News

Northwest Sports Update: District basketball tourney on the radio, WWU women’s basketball clinch playoffs and more

Northwest Sports Update: District basketball tourney on the radio, WWU women’s basketball clinch playoffs and more

Photo: Saga Communications


Winter Olympics News

The United States continued its hockey dominance as we hit the midway point of the Winter Olympics today.

The US women’s team dusted Italy 6-0 to advance to the semifinals. Seattle Torrent star Hannah Bilka scored a goal, as the US held the Italians to just six shots on goal the entire match, compared to their 51. They’re now two wins away from winning their first Olympic gold medal since 2018.

The men are gearing up for their second match of the games, taking place against Denmark at 12:10 tomorrow afternoon.

Meanwhile, 21-year-old US figure skating sensation Ilia Malinin shocked the world by falling twice during a rough free skate this afternoon. The 2x reigning world champion, nicknamed the “Quad God,” finished in 8th place.

Overall, the US grew farther away from first place in the medal tracker today. They stayed put at 3rd place currently with 14 medals, four behind Norway and Italy who are tied for first.

NBA News

An NBA legend is calling it a career.

Chris Paul announced today that he’s retiring after 21 seasons.

Nicknamed the “Point God,” Paul exits as a 12x All-Star, two-time Olympic gold medalist and a member of the NBA’s 75th anniversary team. He ranks 2nd in NBA history in both assists and steals.

WWU Vikings News

The Western women’s basketball team is playoff bound.

The Viks beat Alaska Anchorage 65-53 on the road last night to clinch a spot in the six-team GNAC Championships. Former Lynden Christian standout Libby Stump led the way with 18 points and 4 steals to help Western pick up its fourth straight win.

Senior Olivia Hodges added 16 points and 17 rebounds. She’s currently ranked second in all of D-II in rebounds per game and double-doubles.

They’ll look to make it five straight tomorrow night when they play at Alaska Fairbanks.

Meanwhile, the men fell at home to Western Oregon 74-62. The teams were tied at halftime, but the Wolves pulled away in the second half to hand the Viks their third straight loss.

They’ll look to rebound tomorrow night against 18th nationally ranked Saint Martin’s in their Senior Night home finale. Tipoff is at 5:00 from Carver Gym.

HS Flag Football News

Two teams from Whatcom County will play in the first-ever girls flag football state championship tomorrow.

Lynden beat Port Angeles 28-14 and Squallicum beat Klahowya 21-7 this morning at Federal Way Memorial Stadium.

They’ll now meet in the combined 1A and 2A state championship tomorrow afternoon. It takes place at 2:30, again from Federal Way Memorial Stadium.

HS Basketball News

Taking a look at high school basketball scores from last night…

The Squalicum girls beat Burlington-Edison 56-44 in the 2A district tournament quarterfinals. The 3rd-seeded Storm now move on to face 2nd-seeded Archbishop Murphy at Mount Vernon High School in the semifinals tomorrow with a spot in the state tournament on the line.

We’ll have that game for you on the radio, coverage begins at 4:45 and tipoff is at 5:00 on KGMI.

The Sehome girls topped Lakewood 53-40 and the Lynden girls blew by Bellingham 67-13. The top-seeded Lions and 4th-seeded Mariners will also meet in the district semis tomorrow with another spot at state on the line. There, Lynden will have a chance to notch its 70th straight win.

The Bayhawks fell to the consolation bracket, where they’ll play Lakewood tomorrow in a loser-out game.

Meanwhile, the Ferndale girls rallied from a 12-point fourth quarter deficit to edge Everett 46-45 in the opening round of the 3A district tourney. Senior guard Kayla Washington hit a deep 3-pointer at the buzzer to help keep Ferndale’s season alive. The 10th-seeded Golden Eagles now move on to face 2nd-seeded Edmonds-Woodway tomorrow.

 

Coming up tonight, district basketball continues with another great matchup for you on the radio.

The 3rd-seeded Sehome boys are taking on 2nd-seeded Anacortes in the 2A district semifinals with the winner advancing to the title game and clinching a spot at state. Coverage begins at 5:15 and tipoff is at 5:30 on KPUG with Randy Farmer and the coach Dan Kaemingk on the call from Mount Vernon High School.

After that, the top-seeded Lynden boys take on 4th-seeded Lakewood at 7:30 with another spot at state on the line. The Lions will look to get revenge for last season’s district championship, where they fell to Lakewood on a buzzer beater.

Elsewhere in 2A, Squalicum is also playing at Archbishop Murphy and Bellingham is at Burlington-Edison in a pair of loser-out matches in the consolation bracket.

Over in the 1A district tourneys…

The top-seeded Lynden Christian boys are hosting 4th-seeded Blaine in the semis. And the 2nd-seeded Meridian boys are hosting 3rd-seeded Nooksack Valley.

In the girls’ bracket, the top-seeded Lyncs are hosting 4th-seeded Meridian. And 2nd-seeded Nooksack Valley is hosting 3rd-seeded Mount Baker.

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