Lobos win home openers

December 31, 2025 1:30 am
Gene Helfman photos. Top: Kylie Willemsen brings down a rebound while (left to right) Evelyn Aguilar-Clavel, Betty Burt (40), Dani Arnott (33) and Elle Patrick (10) ready to move the ball down the court. Bottom: Nathan Kinney grabs a rebound, while Jack Leyde (30), Kayden Sarazin (32), Benji Stephenson (12) and Ian Cankusic (10) look on.
Gene Helfman photos. Top: Kylie Willemsen brings down a rebound while (left to right) Evelyn Aguilar-Clavel, Betty Burt (40), Dani Arnott (33) and Elle Patrick (10) ready to move the ball down the court. Bottom: Nathan Kinney grabs a rebound, while Jack Leyde (30), Kayden Sarazin (32), Benji Stephenson (12) and Ian Cankusic (10) look on.

By Gene Helfman

Weekly contributor

Lopez faced multiple, formidable threats in their home opener on Dec. 16 against basketball powerhouse Tulalip Heritage High.

Both Tulalip teams were undefeated, the Lady Hawks scoring 45-55 points a game, the boys as many as 106 points. Equally formidable was the ferry system, which had caused cancellation of the Lobos’ home opener on Dec. 8.

In the first game, the Lady Hawks jumped out to a quick 12-6 lead after several steals, but Lopez managed to tie things 12-12 by the end of the first period, and led 21-17 at the end of the first half. Lopez took control of the game on fast breaks and excellent defense, leading 36-23 after three quarters, and extended their lead for a convincing 44-27 victory (and the Hawks’ lowest total of the season).

Scoring was led by Betty Burt with 17 points, followed closely by Dani Arnott with 13 points. Kylie Willemsen poured in eight points, and Iris Ervin McLean and Elle Patrick also scored.

Coach Karrie Warner was effusive in her praise afterward: “We had been working on defense, defense, defense, knowing it would be a physical game and Tulalip had been scoring high against other teams. Our girls were so great, they played so well. We knew they were going to try to get the ball to their star player and once we figured that out, we pretty much controlled the game. I’m so proud of them.”

The Hawks are deep enough to field three men’s teams: a varsity, junior varsity and C team. Looking at the records, Tulalip played their junior varsity squad against the Lobos. The JV Hawks had a 2-1 record, having scored as many as 66 points in one win. It looked to be close, and then the ferry system kicked in once again with the announcement that the late boat was canceled.

The teams agreed to play two halves rather than four quarters. The first half was fast, furious and close, and the half ending with the Lobos holding a slim, 26-25 advantage.

Lopez pulled out in the second half, leading by as many as nine points. But the Hawks fought back, the last few minutes up and down the court, Tulalip narrowing the difference. At the buzzer, Lopez emerged with a one-basket victory, 48-46. Benji Stephenson led the Lobos with 16 points, Nathan Kinney right behind with 13. Jack Leyde had eight, Ian Cankusic six and Kayden Sarasin five.

“I’m really proud of our boys! Excellent fundamentals and a great team effort all around,” said first-time coach Aaron Johnson. “We came out ready, played hard and finished strong. It was our best game as a team. And we played like we practiced — ran our plays, rebounded well, made free throws, and limited our turnovers. We’ll win a lot more games if we continue to play such high-quality basketball.”

The Lobos have five home games the first two weeks of January. Go to the Lobo Pack Facebook page for details.