The Lynden Christian boys' basketball team not only clinched a berth to the Class 1A state tournament, it also handed Seattle Academy its first loss of the season Thursday, Feb. 14.

The Lyncs, ranked No. 5, held on behind a team effort to defeat No. 2 Seattle Academy 56-49 in a Class 1A Tri-District semifinal at Mountlake Terrace. The win improved the Lyncs to 19-5 while Seattle Academy dropped to 20-1.

"It was such a great team effort," Lynden Christian coach Roger DeBoer said in a phone interview.

Lynden Christian took a 15-7 lead after the first quarter, but Seattle Academy responded with a five-point edge in the second quarter to cut LC's lead to 25-22 at halftime. Seattle Academy took a lead in the third quarter before Lynden Christian had to battle back, which included an 18-12 scoring advantage in the fourth quarter.

Dustin Brandsma came up big down the stretch for the Lyncs, scoring eight of his 11 points in the fourth quarter. Brandsma was one of four Lyncs in double figures as Isaac Reimer, Daulton Hommes and Truman Van Dalen all had 10 points each.

The Lyncs had to play almost half of the game without the services of Reimer, the team's leading scorer, who was in foul trouble.

"Our backups played amazing minutes," DeBoer said. "We came back and executed some great sets in the third quarter and down the stretch to get us over the top."

The Lyncs next play Bothell Cedar Park Christian in the tri-district championship at 6:15 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 16, at Lynnwood.

"It's one more step for our goal to get over to Yakima," DeBoer said.

LYNDEN CHRISTIAN 56, SEATTEL ACADEMY 49

Seattle Academy 7 15 15 12 - 49

LC 15 10 13 18 - 56

Seattle Academy: Calin Washington 4, Alex Donald, Elliott Frank xx, Ben Gerke 12, Aaron Berhe, Amit Perlin 4, Cedric Rhodes 3, Jeremiah Hobbs 5, Yaniv Shier 21. Team totals: 16-59 12-14 49.

Lynden Christian: Nathan Meppelink 7, Zach Roetcisoender 6, Levi Vander Yacht, Truman Van Dalen 10, Daulton Hommes 10, Grant Wolffis, Josh Hornstra 2, Dustin Brandsma 11, Willy Scholten, Isaac Reimer 10. Team totals: 18-43 14-25 56.

3-ptg: SA 5 (Schier 3), LC 6 (Hommes 3). Rebounds: SA 45 (Hobbs 17), LC 32 (Reimer 12). Assists: SA 7 (Washington 4), LC 10 (Meppelink 3, Van Dalen 3). Fouls: SA 17, LC 12. Turnovers: SA 10, LC 7.