Nooksack Valley claims first district title since 2010 in win over Lynden Christian

LYNDEN, Wash. – Round two of the Nooksack Valley revenge tour went the Pioneers' way in a 55-45 win over Lynden Christian.

The two teams met for the second time this season with the District 1 championship on the line and by the end of four quarters, the Pioneers were 2-0 against the Lyncs this season and district champions for the first time since 2010.

Nooksack Valley coach Shane Wichers said he remembered that game in 2010 – also a Pioneers' win over Lynden Christian – because nobody drove down to watch thinking Nooksack Valley had no chance against the Lyncs.

Things were a little different this time around with a packed house at Lynden High School.

"It's just a great team win and I'm excited about what we were able to accomplish tonight," Wichers said.

Lynden Christian's only lead of the game – a slim 8-6 advantage – came at the 4:00 mark of the first quarter.

Nooksack Valley answered with a 5-0 run to take back a lead it wouldn't surrender the rest of the way.

The Lyncs managed just five points in the second quarter. The Pioneers' offense also struggled, putting up only 10 points, but it was enough to stretch its lead out to 13 points at halftime.

Both teams lacked rhythm on offense to open the second half. Nooksack Valley's first field goal of the third quarter didn't come until 1:20 was left on a basket by junior Lainey Kimball.

But even with the offense not getting it done, the Pioneers' defense was right where it needed to be and the Lyncs were only able to cut into Nooksack Valley's lead by three points and still trailed 41-31 after three quarters.

"We got big stops at times and our help defense was good. I was really happy with that," Wichers said.

Lynden Christian's 45 points was a season-low for the Lyncs.

The Pioneers put a bow on things in the fourth quarter with junior guard Devin Coppinger hitting a string of baskets which pushed Nooksack Valley's lead to as many as 15 in the final frame.

"We knew it was going to be a battle. We would've loved to say it was going to be like the first time, but we knew it wasn't going to be," Wichers said. "The previous three times we played last year came down to the last two minutes of the game, so I was fully anticipating something like that potentially."

At this point in the season, the Pioneers keep checking boxes.

An undefeated run through league play? Done.

District champions? Also done.

Wichers said his team is dialed in, but knows they still have to go out and get theirs.

"We really haven't talked much about what's next, but they're a pretty motivated group," he said. "In the postseason anything can happen. Just because you've accomplished great things in the regular season it doesn't mean you're going to accomplish those things in the postseason. You've got to earn that."

Coppinger scored a game-high 24 points while senior guard Hallie Kamphouse scored 10 with three 3-pointers made.

Freshman guard Ella Fritts led the Lyncs with 14 points and sophomore guard Grace Hintz added 13.