Foothills Gazette » Sports

2nd annual Battle of the Decades basketball tourney on July 17

Becca Schwarz — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 15:32:17 +0000

DEMING – The year-old Mount Baker Alumni Association is again hosting “The Battle of the Decades” basketball tournament on Saturday, July 17. Approximately 50 players participated last year, with about 300 people in attendance watching four decades of Mount Baker Basketball.
“We are very grateful to our 2009 players, coaches, referees, event volunteers, and of course the enthusiastic Baker Basketball fans,” according to Belva Tyska. Generous community sponsors for last year’s event included ALRT, Boss Construction, Boundary Bay Brewery, Cowden’s, Dodson’s, Everybody’s Store, Harvest Moon Bakery, Dr. Robert Klein, Prosperity Planning Partners, The Shirt Works, Sound Beverage, Vision Landscaping, Volvo Rents, and WECU. All proceeds were donated to Mount Baker Sports programs and were used to purchase conditioning equipment.
This year the Association is excited to welcome Mr. Doug Sutton and the newly formed Mount Baker Alumni Pep Band, which will include a variety of current and former Mountaineer Band members. Mr. Sutton has extended an open invitation to all past Mountaineer Band members to participate and can be contacted at www.facebook.com/joetuba for details and a practice schedule.
The “Battle of the Decades II” will include both men’s and women’s teams from the 70’s to recent 2010 graduates. The Association invites everyone in the community to come out for a night of fun and fellowship while cheering on your favorite decade to victory! Tip off times in the Mount Baker Field House will be: 2 p.m. Men’s Preliminary Games; 4:30 p.m. Women’s Exhibition Game; 5:30 p.m. Men’s Playoff Games. At 5:15 the Alumni Pep Band will perform. There will be a raffle for a 3-Point Contest with a variety of prizes and you can enjoy a hot dog and a drink at our concession stand. Tickets available at the door are $5/adult, $3/student and $15/family.
This year’s proceeds will be donated to Mount Baker Arts programs. For more information about the event or the Alumni Association please contact Joan McNielly at 592-2274.

Parks and Rec Foundation possible short-term solution for skate park

Becca Schwarz — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 05:45:08 +0000

by BRENT COLE
GLACIER – The Glacier Skate Park Association is eyeing the possibility of joining the non-profit Parks and Recreation Foundation as a short-term solution to maintaining the park.
The non-profit Foundation is not affiliated with the Whatcom County Parks and Recreation Department.
Glacier Skate Park organizer Jeremy Miller, as well as the group’s lawyer, Dannon Traxler, will present their proposal at the Foundation’s board meeting on March 19.
“They take a low fee for processing and we’re filling out the application,” he said.
The group will still file for their own non-profit status, but being a part of the foundation will allow them to take donations while the paperwork is being filled out and recorded.
According to Miller, the group and new property owner Joe Kong have come to a verbal agreement regarding the park, and will allow them to stay on the land providing they can meet all of the county’s permit requirements.
The newly formed Glacier Skate Park Association will get 10,000 square feet to use for the skatepark in exchange for paying part of the back taxes on the piece of property as well as helping King when he builds a home on his 25-acre property. “I had to agree to do some concrete work for him in the future and pour a slab if he needed it,” Miller said. “I like that idea because we’re helping each other.”
Epson Engineering, said Miller, will surveying the sight at no charge. Miller has also brought in Volcom, an international skate and snowboarding company that is interested in helping with fundraising as well as paying the approximately $4,000 initially needed to get the project legal and legitimate – $3,000 for the conditional use permit as well as $1,000 for back taxes.
On April 8, the Glacier Skate Park Association will put on a benefit show at the Wild Buffalo in Bellingham, featuring live music and a raffle/auction for items.

Registration for youth sports under way

Becca Schwarz — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 05:25:10 +0000

DEMING – Mt. Baker Youth Baseball (MBYB) is accepting registrations for children in grades Kindergarten through 6th, as well as any youth interested in the U10, U12, U14, or U16 Fastpitch Division. Forms are available at the Deming Library. You can also register at http://mtbaker.baberuthonline.com. The group’s next meeting will be Tuesday, Feb. 2 in Room 205 at the Mt. Baker Junior High School at 7 p.m. For more information, contact Chellie Anderson at 927-3933.
In other news, registration is also under way for the Mt. Baker Girls Softball League, open to 1st through 6th grade girls at Harmony, Acme and Kendall Elementary schools. The spring activity will be kickball. For more information, contact Steve Otten at 483-7102.

Basketball teams take tough losses on court

Brent Cole — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 07:10:36 +0000

DEMING/EVERSON – The Mount Baker boys basketball team took a loss to Lynden, 44-34, on Jan. 14, bringing them to a 6-4 record.
After a low scoring first half with the two teams knotted up at 16-16, Lynden took a 7-point lead after the end of the third quarter, putting the team ahead for good. Mount Baker was led by Spencer Backstrom’s 12 points in the loss.
The previous Monday, Mount Baker lost a tough game against Burlington-Edison, 60-49. The two teams battled through much of the game, with Burlington-Edison up by only two after three quarters. In the final quarter, Burlington-Edison got hot at the right time, take their lead to 12 points. The team was led by Backstrom’s 11 points and Zack Stalin’s 10.
Mount Baker suffered their worst loss of the season, 76-39 to Squalicum, on Jan. 7. The Mountaineers appeared overmatched from the beginning, spotting Squalicum 12 points before making a basket. By halftime, the team was down 40-11. Jacob Kernells led the team with 12.
Nooksack Valley
The Nooksack Valley boys (6-5 overall, 1-4) basketball lost to Anacortes, 70-61, on Jan. 14. The team was up by one at half time and only down by four after the third quarter. In the fourth, though, Anacortes went on a run, outscoring the Pioneers 23-18 in the quarter, sealing the win. Nick Westergreen’s 15 and Brent Gwinner’s 14 led the team.
The previous Tuesday, Nooksack Valley lost a close game against Squalicum, 64-60. The two teams battled throughout the game with the Storm only leading by two with half a minute remaining. Nooksack Valley fouled Patrick Dickerson, who nailed two free throws and secured the victory. Anthony Reese led the team with 13.
The Pioneers lost again to Bellingham on Jan. 7, falling 54-50. The two teams were tied after one quarter with Nooksack Valley up by six at halftime. Unfortunately, a bad third quarter did the team in as they scored only six points, but gave up 14. The Pioneers attempted a rally, but fell short in the end. Anthony Reese led the team with 15 points, while Kyle Impero added 11.
On Jan. 5, Nooksack Valley began their four game skid, losing in a tight match against Lynden Christian, 49-48. The two teams battled throughout the game, leaving the game knotted up at 48 with nine seconds remaining. Lynden Christian hit a free throw, putting them in the lead. With seconds left in the game, Westergreen attempted an open three pointer that just missed as the clock ran out. Brent Gwinner led the team with 17 points.

Lady Pioneers combine for wins; Mounties forge ahead

Becca Schwarz — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 07:10:14 +0000

EVERSON/DEMING – On Jan. 15, Nooksack Valley (7-3 overall, 3-2) beat Anacortes, 46-37, in a Northwest Conference win at home. The game started off slowly, with Anacortes ahead of the Pioneers 5-2 after the first quarter. In the second quarter, the game picked up with Nooksack Valley putting another 18 points on the board heading into halftime ahead by two. From there, the Pioneers took control of the game in the second half for the win. Austen Beard’s 18 points and six rebounds led the team, while Allison Johnson added another 14 points and six rebounds.
Four days prior, Nooksack Valley lost to Squalicum, 57-45. The team fell behind early, down 18-7 after the first quarter, and 24-17 at half. Allison Johnson led the team with 20 points.
The previous Friday, Nooksack Valley beat Bellingham, 53-37, with Austen Bear and Allison Johnson shooting a combined 30 points. Nooksack Valley exploded in the third quarter with 21 points, taking a 36-28 lead. The team added 17 points for the commanding win.
In their worst loss of the season, Nooksack Valley was defeated by Lynden Christian, 43-15, on Jan. 5. The day before, the team beat Mount Vernon, 54-47m with Johnson scoring 17 points and Beard 15.

Mount Baker
On Jan. 14, the Mount Baker girls (4-6, 0-3) lost to Lynden, 43-38, in Deming. The two teams battled throughout the game with Mount Baker down by two at halftime, 20-18. Lynden padded the lead by three after the third quarter, bringing the game down to the wire in the fourth. Mount Baker’s Taylor Coston scored a 3-pointer, but Lynden answered quickly with a three of their own, putting the Mounties away for good. The team was led by Coston’s 11 and Jovana Baisden’s seven.
Two days prior, Mount Baker lost to Burlington-Edison, 46-30. The Mounties scored 13 points in the first half compared to Burlington-Edison’s 20. The troubles continued as the deficit grew, down 11 at the third quarter and finally 16 at the end of the game. The team was led by Katie Stalin’s eight and Baisden’s seven.
The team’s losing streak started against Squalicum on Jan. 8, losing 61-46 in Deming. The teams battled throughout the first three quarters, but Squalicum came out on top in the fourth quarter. Baisden again led the team, this time knocking in 15.