YAKIMA – The Lyncs had to fight harder than they had ever fought before to get every bucket they did, and they just didn’t get enough as Annie Wright defeated Lynden Christian 59-46 for the 1A state championship.
The Gators began the game on an 11-4 run that took over six minutes of play. Sophomore center Kaden Veldman ended the run with a bucket down low, and that was followed by two hustle plays by junior forward Boyce Robertson. The first was a steal near midcourt, and the second was an offensive rebound which he was able to get out to Gannon Dykstra who knocked down a three-pointer which cut Annie Wright’s lead to 11-9. However, the Gators ended the quarter by driving the length of the court and scoring from close range.
Sophomore guard Gunnar Dykstra kicked off the scoring in the second quarter with a three-ball from about 26 feet out, which brought the game back to a one-point advantage. Annie Wright was able to work in a few more hoops before Robertson grabbed another offensive rebound that allowed for a three-point field goal from senior forward Luke VanKooten.
VanKooten drained another three-ball a few possessions later, and that brought the Lyncs within three points, 23-20, but the Gators finished the second quarter on a 6-2 run which included a banked three-pointer just before the buzzer.
Sophomore guard Dawson Hintz scored his first two points of the game to begin the second half, after being held scoreless in the first half and scoring 33 points last night in the semifinals against Royal. The third quarter belonged to the Gators as they ended it with a 13-5 run.
The younger Dykstra started the fourth quarter with a pair of three-pointers which cut Annie Wright’s lead to 43-35, but the Gators will able to answer with a deep ball of their own. The Lyncs had trouble turning the ball over and making jumpers in the final period, and it allowed Annie Wright to pull away.
Gannon Dykstra led the Lyncs with 10 points. Gunnar Dykstra added nine points, and Veldman had seven points and seven rebounds.
Lynden Christian (24-3) finished in second place in the state tournament for the seventh time in school history.
Annie Wright 59, Lynden Christian 46 LC 9 13 7 17 - 46 AW 13 16 13 17 - 59
Lynden Christian: Hintz 6, Gu. Dykstra 9, Ahlers 0, Maberry 0, Robertson 4, Howell 0, Ga. Dykstra 10, Kamphouse 0, VanKooten 7, Veldman 7, Kooiman 0, Vos 3.
Annie Wright: N/A.
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