LC’s Dykstra leads All-NWC girls’ basketball team

Avery Dysktra of Lynden Christian has been named the Northwest Conference’s most outstanding player for girls’ basketball, one of 13 Whatcom County players on the All-NWC team.

The sophomore guard led the Lyncs, 25-2, to the Northwest Conference regular-season title. Lynden Christian finished fourth at the Class 1A state tournament, one of six Whatcom County teams to bring home trophies from the tournament. Her teammate, junior forward Sam VanLoo, also was named to the first team.

Lynden senior Elisa Kooiman, who led the Lions to the Class 2A state championship, and Brandy Smith of Burlington-Edison were the only seniors on the first team. Lynden, which finished 22-6, beat Burlington 44-36 on March 4 to win the 2A title.

Darrien Camarillo, a senior at Ferndale, was named to the second team.

All the other players honored are underclassmen, pointing to a wealth of talent returning next season.

Stephanie Soares and Danielle Tyler, a pair of sophomores from Class 1A state champion Mount Baker, were named to the first team. The Mountaineers, who finished 20-4, beat Cashmere, 45-44, on March 4 to capture the school’s first state championship in girls’ basketball.

Also on the the first team were Katrina Gimmaka, a junior from Nooskack Valley, and sophomore Gabby Ronngren from Anacortes.

This story was originally published March 7, 2017 at 5:21 PM with the headline "LC’s Dykstra leads All-NWC girls’ basketball team."