![Anotonio Barajas (left) and Ahron Melendez, two seniors from Fort Vancouver, are proud to showcase their basketball program and their school as the Trappers host the Fort Vancouver Holiday Tournament this week. Photo by Paul Valencia](https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Story_Clark-County-Today-FVHS-Antonio-Barajas-Ahron-Melendez.jpg)
Trappers take pride in hosting basketball tournament, showing off their school
The Fort Vancouver Holiday Tournament is not just for the 16 boys and four girls basketball teams to compete for three days. It is also an opportunity for Fort Vancouver High School to show visitors what they are all about these days.
The Trappers talk about the three jobs they are responsible for this basketball season, this academic year.
They want to do their work, with great attitude, and with relentless effort.
And again, that is not just on the basketball court.
The Trappers played at 10 a.m. Wednesday, the first of eight games to be played at Fort Vancouver during the day. The rest of the day? The Trappers were going to help out wherever needed. Some might be working the concession stand. Others might help with the scorebook or taking stats.
“There is a lot of pride in hosting this tournament,” senior Ahron Melendez said.
“I really like it because people can get a feel for what Fort Vancouver is and not what they think it is,” added senior Antonio Barajas.
The goal for the high school, Barajas said, is to “get everyone to the next level of their life.”
While having a positive influence on others along the way.
“A lot of schools we run into, they don’t even give us a chance,” Barajas said of the attitude surrounding his school.
“They got a bad idea on us, a bad rap,” Melendez added. “We’re trying to change how things are nowadays.”
![Fort Vancouver High School is hosting 16 boys basketball teams in two brackets this week as part of the Fort Vancouver Holiday Tournament. Photo by Paul Valencia](https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Story_Clark-County-Today-Fort-Vancouver-HS-Signage.jpg)
On the basketball court, it means competing regardless of the score, always displaying strong sportsmanship, and treating visitors with respect. Do those things, and others will start to change the negative perception of the school, the senior leaders said.
“We’re always preaching: If two people fall on the ground, one of ours and one of theirs, obviously get your teammate first, but also don’t be shy to help them out, too,” Barajas said. “We want to show that we respect everybody.”
The Fort Vancouver Holiday Tournament has teams from Washington, Oregon, and California. The Trapppers said they want to make sure everyone feels welcome.
And, of course, the Trappers are thrilled to have three home games in a row while promoting sportsmanship. This is the first true tournament back at Fort Vancouver since December 2019. There was no basketball season in December of 2020, and then last year, an ice storm stopped some teams from traveling to Vancouver. There were an odd number of teams that did make it, so the host Trappers graciously bowed out in order to allow the other teams to play.
This year? Two, eight-team brackets for the boys. And a round-robin format for four girls teams. (The girls tournament is being played at Heritage High School.)
“It’s good to have it back,” Melendez said.
“And it’s fun to play in it,” Barajas added.
For updated information on the tournament, and to brackets for scheduling, go to the tourney’s website: https://sites.google.com/vansd.org/fortvancouverinvitational/
Also read:
- Raptors make a trade, giving them a home game in Ridgefield to celebrate Independence DayClark County’s West Coast League baseball team traded home dates with Corvallis, giving Raptors a home game on the day that the city of Ridgefield holds its annual Fourth of July Celebration, combining the Independence Day with baseball.
- Clark County Today Sports Podcast, July 3, 2024: What are the summer expectations for high school athletes and coaches?The sports administrators and reporter Paul Valencia discuss the expectations of high school athletes and coaches during the summer months, plus we talk about our Fourth of July traditions.
- Video: Children rally to Dash for Cash with the RaptorsThe annual Dash for Cash night, courtesy of iQ Credit Union, was a big success as children from Clark County got to sprint on the Ridgefield Raptors baseball field, looking for cash that was scattered throughout the outfield.
- New football coach: Prairie graduate Junior Miller prepared for job at PrairieJunior Miller is one of several new head football coaches at Southwest Washington high schools, and the 2002 Prairie High School graduate said he is excited to bring a new vibe to his old school.
- Curt Daniels Invitational baseball tournament starts Wednesday, June 26The Clark County baseball community invites baseball standouts from all over the Northwest every summer for a tournament to honor the memory of a teacher and a coach at the Curt Daniels Invitational.