MARYSVILLE — The Lummi girls showed why they’re the team to beat in the Northwest Conference, staying perfect with a 65-24 win over Highland Christian.

The Knights, playing a bit short-staffed, hosted the Jan. 23 league game.

Highland Christian kept it close through the first quarter, trailing only 14-8 by the end of eight minutes, but scorebook told the story. Senior post Chelsey Graber had scored all eight points for the Knights, while Lummi’s 14 points came from five different players. With big contributions coming from all over the court, Lummi built a big lead, going up by 10 in the second quarter thanks to lots of steals, lots of fast-break opportunities and lots of turnovers.

“Our guards didn’t get back and defend the basket, and Lummi has a good fast break,” said Highland Christian girls coach Steve Brown. “They beat us in transition.”

Coming out of halftime, Lummi scored the first three baskets to open a 20-point lead, but Graber and freshman point guard Sarah Tummler had points at the charity stripe and from the field to prevent further damages. Still, it was Lummi guard Sarah Brady’s best quarter, where she scored 15 of her game-high 19 points including a shot for two points at the buzzer. Bridging the third and fourth quarters, Lummi scored 20 uninterrupted points.

The end in little doubt, Brown put in his young players including several JV players who stepped up for missing seniors.

“We’re spreading out our offense more,” Brown said. “Our shooting wasn’t on tonight.”

Knights fans can take comfort that this won’t be the teams’ last meeting of the year. The girls get a chance for redemption when they visit the Blackhawks Feb. 5.

“We’re going to face them one more time and I’m looking forward to that,” Brown said.

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