Nate Wielenga scored 14 points and Matt Meyer added 13 as the Lynden boys' basketball team pulled away from Blaine late to win 56-44 in a Northwest Conference game on Thursday, Feb. 2, for its third straight win.
Lynden (15-3, 10-1 NWC) led 37-33 late in the third quarter before going on a 12-2 run. The Lions never let up from there to survive for the road victory.
Lynden made just 38 percent of its shots (22 for 58), but held Blaine to just 35 percent shooting (19 for 55).
"We played really hard defensively," Blaine coach Dougal Thomas said in a phone interview. "But we only shot 35 percent. But we were playing a good defensive team. Coach (Brian) Roper does a really nice job over there."
Dejan Stefanovic led Blaine with 11 points and nine rebounds and Chase Speelman scored 10.
The win was the third in a row for Lynden after it suffered its first NWC loss of the season in a 64-60 overtime loss at Squalicum. The Lions are still the top team in the conference and have two games remaining to lock up the NWC title.
Lynden next hosts Burlington-Edison at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, while Blaine travels to Nooksack Valley at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 6.
LYNDEN 56, BLAINE 44
Lynden 12 16 11 17 - 56
Blaine 10 14 9 11 - 44
Lynden: Josh Kraght 0, Lucas Jacob 7, Zach Vis 10, John Shine 3, Dak Shagren 9, Jaremy Martin 0, Nate Wielenga 14, Matt Meyer 13, Marcus Fakkema 0. Team totals: 22-58 9-12 54.
Blaine: Chase Speelman 10, Mario Gobbato 0, Tyler Chau 0, Isaiah Jackson 4, Luke Feenstra 5, Gabe Trump 8, Jesse Antczak 2, Zach Rector 2, Dejan Stefanovic 11, Chad Potts 2. Team totals: 19-55 2-6 44.
3-ptg: Lynden 3-11, Blaine 4-10 (Gabe Trump 2). Rebounds: Lynden 35 (Dak Shagren 7), Blaine 42 (Dejan Stefanovic 9). Fouls: Lynden 10, Blaine 9. Turnovers: Lynden 5, Blaine 13.
