Chris Mitchell scored 13 of his team-high 15 points in the second half as Nooksack Valley raced past league foe Meridian 58-38 on Saturday for third place in the Class 1A boys state tournament.

Teammates Bret Handy and Rich Skillman added 13 and 11 points, respectively, for the Pioneers (20-8), who put the game away with a 22-8 run in the third quarter.

It was the fourth time this year the Pioneers have beaten the Trojans (13-17); twice in Northwest 3A-2A-1A League play, and once in district play last weekend.

NV pulled in front quickly thanks in part to hot first-half shooting. The Pioneers converted 12 of 23 first-half shots.

Andrei Lintz led Meridian with 16 points.

Meridian's sixth-place finish was its best ever.

Nooksack Valley -- Bosscher 0-1 0-0 0, Westergreen 1-1 0-0 2, Skillman 5-9 0-0 11, Handy 6-15 1-1 13, Beard 0-0 0-0 0, Zavala 3-6 2-2 8, Van Berkum 2-2 0-0 4, McLeod 0-1 0-0 0, DeGrasse 0-0 0-0 0, Mitchell 6-14 3-3 15, Hobbs 2-4 1-1 5, Aure 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-53 7-7 58.
Meridian -- Self 0-2 0-0 0, Hurlbut 0-0 0-0 0, Himes 1-6 1-2 3, Mark 2-8 0-0 5, Brannen 3-4 1-2 7, Slesk 1-8 1-2 3, Mount 0-1 0-0 0, Lintz 7-10 2-2 16, Hazel 1-4 0-0 2, Hayes 0-1 2-2 2, Schweigert 0-3 0-0 0, Childs 0-0 0-1 0. Totals 15-47 7-11 38.
Nooksack Valley	21	7	22	8	--	58
Meridian	12	8	8	10	--	38
3-point goals--NV 1-4 (Skillman 1-1, McLeod 0-1, Handy 0-2), M 1-16 (Mark 1-6, Mount 0-1, Lintz 0-1, Hazel 0-1, Schweigert 0-2, Himes 0-2, Slesk 0-3). Rebounds--NV 33 (Mitchell 8, Handy 7), M 29 (Lintz 5, Brannen 5, Mark 5). Assists--NV 10 (Skillman 3, Handy 3), M 4 (Slesk 2). Steals--NV 11 (Skillman 2, Handy 2, Zavala 2, Van Berkum 2, Hobbs 2), M 3. Blocked shots--NV 2, M 2. Fouled out--None. Total fouls--NV 13, M 11. Technical fouls--None. Turnovers--NV 11, M 14.