Lyncs girls surprise Lakewood

By Dan Sargent

Herald Writer

MOUNT VERNON – The third time wasn’t a charm for the Lakewood girls basketball team.

Lynden Christian, which lost twice to the Cougars during the regular season, claimed a 41-36 first-round victory in the Class 2A Northwest district playoffs at Skagit Valley College Tuesday night.

Lyncs freshman guard Kristin DeHaan provided an early spark and the play of teammate Ashley Kaemink late in the game dropped Lakewood into the loser’s bracket.

Lakewood trailed entering the fourth quarter 31-24 but climbed back into it with pressure defense and balanced scoring to make a 10-4 run and close to within 35-34 with five minutes to play.

Lynden Christian then turned to Kaemink, who scored the next two baskets to give Lynden Christian a five-point lead with 2 minutes left.

Amy Anderson’s basket with 45 seconds left pulled Lakewood within three. The Cougars forced a turnover with 12 seconds left but missed an opportunity to tie the score by turning the ball over with a traveling violation.

“With us turning the ball over like that it’s just a killer,” Lakewood coach Chris Walster said. “It was a little frustrating not be able to take advantage of some opportunities we had.”

Kaemink iced the game with 6 seconds left by making a pair of free throws.

DeHaan had the hot hand in the first half by making three of four 3-point shots to lead Lynden Christian to a 21-15 halftime advantage.

“She hit her first three, that gave her confidence and she did a great job hitting the outside shot,” Lynden Christian coach Curt DeHaan said.

Lakewood will play Mount Baker or Nooksack Valley in a loser-out contest at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Mount Vernon High School.