Last week’s state girls basketball tournament marked the end of two Lynnwood senior’s high school careers.
The Royals’ hope, however, is that the brief run at the Class 3A tournament marks the start of a bright future for an up-and-coming Lynnwood squad.
This was the Royals’ first appearance at state since 1994. Coach Everett Edwards hopes there won’t be such a long interlude before the next time Lynnwood plays at state.
“This was a team that in essence changed the culture regarding girls basketball at Lynnwood,” Edwards said. “We’re really taking a step in the right direction. We’re one of the top teams in Wesco.”
Lynnwood beat crosstown rival Meadowdale for the first time in 15 years at the district tournament and then defeated Glacier Peak in a winner-to-state/loser-out contest.
The Royals return four out of the five starters with only Laycee Hill departing. Senior Kari Hella was a key reserve for the Royals, who finished 14-14 overall.
Back for Lynnwood are three sophomores – Meghan Cross, Casey Evans, and Mokun Fajemisin – and junior Kelsey Parker. Fajemisin earned first-team, all-league honors.
“It’s a great core,” Edwards said. “We have a foundation. Now we just have to work on team chemistry and getting the experience. It’s a great step for all of our kids. They played in Tacoma. They won at the district tournament. They beat Meadowdale and Glacier Peak. … Next year it won’t be new.”
Lynnwood’s young players weren’t rattled by the Tacoma Dome’s surroundings. The Royals took a 28-22 lead into halftime over Prairie in a first-round game. Lynnwood led 31-28 heading into the final period but were outscored 19-7 the rest of the way and lost 47-38.
Cross led the Royals with 11 points.
Lynnwood again started out strong against Yelm, taking a 14-9 first-quarter advantage. But the Royals couldn’t sustain the momentum in the second quarter and trailed 27-21 at halftime. The Royals battled back in the third quarter to take the lead but Yelm reasserted itself and hung on for a 54-51 win. Fajemisin scored a team-high 13 points.
“That was just a game of momentum swings,” Edwards said. “We got off to a good start. The second quarter they got hot. They really rebounded the ball off the offensive glass very well.”
Yelm had two 6-foot posts who pounded the boards hard, Edwards noted.
Lynnwood switched to a zone defense in the second half and that enabled them to take the lead in the third quarter.
“We were protecting the basketball and applying a little bit of ball pressure,” Edwards said. “It was back and forth the rest of the game.”
While the players were disappointed not to produce a win at the tournament, they understood what their appearance meant for the future.
“They know who’s coming back,” Edwards said. “It’s exciting.”
Fajemisin figures to be a key player for the Royals for the next three years.
“She’ll do nothing but get better and better,” Edwards said.
The sophomore standout should have plenty of help from freshmen Linda Wilson and Arsenia Ivanov.
This is Edwards’ third year leading the Royals and his goal coming in was to bring a new outlook to the girls program, which has struggled to put together wins, let alone any state playoff appearances.
“I think we’ve done that,” Edwards said.
This year could be just the beginning of a lengthy postseason run for Lynnwood.
“The future is bright,” Edwards said. “This is the bar. We’re going to try and make the tournament every year.”
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