MOUNT VERNON - Lynden Christian girls' basketball coach Curt De Haan and starting guard Courtney Hollander didn't elaborate on the message their lopsided win sends to the seven other Class 1A teams who'll be in Yakima next week vying for a state title.
They didn't need to. LC's 32-minute masterpiece spoke for itself.
The Lyncs realistically only needed six minutes, barring a major comeback, before they could feel safe about earning a return trip to the SunDome.
LC allowed just one first-half field goal, created 28 turnovers and rolled to a 72-11 win against Hoquiam during the regional round of the Class 1A State Tournament Friday, Feb. 22, at Mount Vernon High School.
Lynden Christian entered Friday's contest allowing 26 points per game in the postseason. LC impressed once again, this time holding the Grizzlies to 4 of 36 shooting from the field.
"The girls have been playing steadily stronger ball towards the end of the year," De Haan said. "It's nice to be clicking at the right time of the year."
Four Lyncs reached double figures. Kayla Tiemersma scored a game-high 12 points to go with her team-high seven rebounds. Sally Vlas and Hollander each scored 11 points, while Hollander added a game-high eight assists and Karley De Jager finished with 10 points.
In the first six minutes of the game, Lynden Christian forced 12 turnovers, made Hoquiam burn three timeouts and built a 21-2 lead.
Hollander had five steals during the span, and Hoquiam committed 15 turnovers in the first quarter.
"We mixed it up," De Haan said of his defense. "I think we ran three different looks in the first quarter, and all three of them worked well for us. With our quickness we like to get out and run, and we made quite a few transition hoops tonight."
Lynden Christian's defense followed up its two-point first quarter by shutting out Hoquiam in the second quarter. Vlas scored seven of her 11 points in the frame, and the Lyncs took a 43-2 lead into halftime.
Hoquiam shot just 1 of 20 in the first half, while Lynden Christian shot 17 of 33 in the first two quarters thanks to crisp heads-up passing. Hollander had eight assists and would have been in line for a triple double if she didn't exit with the rest of LC's starters late in the third quarter. Vlas, Makayla Lancaster and Kassidy Aldrich each had three assists.
"We were hitting the open person and making good decisions with the basketball," De Haan said.
Lynden Christian led 49-2 before Hoquiam's Vanessa Doyle scored the Grizzlies' first bucket with 4:21 left in the third quarter. It was Hoquiam's first field goal since the 3:50 mark in the first.
Late in the third, with LC leading 51-4, De Haan pulled his starters. Many of LC's second stringers made the most of their court time.
Aldrich and Sara Dougan each had six points, Kara Bajema had five and Morgan Van Kooten and Emma Stump each had four.
Hoquiam was led by Ellie Quercia and Chelsey Stewart, who each scored four points.
"I know there are a lot of other good teams on the east (side of the state)," Hollander said. "We want to come in with confidence, but we don't want to be overconfident."
LC's first round opponent will be decided Sunday, Feb. 24, when a draw takes place.
The win was the 13th straight for LC dating back to Jan. 19.
Reach Andrew Lang at andrew.lang@bellinghamherald.com or call 360-756-2862.
LYNDEN CHRISTIAN 72, HOQUIAM 11
Hoquiam 2 0 2 7 - 11
Lynden Chr. 23 20 15 14 - 72
Hoquiam: Ellie Quercia 4, Chelsey Stewart 4, Vanessa Doyle 2, Jessica Madison 1, Kelci Parker 0, Tiffanie Dhooghe 0, Mikaila Johnson 0, Kylie Stewart 0, Olivia Rose 0, Carli Mode 0. Team totals: 3-32 3-5 11.
Lynden Christian: Makayla Lancaster 0, Haley Hollander 3, Kara Bajema 5, Courtney Hollander 11, Sally Vlas 11, Kassidy Aldrich 6, Karley De Jager 10, Sara Dougan 6, Emma Stump 4, Carli Tjoelker 0, Kayla Tiemersma 12, Morgan Van Kooten 4. Team totals: 29-55 7-12 72.
3-ptg: Hoquiam 0, Lynden Chr. 5 (Aldrich 2). Rebounds: Hoquiam 16 (Chelsey Stewart 4), Lynden Chr. 32 (Tiemersma 7). Assists: Hoquiam 1 (Quercia 1), Lynden Chr. 22 (Hollander 8). Fouls: Hoquiam 11, Lynden Chr. 9. Turnovers: Hoquiam 28, Lynden Chr. 13.
Reach ANDREW LANG at andrew.lang@bellinghamherald.com or call ext. 862.
