Tenacious Lady Lions Outlast Lyncs

BY BLAKE WITMAN

LYNDEN – In a town that loves their basketball, there is something special about a packed Lynden Christian High gymnasium, as the top two girl’s teams in the Northwest Conference met to play out the first of the two rivalry games between Lynden and LC in just as many days on Thursday night.

It is ‘Coaches Versus Cancer’ weekend in the NWC, and there could not have been a more powerful way for these two schools to start the evening, than by honoring two separate women whose lives have been affected by the horrible disease. Sally Gallegos was the honorary coach for the Lions, and is thankfully in remission after her battle. Lisa DiLorenzo, continues to battle, and was the Lyncs honorary coach for the night. It felt as if the entire community was together in their applause and support for these two, and all who battle.

Then, it was time to draw the battle lines, like the train tracks between the two schools so perfectly symbolize.

Early on, it was Lynden Christian’s (9-1 NWC, 16-1 Overall) length that stood out. With 6’2” Isabela Hernandez, 6’0” Grace Sterk, and 5’11” Liv Mellema, the Lions had a difficult time getting to the basket, seeing their shots blocked three times in the first quarter alone.

In classic Coach Rob Adams style, the Lady Lions (9-1 NWC, 14-3 Overall) answered with aggressiveness and desire from the opening tip of the game, with bodies flying to every loose ball, and every rebound. In the first quarter alone, the much shorter Lions outrebounded the Lyncs six to three, and kept the game tied at eight at the start of the second quarter.

It was in the second quarter that the tenacity began to take effect. The Lions went on a 12-0 run to start the quarter, led by Keylie Hershey and Ruby Vanderhaak. On the defensive end, the Lions’ suffocating man to man defense prevented the Lyncs from getting into any sort of groove, and forced them to settle for many outside shots that wouldn’t seem to drop. By the time halftime came, the Lions were up 25-14, and had held Lynden Christian’s San Diego State bound Hernandez to zero points, and almost doubled up the Lyncs in rebounds, 11-6.

LC coach Brady Bomber’s challenge at halftime was quite clear to start the third quarter. Riley Dykstra began to drive the lane with authority in the third, scoring eight points in the period, and helping Lynden Christian open the half on a 7-0 run. After being out-rebounded in the first half, the Lyncs began to fly to the ball, and won the battle of the boards 6-5 in the quarter, bringing them within four, at 31-27 to start the final period.

One would have thought Lynden’s aggressiveness would have tired them out at some point, but the same continued in the final quarter. Just when it seemed like the Lyncs would take over the momentum, the Lions’ Anna Vanderyacht would win the battle for a loose ball, or VanderHaak would drain another three pointer. It was also Hershey again, who came up big, connecting on 5 of 6 from the free throw line in the final period, helping the Lions finish off the Lyncs 47-37. The Lions finished out-rebounding the Lyncs 21 to 13. The Lyncs were led by the 13 points of Dykstra, and got 10 from Sterk. The Lions were led by the 15 points from VanderHaak, and 12 from Hershey. Hernandez was held to just six points on the night, but did add six rebounds and three blocked shots.

The win gives the Lions (now 10-1 NWC and 15-3 Overall) sole possession of first place in the Northwest Conference standings, and great momentum heading into the home stretch of the regular season, as they take on Blaine and Ferndale next week. The Lyncs, now 9-2 and 16-2 Overall, will have to rebound from a tough week, and take on another difficult opponent in the Meridian Trojans on Tuesday night.