There aren’t many games to report on this week in the wide world of Blaine High School sports. Both boys and girls basketball teams played Ferndale on January 30 before a winter snowstorm blew through Whatcom County, canceling schools and postponing athletic events.
But there’s still plenty of Borderite sports action expected this upcoming weekend. Girls bowling will play in the state tournament starting Saturday, February 8, boys wrestling will look to send wrestlers to state at the District 1 1A tournament in Deming on Saturday, February 15, boys swimming will hold the Northwest Conference championships at Arne Hanna Aquatic Center at 3:15 p.m. Friday, February 7 and a flurry of basketball games will be played over the next week to make up for postponements due to inclement weather.
Blaine girls bowling will look to continue its postseason success after a rousing win at the 1A/2A District Championship on January 28. All seven members of the varsity team, Danika Morecombe, Nevaeh Zaddack, Shaylie Daniels, Madi Miller, Ainslee Ellis, Mackenzie Schreiner and Della Cochran, will compete at the state championship in Tukwila starting Saturday, February 8.
The state championship will feature two days of competition, with the first round on February 8 featuring individual rounds, then a “Baker Game” on Sunday, February 9, meaning each bowler will bowl just two frames in a 10-frame match.
Tickets are on sale now at bit.ly/40BKhvl for the 1A/2A state tournament held at Bowlero South Seattle. Prices start at $12 per day for adults, and $9 per day for students, seniors and military members.
Blaine boys basketball hosted Ferndale on January 30 before multiple inches of snow came roaring through northwest Washington over the past weekend, postponing a game that Blaine was scheduled to play February 3.
In tough fashion, Blaine lost 58-55, the narrowest margin of defeat so far this season, despite a solid second half that saw the Borderites outscore the Golden Eagles 32-29.
Blaine held on desperately to a two-point lead with less than three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, but a string of costly turnovers led to a 7-2 run by Ferndale to end the game, and the Borderites couldn’t find a game-winning shot.
Senior forward Dulio Kanagie had one of his best offensive performances of the season, scoring 14 points (12 of which came in the second half) to lead the team, along with a crowd-pleasing slam dunk.
Junior forward Landon Melton continued his productive season as one of Blaine’s better perimeter scorers, producing 13 points and six rebounds. Senior guard Josiah Weeda also finished with 13 points on the night, followed by Beckum Bleazard with seven points. Sophomore guard Dawson Dohner, recently called up from the junior varsity team, scored three points.
After starting the season with an encouraging 2-0 start, the Borderites haven’t been able to find a footing in Northwest Conference play, and are still searching for that first conference win. With just three games remaining in the regular season, the Borderites have only a few more chances to make that a reality. Unfortunately, the three-point loss to Ferndale was the closest the Borderites (3-15, 0-13 NWC) have been this season.
Due to weather rescheduling, Blaine will face off against Mt. Vernon two games in a row, hosting on February 5 (after press time), then going on the road at 7:15 p.m. on Friday, February 7. Blaine’s last regular season home game of the season is scheduled against Sedro-Woolley at 4 p.m. Saturday, February 8.
Stats provided by WhatcomPreps.com
Blaine girls basketball played just once over the past week due to the snow. In the lone game on the road against Ferndale on January 30, Blaine was defeated 57-26.
Blaine (4-12, 1-9 NWC) was led on offense by sophomore Kate Koreski who put up 12 points, once again leading the team in scoring in what has been a breakout year for the young guard.
Junior forward Aaliyah Bowman was tenacious on defense, leading the team with five steals and eight rebounds, tied for a team-high with sophomore guard Marcella Bring.
The Borderites couldn’t get their offense going against the staunch defense of Ferndale (9-9, 7-6 NWC), which forced 37 turnovers and held Blaine to one of its lowest point totals of the season. Led by sophomore guard Brooklyn Larrabee who recorded 14 steals, the Golden Eagles simply didn’t allow the Borderites to get the offense rolling, quickly getting out to a first quarter lead and not letting go.
The Borderites have just two games remaining on the schedule, both on the road, before the postseason begins.
Blaine will travel to face Mt. Vernon at 7:15 p.m. Friday, February 7, and then play the next day with a game against Sedro-Woolley at 1 p.m. Saturday, February 8. The District 1 1A postseason playoff will begin just two days after the final regular season game at Lynden Christian 7 p.m. Monday, February 10, where the Borderites will likely receive the fifth-seed and play Mt. Baker. The winner of that game is expected to face first-seed Lynden Christian on Wednesday, February 12.
Stats provided by WhatcomPreps.com
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