The Hardwood Classic is back for the first time since 2020 and Whatcom County will be well-represented, with seven teams at the 1A/2A tournament in Yakima.
The tournament starts Wednesday and runs through Saturday.
Lynden Christian is the top seed in the 1A girls tournament and will finally have the chance to defend its state title from two years ago. Nooksack Valley is right behind the Lyncs as the No. 2 seed.
The Lynden Christian boys are the No. 2 seed in the boys tournament. Joining them from the Northwest Conference is Blaine, which enters as the No. 9 seed.
In the 2A tournament, the Lynden girls will also be defending a 2020 state title as the No. 12 seed this time around.
For the boys, Lynden is in as the No. 2 seed and Sehome is the No. 8 seed.
Here’s a look at each team:
Girls 1A
No. 1 Lynden Christian
Lynden Christian’s Libby Stump hits a jump shot over Lynden defenders as Lynden Christian beat Lynden 65-47 in a girls basketball game on Jan. 27. (Andy Bronson/Cascadia Daily News)
Regular-season record: 16-4
Postseason record: 3-0
How they got here: The Lyncs’ postseason run thus far has been no surprise. Lynden Christian has played in four of the last five 1A state championship games, winning three.
Lynden Christian’s last loss came Dec. 29 to Tumwater, the top-ranked team in the 2A tournament. The Lyncs have been rolling since then, having won their last 13 games.
First game in Yakima: Lynden Christian will open its run at the SunDome in the quarterfinals at 5:30 p.m. Thursday against the winner of No. 7 Colville and No. 15 La Center.
No. 2 Nooksack Valley
Nooksack Valley’s Tehya Moore throws up a shot as Nooksack Valley beat Burlington-Edison 50-38 in a girls basketball game on Jan. 26. (Andy Bronson/Cascadia Daily News)
Regular-season record: 17-2
Postseason record: 3-1
How they got here: The Pioneers are finally getting their chance at a run. After losing only one game last season, the future looked bright.
Returning nearly its entire roster from last spring, Nooksack Valley had held the No. 1 ranking in the state for much of the season until its most recent loss to Lynden Christian in the district tournament.
The Pioneers are arguably still the top team in the state and could’ve been the top-seed in the tournament. The gap between the Pioneers and Lyncs is small, if there’s one at all.
First game in Yakima: Nooksack Valley will open play at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the quarterfinals against the winner of No. 8 Seattle Academy and No. 9 Wapato.
Girls 2A
No. 12 Lynden
Lynden’s Haylee Koetje makes an underhand basket along the baseline as Lynden beat Sequim 50-26 on Feb. 25. (Andy Bronson/Cascadia Daily News)
Regular-season record: 12-5
Postseason record: 4-1
How they got here: The Lions aren’t nearly as dominant as they were two years ago when they won it all. Only one player remains from that roster: junior Adia Newcomb.
This year’s Lynden squad has felt the growing pains of an inexperienced team, but they’re back in the SunDome anyway.
The Lions had to claw their way out of their district tournament winning two loser-out games in a row to claim third-place and qualify for regionals. From there, Lynden needed another win to get to Yakima and got it, making it three straight wins in do-or-die games.
First game in Yakima: No strangers to loser-out games at this point, the Lions will open the state tournament with another one at 12:15 p.m. Wednesday. They’ll play No. 4 W.F. West with a trip to the quarterfinals on the line.
Boys 1A
No. 2 Lynden Christian
Lynden Christian’s Jamison Hintz reaches for the rebound against a trio of Annie Wright Gators players. Lynden Christian led Annie Wright 30-29 at the half on Feb. 26. (Andy Bronson/Cascadia Daily News)
Regular-season record: 16-1
Postseason record: 3-0
How they got here: The Lyncs held the top ranking in the state until late in the season after a loss to Lynden.
Lynden Christian has mostly dominated its schedule this season, picking up a few close wins and only dropping one game.
The last time Lynden Christian hit the court in the SunDome was in the 2020 1A state title game. The Lyncs fell to King’s this year’s No. 1 seed, in that game.
First game in Yakima: The Lyncs’ first game will be a quarterfinal matchup at 2 p.m. Thursday against the winner of No. 8 Quincy and No. 9 Blaine.
No. 9 Blaine
Blaine’s Cole Thomas scores a basket in Lynden Christian’s win over the Borderites on Feb. 11. (Andy Bronson/Cascadia Daily News)
Regular-season record: 11-5
Postseason record: 3-1
How they got here: Big upsets against Lynden and Ferndale in the regular season showed how dangerous this Blaine squad could be when firing on all cylinders.
The Borderites’ path to the SunDome looked pretty clear after they knocked off Nooksack Valley for the final spot in the District 1/2 crossover.
A win in the crossover against Overlake locked down a regionals spot where Blaine was given the No. 9 seed.
Senior Scott Baldwin put back a layup in the final 10 seconds of the Borderites’ game against No. 16 Wahluke, giving Blaine the 50-48 win and a trip to the SunDome.
First game in Yakima: Blaine will play at 2 p.m. Wednesday against No. 8 Quincy in a loser-out game. The winner moves on to play No. 2 Lynden Christian Thursday in the quarterfinals.
Boys 2A
No. 2 Lynden
Lynden’s Kaleo Jandoc gets the pass off to teammate Lynden’s Anthony Canales after scrambling for a loose ball on Feb. 25 against Port Angeles. (Andy Bronson/Cascadia Daily News)
Regular season record: 16-2
Postseason record: 4-0
How they got here: The only blemishes on Lynden’s record are losses to Blaine and Ferndale.
Beyond that, the Lions have looked all the parts of a state contender since the start of the season.
Lynden has won eight in a row since its last loss, Jan. 26 to Ferndale.
First game in Yakima: A 58-48 comeback win over No. 7 Port Angeles in regionals put the Lions right into the quarterfinals at 9 p.m. Thursday. It’ll be a Northwest Conference matchup with Lynden playing the winner of No. 8 Sehome and No. 9 Lakewood.
No. 8 Sehome
Sehome’s Gavin Ortega gets a basket as Lynden beat Sehome 76-49 at Mount Vernon High School on Feb. 18. (Andy Bronson/Cascadia Daily News)
Regular-season record: 13-5
Postseason record: 2-2
How they got here: Sehome got off to a hot start to the season, winning its first six before back-to-back losses to Mount Vernon and Lynden.
The Mariners took second place in the district tournament behind Lynden and are returning to the state tournament for the first time since 2015.
First game in Yakima: Sehome will face a familiar opponent at 9 p.m. Wednesday on the first day of the tournament in No. 9 Lakewood. The winner of that game will get another familiar face in the quarterfinals in No. 2 Lynden.
