lakewood at Sehome, 7:15 p.m.
Lynden Christian at Nooksack Valley, 7:30 p.m.
Girls basketball
Nooksack Valley at Lynden Christian, 5:40 p.m.
Sehome at Lakewood, 7:15 p.m.
Ferndale at Oak Harbor, 7:15 p.m.
Boys wrestling
Burlington-Edison at Bellingham, 7 p.m.
Girls wrestling
Blaine, Ferndale, Mount Baker, Squalicum at Braided 64 tourney, 3:30 p.m., Kelso High School
Girls bowling
Blaine at Ferndale, 3:15 p.m., Mt. Baker Lanes
Nooksack Valley at Squalicum, 3:15 p.m., 20th Century Bowl
Recreation
Open Roller Skate, 6 p.m., Depot Market Square
Saturday, Jan. 6
Boys basketball
Mount Baker at Burlington-Edison, 1 p.m.
Bellingham at Lakewood, 5:30 p.m.
Meridian at Anacortes, 7:15 p.m.
Girls basketball
Blaine at Squalicum, 3:15 p.m.
Burlington-Edison at Mount Baker, 7:15 p.m.
Mount Vernon at Meridian, 7:15 p.m.
Boys wrestling
Lynden at Everett tourney, 7 a.m., Everett High School
Bellingham, Blaine, Ferndale, Sehome at Mount Vernon, 9 a.m.
Girls wrestling
Lynden at Oak Harbor tourney, 10 a.m., Oak Harbor High School
Blaine, Ferndale, Mount Baker, Squalicum at Braided 64 tourney, 10 a.m., Kelso High School
WWU
Women’s basketball at Alaska Fairbanks, 3 p.m., Patty Center
Men’s basketball vs. Saint Martin’s, 7 p.m., Carver Gym
WCC
Women’s basketball at Pierce College, 5 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 7
NFL
Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals, TBD
Recreation
2024 Lake Samish Runs, 9:30 a.m., Lake Samish Park
Fungi Basics Crash Course, 1 p.m., Chuckanut Center
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.
