Nooksack Valley, Deer Park will meet for WIAA Class 1A girls basketball championship
The least-suspenseful thing about Friday night is that defending Class 1A champion Nooksack Valley found its way back into the WIAA championship game.
The surprise? The Pioneers won't be playing Northwest Conference rival Lynden Christian.
Instead, they'll be playing a newcomer to the title game - undefeated Deer Park
"They're unbeaten - and there for a reason," Nooksack Valley girls coach Shane Wichers said.
Photo by Lane Mathews
Devin Coppinger scored a team-high 19 points - 13 coming in the second half as the Pioneers defeated Wapato, 66-56, in the state semifinals.
Nooksack Valley held off the Wolves despite a game-high 27 points from Trinity Wheeler.
The Pioneers broke open a close game midway through the third quarter on a 19-5 run - and Coppinger was right in the middle of it.
"We put the ball in her hands," Wichers said.
And now, they have to figure out a way to slow down the Deer Park guard trio of Ashlan and Emma Bryant and Brooklyn Coe, who combined to score 35 of the Stags' 43 points in a 43-42 win over Lynden Christian.
"We'll try to keep them in front of us," Wichers said. "They are dynamic, for sure."
---
Deer Park 43, Lynden Christian 42
Ashlan Bryant scored a game-high 22 points, including eight points in the fourth quarter as the Stags will play for a WIAA title for the first time in school history.
The game was tied three times in the final quarter, the last time at 39-39 with 2:27 to go on a Grace Hintz bucket.
But Bryant was unflappable at the free-throw line, making all six attempts over the final 3:41.
Bryant's final two free throws gave Deer Park a 43-40 lead with 55 seconds remaining.
But after a Bryant miss in the lane with 24 seconds remaining, the Lyncs had a final chance to tie.
Ella Fritts opted for an 8-footer in the lane with three seconds remaining. Deer Park inbounded the ball, and Lynden Christian could not foul in time, ending the game.
