Nooksack Valley sophomore Devin Coppinger and Lynden Christian senior Andrew Hommes lit up the court all season. Now, they’ve got the recognition to prove it.
Coppinger and Hommes were named MVPs of the Northwest Conference for the 2021-22 basketball season. The Nooksack Valley girls finished second in state and the Lynden Christian boys claimed the 1A state title.
Both were pillars for their teams this season, often drawing the opposing team’s best defender.
Coppinger averaged 20.8 points per game, 8.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 3 steals a game as a sophomore. She shot 55% from 2-point range, 29% from deep and 78% from the line.
Hommes averaged 18.2 points per game, 9.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists in his last season for the Lyncs. He also had three consecutive double-doubles in the state tournament, where he was named the most valuable player.
After last year’s MVP honors went to Lynden’s Jordan Medcalf, Hommes said one of his goals was to earn the next one.
“I love seeing [Medcalf] succeed and love playing with him, but it’s something I’ve always wanted to have,” Hommes said. “It’s nice in my senior year being able to get it, but it all goes out to my team. I love this team and they’re the only reason I have it.”
Lynden Christian head coach Tim Zylstra put it simply. There’s no state championship without Hommes on the team.
For more than 20 games, Hommes was guarded by the other team’s best player and did what had to be done to win games, Zylstra said.
“[Hommes] helped us win a lot of games, but there were nights he shared the ball just as well,” Zylstra said. “He was able to put up some great numbers because his teammates shared with him, but him sharing the ball and willing to be part of a team really helped us to win the state championship.”
The 6-foot-6 Hommes said playing in a division as talented as the Northwest Conference makes the honor that much better.
“I’ve always had winning it as a goal, but once COVID hit I came to the realization that it maybe won’t happen,” Hommes said. “I don’t take any of this for granted. I’ve grown up playing with this team and it’s a dream come true.”
Hommes has one high school game left as he was selected for the all-state game that is scheduled for Saturday at Curtis High School in University Place.
Coppinger is in an entirely different place from Hommes.
She has two seasons in front of her and has shown she’ll be a headache for opposing teams until 2024.
Coppinger said she was grateful to earn MVP honors but, like Hommes, credited teammates.
“They helped me elevate my game and do what I needed to do,” she said. “It’s just awesome to be noticed for that.”
Nooksack Valley head coach Shane Wichers said it’s rare for a player to impact the game in every facet the way Coppinger can.
“She can do so many different things and that’s not normal,” Wichers said. “Usually you get players who can really have an impact in one or two areas. That’s what makes her special. She can do whatever she needs to do in that moment.”
Conference MVP is nice but the 5-10 Coppinger is after more.
A return to the state tournament, and championship game, is already on the mind for not only Coppinger, but the rest of the Pioneers.
“I’m looking forward to getting back to where we were this year, and hopefully, getting a different result,” Coppinger said. “I’m excited to see us improve and we’re just honestly ready to be back at it.”
Coppinger’s offseason isn’t much of an offseason. Her Amateur Athletic Union season with Tree of Hope on the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League circuit begins March 26.
She’ll compete with Tree of Hope throughout the summer before the countdown to the high school season will start up again.
The rest of the all-Northwest Conference teams are below.
Boys
First team:
Jordan Medcalf, Lynden
Grant Kepley, Sehome
Justice Taylor, Lakewood
Anthony Canales, Lynden
Jazen Guillory, Ferndale
Tyler Sipma, Lynden Christian
Second team:
Scott Baldwin, Blaine
Connor Anderson, Burlington-Edison
Mathew Storms, Sehome
Blake Conyers, Lakewood
Quinn Swanson, Mount Vernon
Lucas Rodio, Mount Vernon
Jesse Sapp, Ferndale
Reed Richardson, Squalicum
Head coach of the year: Brett Farrar, Blaine
Assistant coach of the year: Jesse Farrar, Blaine
Girls
First team:
Camryn Kerr, Anacortes
Amey Rainaud, Burlington-Edison
Haylee Koetje, Lynden
Demi Dykstra, Lynden Christian
Libby Stump, Lynden Christian
Skyleigh James, Meridian
Hallie Kamphouse, Nooksack Valley
Second team:
Mazy Wright, Bellingham
Hailey Pike, Blaine
Sydney Reisner, Burlington-Edison
Adia Newcomb, Lynden
Ellie DeWaard, Meridian
Madison Barter, Mount Baker
Maddie Schumacher, Sehome
Mari Binning, Squalicum
Head coach of the year: Shane Wichers, Nooksack Valley
Assistant coach of the year: Kim Kirk, Sehome
