Lynden offense fires on all cylinders in rout of King's, 3 takeaways

Anthony Canales, Brant Heppner pace Lions' offense with double-figure scoring while Lynden shoots 52.6% from deep

KENT, Wash. — Lynden held King's to its lowest scoring total all season in a 64-39 win in a battle of the two-time defending Class 2A champion and the Class 1A runner-up the last two seasons.

Senior Anthony Canales scored a game-high 22 points and pulled down seven rebounds to lead the Lions.

The Lions raced out to a 22-6 lead after the first quarter and never looked back, outscoring the Knights in every frame.

Lynden led by as many as 27 points in a game that was as lopsided as the final score indicated.

Here are three takeaways from the Lynden-King's game:

LYNDEN OFFENSE CAME OUT FIRING

Before anyone could blink at the ShoWare Center, the Lions had jumped out to a huge lead in the first quarter.

Lynden's offense put up 22 points in the first frame, while allowing only six points by the Knights.

"They came out in a box-and-one against Anthony (Canales) and he was patient and other guys hit shots," Lynden coach Brian Roper said. "When that happens, they had to change defenses and we didn't panic. I feel like our guys off the bench are really starting to grow in their role. When you can shoot 10-of-19 from three in this backdrop you feel pretty good about it."

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KNIGHTS OFFENSE STYMIED BY LIONS' DEFENSE

For everything that was going right offensively for Lynden, the Knights were unable to match it.

Held to a season-low 39 points, King's shot just 35.7% from the field.

"It's hard to score out here at times and King's missed some easy shots early which made it tough, but I was proud of our guys for their effort," Roper said.

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TEAM BASKETBALL PACES LYNDEN

Canales and junior Brant Heppner are the force that jumps off the page for the Lions.

That proved to be true Monday yet again with Canales' 22 points and Heppner's 12 leading the Lions, but their greatest asset together might be knowing they also don't have to do everything.

"They've got the scorer's mentality, but they're not selfish guys and play off each other well," Roper said. "The guy that makes us go is Brady Elsner who might not always show up on the box score, but he gets us into our stuff, finds open shooters and is the rudder that steers the ship for us."

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Photo by Vince Miller

Photo by Vince Miller

Photo by Vince Miller

Photo by Vince Miller

Photo by Vince Miller