Western women's basketball highlighted by former Whatcom County prep stars

Basketball has the potential to take you far. For Katrina Gimmaka, Avery Dykstra and Riley Dykstra, it’s taken them about 30 minutes from their hometown.

The trio currently play for the Western Washington University women’s basketball team, not too far from where they grew up in Everson.

Also on the team is former Ferndale High School star Jamie Johnson, who’s redshirting this season and won’t see much time on the court.

They’ve gone from competitors in high school, with the Dykstras attending Lynden Christian High School and Gimmaka at Nooksack Valley High School, to teammates on one of the top Division II teams in the country.

There’s a history of success at Western with Carmen Dolfo leading the program since 1991. That kind of longevity has bred not only victories on the court, but a sense of comfort among the players.