Special Edition – By Makayla Sparks
LYNDEN – Despite beginning gameplay two weeks after almost everyone else, the Lynden Lions are off to a quick start, winning their first two games, the most recent being a 68-41 victory over the Squalicum Storm.
The Lynden boys’ season start was held back because six of their 10 varsity players were playing for Lynden’s would-be state champion football team.
Tuesday night, with their full team together, the Lions proved they are the team to beat taking the opening tip-off and only allowing the Storm to claim the lead for just a few seconds. Lynden 6-foot-6 sophomore Brant Heppner scored a quick three, reclaiming a lead the Lions would keep for the rest of the game. The first quarter ended with Lynden up 17-12.
The second quarter saw the Lions playing their best basketball of the night, as their defense put the pressure on the Storm. Lynden opened the quarter with a 9-0 run that started with a pair of buckets from senior Kobe Baar. Squalicum was outscored 23-8 in the second quarter and finished the half down 40-20. But they were far from giving up.
The Storm showed grit, making half-time adjustments on defense that slowed down Lynden’s aggressive offensive. Squalicum played more evenly with the top-ranked Lions throughout the second half but they ultimately weren’t able to rope in the longtime powerhouse. Lynden only scored one more point than the Storm in the third but still held on to their lead, ending the third quarter up 56-35.
During the fourth quarter, Lynden was able to play some of their second-stringers while still outscoring Squalicum 12-6 and finishing the 68-41 win.
The Storm were led offensively by junior Peter Albert, who scored 12 points on the night. Senior Xander Sledge contributed eight points, and fellow senior Ashton Englehart finished with seven. Squalicum struggled to hang on to the ball throughout the game and gave up 22 turnovers.
Last season’s 2A state tournament MVP, junior Anthony Canales, was Lynden’s leading scorer with 17 points. Senior, Coston “Bubba” Parcher and junior Brady Elsner each scored 13 with Heppner providing 12 points.
Squalicum, now 2-3 on the season and 1-2 in league play, will host Blaine this Friday, December 16th, and the Lions, 2-0 on the season and 2-0 in league play, is set to play their first away game of the season at Meridian the same night.
