The Columbia River boys basketball team is all smiles after beating Renton in an elimination game in the Class 2A state basketball tournament Saturday at Mark Morris High School in Longview. Photo by Paul Valencia

The Camas boys and the Seton Catholic girls each won big games to advance directly to the quarterfinals, while the Woodland girls and Columbia River boys easily won in elimination games Saturday in the Opening Round of their state tournaments

Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com

It was a Saturday to remember for a number of Southwest Washington basketball teams, with two teams advancing directly to the state quarterfinals and two other teams surviving elimination games.

Playing in a late game Saturday night, the No. 5 Camas boys basketball team went to Tri-Cites and took down No. 4 Richland to advance to the Class 4A elite eight.

In Class 1A girls basketball, Seton Catholic earned quite a double: The Cougars won a state playoff game for the first time in program history and advanced to the state quarterfinals.

Two area teams that played in Southwest Washington on Saturday in the Opening Round of their state basketball tournaments got victories.

The Columbia River Rapids made a statement not only for themselves, but for their league in the Class 2A boys basketball tournament at Mark Morris High School in Longview..

Also in Longview, the Woodland Beavers have brought the winning tradition back to their girls basketball program.

That was just four of nine results featuring Clark County (and Woodland) in Saturday’s Opening Round action.

In other games, the Seton Catholic boys (1A) lost, but that was in seeding game so the Cougars will continue their season in the round of 12.

The Prairie boys, the Mountain View girls, the Ridgefield boys, and the La Center boys all lost in elimination games.

Here are some of Saturday’s notes featuring Clark County teams:

2A boys: Columbia River 94, Renton 63

There might have been two teams ahead of them in the league standings, but the Columbia River Rapids were out to prove that at least three teams from the Class 2A Greater St. Helens League should be in the Yakima Valley SunDome for the final 12 teams in the state tournament.

They did so convincingly Saturday at Mark Morris High School.

Columbia River will join Mark Morris and R.A. Long in Yakima.

Aaron Hoey made six 3-pointers — and he was so on that they looked like layups — and led five players in double figures, scoring 24 points in the blowout for the 11-seed Rapids against the 14-seed from Renton.

Columbia River’s Aaron Hoey, left, and Javen Fletch had key moments when Columbia River took command of its playoff game Saturday. Photo by Paul Valencia

There was a “winning time” moment in the second quarter of this one. Javen Fletch had the ball and was considering a shot. Hoey, though, got open outside the 3-point line, called for the ball, and splash! The 3-pointer gave the Rapids a 21–point lead. Renton called a timeout, and Fletch and Hoey celebrated at midcourt on the way to the bench.

“Aaron’s the best shooter in the state, in my opinion,” Fletch said. “I’m going to give it to him every time. He knocked it down.”

“It just felt so good, especially in this game. It sends us to the dome, which has been our goal for the year. To get us up by 20, it meant a lot,” Hoey said.

Fletch, motivated by Hoey, returned to the floor after the timeout and knocked down consecutive 3-pointers of his own.

Renton never recovered.

“I was just excited to be back on the court with my guys,” said Fletch, who has been out with an injured ankle. “That gave me an extra boost to just go out and kill it, and I ended up hitting two big ones for us.”

Columbia River will play No. 6 Lakewood at 9 a.m. in Wednesday’s round-of-12 game in Yakima. The winner of that game will advance to the quarterfinals.

“These last two years have meant a lot, making it to the dome,” said Hoey, a senior. “We weren’t very good our first two years. Now in our fourth year playing together, the chemistry set in, and it just feels really good.”

“I’m glad we could all come together and make it happen,” Fletch added.

2A girls: Woodland 59, Sultan 28

Woodland girls basketball has a tremendous state basketball history. But it had been a minute.

As in 11 years.

So just getting to Saturday’s Opening Round was quite the accomplishment. And now, the Beavers get to continue this state playoff journey, heading to the Yakima Valley SunDome.

“It will be a great experience for us,” said sophomore Kennedy Bockert, who scored 17 of her 25 points in the first half when Woodland took command. “I’ve never been to anything like this. I’m excited to have fun with everyone, play some more games, and see how far we can go.”

The Beavers had a 15-0 run to end the first quarter, and they were just getting started.

Kennedy Bockert, a sophomore from Woodland, scored 17 of her 25 points in the first half when the Beavers took command of their playoff game against Sultan. Photo by Paul Valencia

Woodland senior Lainey Haden had an impressive performance from beyond the 3-point line Saturday, plus she was recognized by tournament organizers and given a sportsmanship medal after the game. Photo by Paul Valencia

Even when things didn’t go perfectly, the Beavers had a great attitude. There were a couple of chaotic moments in the first half, with rebounds, loose balls, and some physical play. Bockert could be seen smiling and laughing.

“I always try to have fun,” Bockert said. “If I’m nervous, it calms me down.”

Senior Lainey Haden hit several 3-pointers but also was highlighted for more than her basketball skills. Character counts, as well, at WIAA events. She was a recipient of the WIAA sportsmanship award.

“I’m so flattered. I’m really happy that I got recognized. It’s really a great compliment,” she said.

She will take her talent, and her sportsmanship, with her teammates to Yakima. The No. 9 Beavers will play in the round-of-12 at 9 p.m. Wednesday vs. No. 8 Bainbridge. The winner advances to the state quarterfinals the next night.

“I’m so excited,” Haden said. “Just an awesome opportunity for us.”

Class 4A boys: Camas 59, Richland 57

The Papermakers were disappointed after their loss last week in the bi-district championship game, which ended up costing them a top-four seed in the state tournament.

No matter anymore. The Papermakers stole the seed with this victory at Richland High School.

Now, officially the Papermakers still have the 5-seed by their name. But they take the place of the 4-seed going into the Tacoma Dome. More importantly, the Papermakers do not have to play in the round-of-12 game on Wednesday. Instead, they advance directly to the state quarterfinals on Thursday.

Camas will take on the winner of Wednesday’s Arlington (14-seed) vs. Glacier Peak (3) game. Glacier Peak, by the way, was one of three top-four seeds to lose in the Opening Round, which has thrown the boys bracket into chaos.

The Papermakers don’t have to worry about the brackets and seedings now. They just know they are among the final eight in the state.

Camas used a 21-10 second quarter to take a double-digit lead into halftime. Richland rallied in the fourth quarter, but the Papermakers were able to hold on for the victory.

Class 1A girls: Seton Catholic 69, Zillah 65, OT.

Seton Catholic also stole a seed on Saturday.

The Cougars will still be the 6-seed, but they take over the 3-seed in the bracket, sending Seton Catholic to the state quarterfinals on Thursday.

Seton Catholic had been to state the previous two seasons, losing both games in the Opening Round.

This year, the Cougars earned a top-eight seed, ensuring they would play at least two games at state. Now, with the first state playoff win in program history, they are assured of at least two more games. The final eight teams go into a double-elimination format. Gotta win every game from here on out in order to win a state championship, but there is a consolation bracket for state placing.

In Saturday’s win at Davis High School in Yakima, Seton led for most of the game. Zillah, the 3-seed, came roaring back in the fourth quarter to tie the game. Seton Catholic regrouped, then got the victory in OT.

Seton Catholic will be back in action Thursday against the winner of Wednesday’s game between Lakeside (12-seed) vs. Annie Wright (5). Thursday’s game is scheduled for 12:15 p.m. Thursday.

Other Saturday results

1A boys: Lynden Christian 74, Seton Catholic 57

Seton Catholic, the 6-seed, stayed close until the final quarter before falling to the No. 3 seed at Mount Vernon High School.

Seton Catholic will take on No. 11 Cashmere at 3:45 p.m. Wednesday in a round-of-12 matchup in the Yakima Valley SunDome. The winner advances to the quarterfinals.

3A girls: Garfield 50, Mountain View 44

Garfield took a lead at the end of the first quarter, and while Mountain View kept it close, the Thunder never caught up in this game played at Mark Morris High School.

Layla Senderson’s timely 3-point shooting in the second half gave Mountain View hope, but Garfield always had an answer to Mountain View’s momentum.

Mountain View’s season came to an end, but the Thunder did earn a trip to state for the first time since 2001.

“I believe we were good enough to win the game, and we didn’t, so today it doesn’t feel very good,” Mountain View coach Chuck Knight said.

Still, he acknowledged it was quite a journey, this season.

“As far as the kids, I’m proud of them. They left it on the court and played as hard as they possibly could. I told them, ‘You did something that hasn’t been done since way before you were born,’” Knight said.

3A boys: Eastside Catholic 52, Prairie 50

The Falcons trailed by double digits at halftime and after the third quarter, then made a rally to try to extend their season. In the end, Eastside Catholic advanced to the round of 12.

Prairie did get back to state for the first time since 2019, and won the play-in game earlier in the week for its first state tournament win since 2018.

2A boys: Prosser 83, Ridgefield 57

The Spudders were hoping to give the 2A GSHL four teams in the final 12, but Prosser had other ideas.

Even in defeat, the Spudders get to say they reached state in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2005 and 2006.

1A Boys: Cashmere 58, La Center 47

La Center’s season came to an end as the 14-seed, falling to the 11-seed at Wenatchee High School.

This was La Center’s first trip to the state tournament since 2020.

…

After Friday and Saturday’s games, Clark County (and Woodland) has eight teams playing in domes in their state tournaments:

Class 4A at Tacoma Dome: Camas boys, Union girls, Camas girls.
Class 2A at Yakima Valley SunDome: Columbia River girls, Woodland girls, Columbia River boys

Class 1A at Yakima Valley SunDome: Seton Catholic girls, Seton Catholic boys