High school sports report: La Center football gets close-to-home playoff game

The La Center Wildcats will be close to home this week, hosting a Class 1A state football playoff game at Woodland High School on Friday. Photo by Mike Schultz

Seedings are out for high school football, girls soccer, and small-school volleyball state playoffs

The La Center Wildcats will be at their home away from home this week to open the state football playoffs.

But at least it is a close-to-home game.

The other two Clark County football teams that have advanced to state will be on the road.

La Center received a No. 6 seed by the WIAA’s seeding committee for the Class 1A state playoffs. The Wildcats, who have won eight in a row after a Week 1 loss, will play No. 11 Cashmere at 5 p.m. Friday at Woodland High School.

It will be the last time La Center will play in Clark County this season, regardless of the results. La Center is on the top of the bracket and would be the “road” team in the quarterfinals and semifinals, regardless of the seeding of its opponent.

In Class 2A football, Greater St. Helens League champion Washougal was hoping to get a home game. Instead, the committee gave the Panthers 9-seed, sending Washougal to No. 8 Highline in the first round. Washougal would need to win two state playoff games in order to get a close-to-home semifinal game.

And in Class 4A, Skyview will be on the road for as long as the Storm remain in the playoffs. Skyview got an 11-seed and will travel to take on No. 6 Graham-Kapowsin, the defending state champion. The winner of the game will be on the top of the bracket, meaning the road team, for the remainder of its stay in the playoffs.

Clark County football teams went 3-6 in the Week 10 state preliminary round or district playoffs.

Camas, the 4A GSHL champion, was stunned by North Creek at Doc Harris Stadium. It is the first time since 2007 that the 4A GSHL champion did not make it to state.

Mountain View lost in the 3A Week 10 playoff for the second year in a row.

In 2A, Ridgefield and Woodland both lost in the district playoffs.

In 1A, Seton Catholic and King’s Way Christian lost in the district playoffs.

Seton Catholic’s Alexis Leone wins state cross country again

Alexis Leone of Seton Catholic won her second consecutive Class 1A girls state cross country crown on Saturday. Photo courtesy Andy Knapp/WIAA

In a performance that surprised no one, Alexis Leone of Seton Catholic is the 2022 Class 1A state girls cross country champion.

Leone, a junior, won the state title by 36 seconds, covering the 5K course at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco in 18 minutes, 22 seconds on Saturday for her second consecutive state title.

In the 2A girls, senior Sydnee Boothby of Washougal finished third and teammates Elle Thomas, a junior, finished fourth. They helped the Panthers earn a team trophy with a fourth-place finish.

The Camas girls took fifth place in the 4A team race.

Samuel Grice led all boys finishers from Clark County. A junior from Washougal, Grice took second place in the Class 2A race.

For full results, see the WIAA’s cross country page at: https://www.wiaa.com/subcontent.aspx?SecID=311

Soccer and 1A volleyball seedings set:

The defending state champions in Class 4A girls soccer received a 2-seed for this year’s tournament.

Camas will host Eastlake in the first round of the tournament. Kickoff is 6 p.m. Tuesday at Doc Harris Stadium. The winner will host the second round, most likely Saturday.

Mountain View earned a 16-seed in the 3A tournament and will host No. 17 Bishop Blanchet in the play-in round. That match is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday at McKenzie Stadium. The winner advances to the round of 16 on Friday.

Three teams from Clark County advanced to the 2A state tournament. The usual suspects. Columbia River is a 6-seed. Ridgefield is at No. 12. And Hockinson is No. 16

River will host No. 11 Bellingham in the first round.

Ridgefield will travel to take on No. 5 East Valley of Yakima.

Hockinson is on the road against top-seed Fife at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

In 1A, Seton Catholic received a 12-seed and will travel to take on No. 5 Lakeside.

Volleyball breaks up its state tournaments into two weeks. This week, it’s the small schools.

La Center received a No. 3 seed and will face No. 14 Eastside Prep at 3:15 p.m. Friday in the opening round of the 1A tournament at the Yakima Valley SunDome.

In 1B, Columbia Adventist is the 20-seed and will be in a play-in match at 8 a.m. Thursday in the SunDome.