Columbia Adventist also won Saturday, giving Clark County eight teams that are still playing in state tournaments

Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com

A shot.

A swish.

Then the horn.

Ari Richardson ran from one end of the basketball court to the other.

His teammates followed him.

And then, his classmates.

It was the perfect end of the game for the Columbia River Rapids, and a perfect finish for Battle Ground High School as the site for three WIAA state regional basketball games Saturday.

In all three games, the Clark County team prevailed.

The Skyview boys basketball team got defensive, and punched a ticket to the Class 4A round of 12 in the Tacoma Dome next week.

The Camas girls basketball team got better and better throughout the day, cruised to victory, and will go directly to the Class 4A state quarterfinals, also in the Tacoma Dome next week.

Then it was Columbia River’s chance to make it three-for-three for Clark County squads at BGHS. 

The Rapids rallied in the fourth quarter, and then Richardson buried a 3-pointer with just a few seconds remaining for a 55-52 win to make it to the round of 12 in the Class 2A boys basketball tournament in the Yakima Valley SunDome.

“We didn’t want this to be our last game. We fought until the end of the game,” Richardson said. “That’s what our coach told us to do. Never give up. That’s how we were the whole game, and we’ve been like that the whole season.”

There were two other Clark County games around the state Saturday. The Columbia Adventist Academy Kodiaks continued their magical run in the Class 1B boys state tournament with a win over Tulalip Heritage. The Seton Catholic boys lost to Lynden Christian in the 1A tournament, but because Seton had earned a top-eight seed, Seton is still alive in the tournament. 

Here are some of the highlights and reactions from Saturday’s action

Class 2A Boys

Columbia River 55, White River 52

The Rapids were always close, but it was White River that led for most of this game.

Not when it mattered, though.

Aaron Hoey’s basket with 1:20 to play gave the Rapids a 52-51 lead. The Hornets responded with a free throw with 1:07 to play.

The Hornets would get another chance to take the lead, but Nico Valdez knocked the ball away from the Hornets, leading to a turnover. The Rapids missed on their end, but Carter Sheron grabbed the offensive rebound. The Rapids called a timeout with 13 seconds left.

Ari time.

“I work on that shot with my teammates. That’s a shot I want to take,” Richardson said.

The ball swished with about 2 seconds left on the clock. The Hornets inbounded the ball, but did not get a good look in an effort to tie.

By then Richardson was sprinting to the other side of the gym. The wall stopped his progress, allowing his teammates, and classmates, to catch up to him. He was lifted on someone’s shoulders.

“It felt incredible. It just shows that the students at the school really care and showed their spirit,” said Richardson, who made four 3-pointers and finished the game with 18 points. “It felt amazing.”

Columbia River coach Mark Ganter was thrilled with that chaotic scene.

“I am just happy for our students, happy for Ari, happy for our program, happy for our school,” Ganter said. “I looked around, and he was being mobbed by half our student body.”

Columbia River wins, and here is the celebration. pic.twitter.com/B0VHWcAiIy

— Paul Valencia (@ValenciaCCT) February 25, 2024

Class 4A Girls

Camas 53, Gonzaga Prep 29

The Camas Papermakers have said all season that they have unfinished business in the Tacoma Dome.

Now, they can turn all their focus to the Tacoma Dome, the state quarterfinals, and, they hope, beyond.

But first, a moment to celebrate. 

Yes, the ultimate goal is to win a state championship. The Papermakers lost in the title game last year, and they are on a mission.

But they will enjoy the journey, too. 

“We soaked our coach with water,” Riley Sanz said of the postgame scene. “I don’t know why. We just decided to because we got the bye, I guess. It’s a great feeling knowing we don’t have to play four days in a row.”

Camas’ victory on Saturday sends the team straight to the quarterfinals on Thursday. If they had lost, the Papermakers would have had to play Wednesday in the round of 12.

“Gonzaga Prep is a really good team. They’re really talented. That was a big win for us,” Addison Harris said. “That is worth celebrating.”

The Papermaker can enjoy Saturday’s win, and prepare themselves for next week. Harris said they will be ready.

“What I love about the state tournament, once you get to the dome, numbers, rankings, they don’t mean anything,” Harris said. “Everybody can get you. I love that kind of competition wer’re going to get every game.”

Sanz started off hot Saturday, making three 3-pointers in the first quarter. Camas took the lead for good then, but did not necessarily dazzle in the first half. The Papermakers turned it on in the second half, though, pretty much securing the victory in the third quarter.

Sanz finished with 15 points. Harris added 12. The Camas defense held Gonzaga Prep, seeded eighth in the state, to 13 points in the second half.

Class 4A Boys

Skyview 41, Woodinville 38

Even when the shots aren’t falling, the Skyview Storm know they have their defense.

Coach Matt Gruhler even said this is among the best defensive teams he has ever coached.

Well, that defense is sending Skyview to the state round of 12 in the Tacoma Dome.

Demaree Collins got a steal with six seconds left as Woodinville was trying to take the lead. He buried his two free throws. Then Gavin Packer and Malakai Weimer swarmed Woodinville’s Liam Kelly, a double team that forced an unbalanced shot that had no shot.

Let the Skyview celebration begin.

“Right around midseason, we saw some glimmers, of hanging with some of the best teams in the state while playing our defensive system,” Gruhler said. “The belief in the team has just gone up and up and up, and every game we’re getting a little bit better at executing it. We’ve got size, we’ve got length, we’ve got athleticism, and we’ve got belief.

“When we’re locked in on defense, it bothers teams,” he added.

While Collins led Skyview in scoring — he had 16 points — his shot was not falling for most of the afternoon. 

No big deal. There are other ways to win the game.

“Great players rise to the occasion,” Gruhler said. “With about a minute left, he said, ‘Let me guard No. 4’ We hadn’t done that most of the game. I said, ‘You got him.’ Then he made a really amazing play.”

Collins was prepared, and was fast enough to come through for his teammates.

“We knew that the back screen was gonna come. I bit it, and I got the steal,” Collins said. “I read the play.”

Then he was off to the line.

“Coach said, ‘Knock your free throws down with confidence.’ That’s exactly what I did,” Collins said.

Woodinville had time to get off a shot, but Packer and Weimer were just too strong defensively for that shot to matter.

Soon after the game, most of the Skyview team went to the locker room for a post-game chat. It took a while for Collins to get in there, though. It appeared he was hugging and high-fiving everyone from Vancouver.

A senior, he wanted the celebration to last a little longer. No, it was not his last game with Skyview, but it was his last game with Skyview in Clark County.

“They came out all four years to watch me play,” he said of family and friends. “All respect to them. It’s all love.”

Now those fans will be going to Tacoma to watch the Skyview Storm.

Class 1B Boys

Columbia Adventist Academy 70, Tulalip Heritage 63

The Kodiaks are 2-0 in the state tournament this year and are going to Spokane for the round of 12.

Because the Kodiaks were seeded 16th, they had to first win in the round of 20 to advance to the sweet 16. They did that Tuesday with a home game in Battle Ground.

On Saturday, on the road, they got 27 points and 15 rebounds from Tristan White, according to the Everett Herald. Logan Pierce added 16 points, and Collin Delaney scored 12 points. 

Class 1A Boys

Lynden Christian 71, Seton Catholic 39

Saturday was not Seton Catholic’s day, but because they earned a top-eight seed, they live to play another day.

Seton Catholic, No. 7, fell to the 2-seed Lynden Christian.That result will send Seton Catholic to the round of 12 in Yakima.

With results from Friday and Saturday’s “Opening Round” WIAA games, the fields are set for the final 12 at state tournament destinations. In all, Clark County has eight teams in various classifications. Here is what is next for all of them:

Class 4A Girls:

No. 1 Camas will play at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in the quarterfinals in the Tacoma Dome. The Papermakers will face the winner of Wednesday’s game between No. 10 Bellarmine Prep and No. 7 Tahoma. 

Class 4A Boys:

No. 11 Skyview will play No. 6 Federal Way at 3:45 p.m. Wednesday in the round of 12 in the Tacoma Dome.. The winner will advance to the quarterfinals against No. 5 Davis on Thursday. Wednesday’s loser is eliminated from the tournament.

No. 13 Camas will play No. 4 Glacier Peak at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday in the round of 12 in the Tacoma Dome. The winner will advance to the quarterfinals against No. 3 Gonzaga Prep on Thursday. Wednesday’s loser is eliminated from the tournament. 

Class 2A Girls:

No. 8 Columbia River will play No. 9 Ridgefield at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the round of 12 in the Yakima Valley SunDome. Yes, two teams from the Class 2A Greater St. Helens League are matched up in the round of 12, assuring one Clark County team of advancing to the quarterfinals. The winner will go to the elite eight and face No. 2 Lynden on Thursday. Wednesday’s loser is eliminated from the tournament. 

Class 2A Boys:

No. 12 Columbia River will play No. 5 Anacortes at 7:15 Wednesday in the round of 12 in the Yakima Valley SunDome. The winner will advance to the quarterfinals to play No. 3 North Kitsap on Thursday. Wednesday’s loser is eliminated from the tournament.

Class 1A Boys:

No. 7 Seton Catholic will play No. 10 Meridian at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in the round of 12 in the Yakima Valley SunDome. The winner will advance to the quarterfinals to play No. 1 Zillah on Thursday. Wednesday’s loser is eliminated from the tournament.

Class 1B Boys:

No. 16 Columbia Adventist Academy will play No. 8 Naselle at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the round of 12 in the Spokane Arena. The winners will advance to the quarterfinals to play No. 2 Wellpinit on Thursday. Wednesday’s loser is eliminated from the tournament.