THURSDAY – 12/28

Squalicum 66, Bellevue Christian 59 (OT)

The opener of the tournament was an instant classic that had plenty of momentum changes.

The Vikings came out hot, scoring 22 points in the first quarter, but an 18-9 advantage by the Storm in the second quarter brought the score to 33-31 at the half with Squalicum holding the narrow lead.

The Storm went ice cold in the third quarter as Bellevue Christian went on a 16-2 run in the period. But, much like the Vikings in the first quarter, it was Squalicum that scored 22 points in the fourth to complete the comeback and send the game into overtime.

It was all Storm in the extra period of play, and they were led by junior guard Marcus Nixon who finished with 24 points, eight rebounds and four steals.

Junior forward Ezra Nichols was 5-for-9 from the floor and he scored 10 points on the game, while freshman point guard Hunter Calloway ended with eight points and five boards.

Sophomore Laki Fagaautau and junior Malakai Smith both came of the bench to score eight points each.

Nathan Hale 78, Meridian 47

The Trojans couldn’t withstand the early hot shooting from the Raiders and ultimately lost the opening round game.

However, because Nathan Hale was only going to compete for one day, Meridian was able to move on to the semifinal round of the tournament.

The junior guard tandem of Talon Jenkins and Jaeger Fyfe combined for more than half of the Trojan’s points, as they scored 12 points each.

FRIDAY – 12/29

Squalicum 52, Centralia 38

The Storm took an early lead and never relinquished it as Nixon poured in 15 points and five rebounds to help Squalicum get to the tournament championship game.

Calloway hit six of his 12 shot attempts, including a pair of three-pointers, and he finished with 14 points and three assists.

Smith also hit a couple of deep balls and finished with eight points.

Meridian 49, Steilacoom 34

A slow start by both teams made the score 8-6 after the first quarter, advantage Trojans, and Meridian pulled away more and more as the game continued to get the win and get to the tournament championship game.

Senior center Christian Clawson, who is Whatcom County’s leader in field goal percentage, upped his numbers by making six of his seven shot attempts, and he led the Trojans with 14 points and eight rebounds.

Fyfe added nine points, five steals, three assists and three rebounds.

SATURDAY – 12/30

Meridian 49, Squalicum 35

A great defensive effort by the Trojans enabled them to get past the Strom to take the tournament championship.

Fyfe has his best shooting performance of the week by hitting on three deep balls, and he ended with a team-high 18 points, four assists and three steals.

Junior forward James Hedahl had 11 points and six boards while Jenkins had 10 points, nine rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Despite facing foul trouble, Nixon still led his team with 14 points, six rebounds and five steals.

Lynden Christian 79, Bellevue Christian 40

It was another dominant game for the Lyncs, who came into town to play a consolation game after collecting two wins at the Mountlake Terrace Holiday Tournament.

Senior guard Dawson Bouma led the balanced attack with 15 points, seven rebounds and three steals.

Senior forward Kayden Stuit had 14 points and a team-high nine rebounds, and junior Gannon Dykstra scored 12 points and senior forward Jeremiah Wright ended with 10 points.

The Lyncs shot 48% for the game.