Prairie, Columbia River, and Ridgefield boys basketball teams clinch state tournament berths, joining 10 other Clark County teams in their quest for a championship.

There are now 13 boys and girls basketball teams from Clark County that have clinched berths to state tournaments, and there are a few more teams that still have a chance at state; plus Mat Classic started Thursday

Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com

The Prairie Falcons had two chances left to win one game in the Class 3A boys basketball bi-district tournament in order to make it to state.

They didn’t need two games.

Heck, they barely needed half a game.

The Falcons are going back to the Class 3A boys basketball state tournament for the first time since 2019 after cruising past Timberline 71-44 Thursday night in the consolation bracket of bi-district.

Prairie will learn its state seeding on Sunday and will be playing next in what is now called the Opening Round at state, or what fans have called for years: state regionals.

The Falcons aren’t the only basketball teams celebrating a big win Thursday night: Columbia River took down W.F. West 52-45 in one of two third-place games in the 2A District 4 boys basketball tournament, and the Ridgefield Spudders got past Tumwater 51-50 in the other third-place game. Both teams clinched state playoff berths.

This is the second consecutive state tournament appearance for the Rapids. For the Spudders, it is their second appearance at state in the past three seasons.

Prairie, Columbia River, and Ridgefield join 10 other teams from Clark County that had already clinched trips to state. Yes, 13 teams are in, and a few more teams have final opportunities to advance Friday and/or Saturday.

In Class 4A, the Camas boys and the Camas girls are both playing in bi-district championship games Saturday vs. Auburn at Auburn High School. Both Camas teams have clinched spots at state. The Union girls basketball team is also going to state after finishing third in the bi-district.

In Class 3A, the Prairie boys are the only team from Clark County to have clinched, but the Mountain View girls and the Evergreen girls still have a chance. In fact, one is assured a spot. Those teams are in the final four of the consolation bracket of the bi-district tournament, and three of the four are going to state. The Thunder play at Bellarmine on Friday. Evergreen is at Auburn Mountainview. The two winners go to state. The losers play each other Saturday for the final spot.

In Class 2A, the Columbia River girls are playing for a district championship on Friday. The Rapids have clinched a spot to state. Also going to state are Ridgefield and Woodland, with each winning in their third-place games on Wednesday to qualify for the state’s Opening Round matchups. The Columbia River Boys and Ridgefield boys got the job done in their third-place games Thursday.

In Class 1A, Fort Vancouver and Seton Catholic will play Saturday night at Centralia High School for the boys district championship. Both are going to state. The King’s Way Christian and La Center boys are in separate third-place games, also Saturday. The winners will advance to state. In the girls district tournament, Seton Catholic has already clinched a spot to state and is playing Montesano in the district championship game at 5 p.m. Saturday in Centralia. King’s Way Christian is taking on White Salmon in a third-place game, with the winner going to state.

And in Class 1B, the Columbia Adventist boys clinched a spot to state earlier this week.

Mat Classic update: The new format for Mat Classic started this year, and Class 4A and 3A wrestlers got it going in the Tacoma Dome on Thursday. There are 16 Clark County boys and girls wrestlers who have reached the championship semifinals. The semifinals and finals for 4A boys, 4A girls, 3A boys, and 3A girls will be held Friday. The smaller schools will start their competition Friday, and conclude Saturday.To find all the basketball brackets and the wrestling brackets, go to: https://www.wiaa.com/