Lynden Three-Peats – Makes School History

March 2, 2024 Tyler Anderson 2023/24 Boys Basketball, Lynden Lions 0

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Lynden seniors Charlie Ayres and Anthony Canales share an emotional embrace after making school history by winning the state championship for the third year in a row.

YAKIMA – Little could be done to stop the immense size and power that was the Lynden Lion boys basketball team.

A 19-5 second quarter advantage by the Lions, sparked by a barrage of outside shots by senior Anthony Canales, propelled them into the second half in which they scored 53 points, as they ultimately defeated Grandview 85-54 for their third straight 2A State Championship.

Not only did Canales lead his team with 29 points, but he also broke Derric Croft’s single-season school record for points. He was also named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player for third year in a row. An individual career that might not be matched for quite a while in Whatcom County.

Lynden used its huge size advantage to outrebound Grandview 46-18, and also made 10 of its 22 field goals from deep.

It was also Lynden’s 100th state tournament win.

Junior forward Brant Heppner, who joined Canales on the All-Tournament 1st Team, finished with 27 points and nine rebounds.

Lion centers Jack Stapleton and Ty Holleman controlled the paint as they scored eight point each, and combined for 13 rebounds.

  Lynden 85, Grandview 54
LYN  15  19  23  28 - 85
GRA  14   5  20  15 - 54
  Lynden: Elsner 2-4 0-0 4, VanDalen 0-3 0-0 0, Ayres 2-2 0-0 6, K. Stapleton 0-0 0-0 0, Bowler 0-1 0-0 0, Holleman 4-4 0-1 8, Bedlington 0-0 0-0 0, Adams 1-2 0-0 3, Canales 10-20 4-4 29, Heppner 12-19 1-1 27, Jorgenson 0-0 0-0 0, J. Stapleton 2-6 4-5 8.
  Grandview: Bentley 3-6 0-0 8, Draculan 7-11 1-4 15, Armendariz II 0-0 0-0 0, Dorsett 1-6 0-0 2, Medina 5-8 7-8 17, Montes De Oca 0-0 0-0 0, Armendariz 4-15 1-3 12, Jeffrey 0-1 0-2 0, Cortez 0-0 0-0 0.
  Percentages: FG - LYN 33-61 .541, GRA 20-50 .400; FT - LYN 9-11 .818, GRA 9-17 .529. 3-point goals: LYN 10-22 (Canales 5-7, Ayres 2-2, Heppner 2-6, Adams 1-1, Bowler 0-1, Elsner 0-2, VanDalen 0-3), GRA 5-15 (Armendariz 3-7, Bentley 2-6, Dorsett 0-2). Rebounds: LYN 46 (Heppner 9), GRA 18 (Armendariz 5). Assists: LYN 10 (Elsner 4), GRA 4 (Dorsett 2). Steals: LYN 3 (Elsner 1, Canales 1, Heppner 1), GRA 5 (Medina 2). Blocks: LYN 3 (Holleman 2), GRA 1 (Draculan 1).