Camas and Hockinson soccer, Columbia River and Ridgefield volleyball keep championship dreams alive
They are still on a collision course.
You know the two.
Columbia River. Ridgefield. Volleyball.
The Rapids and Spudders just might face each other Saturday evening in the state championship match in Yakima.
In soccer, it is still possible for two Clark County teams to win state titles Saturday. Hockinson advanced to the Class 2A finals with a semifinal win over league-rival Ridgefield. Camas took down Skyline in a Class 4A semifinal.
It is going to be a chaotic Saturday for Clark County high school sports fans.
Let’s start with soccer.
Hockinson graduated 11 seniors from the abbreviated COVID season in early 2021. That team went undefeated, won a district title, and did not allow a goal. All season. Had there been a state tournament, the Hawks likely would have been the favorite.
But again, the Hawks graduated 11 athletes from that squad.
No problem for the Hawks. This year’s seniors stepped up as did some younger players. And here they are, playing for a state championship. The Hawks shut out Ridgefield 1-0 in the semifinals Saturday. Rayelle Stephens got the goal.
It was the fourth time the two 2A Greater St. Helens League teams played each other this season, with each team winning twice. This victory is the one that counts this week, for this season. It sends the Hawks to the championship match to take on top-seed Archbishop Murphy.
Columbia River’s bid to make it an all-2A GSHL final just missed. The Rapids led 1-0, but Archbishop Murphy scored the final two goals for a 2-1 victory.
Hockinson and Archbishop Murphy will play at 5 p.m. Saturday at Shoreline Stadium for the 2A title. Columbia River and Ridgefield play in the third-place match at 1 p.m.
In Puyallup, top-seed Camas got it done in a Class 4A semifinal, shutting down Skyline 3-0 to advance to Saturday’s championship match against Issaquah. The Papermakers led 1-0 at the half, then scored two late goals to start the celebration.
The Papermakers missed the state playoffs in 2019 — a rarity — but they were determined to make it back to state, and the final four. This is the fifth final four appearance in the past six state tournaments for Camas. The program has won two state titles in its history, including its last one in 2016. Issaquah won the state title in 2017.
Camas and Issaquah will face off at 5 p.m. Saturday at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup.
In volleyball, Columbia River and Ridgefield are the Nos. 1 and 3 seeds in this tournament, but for much of the second half of the season, the two teams have been ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the statewide coaches poll.
Should the Rapids and Spudders face off in the finals on Saturday, it will be a surprise to absolutely no one.
Still, both have to win their semifinal matches.
Both had no trouble in the opening two rounds on Friday.
Ridgefield tossed up the first serve at 7 a.m., taking down Sequim in straight sets. The Spudders swept Lynden in the quarterfinals. Ridgefield will take on Steilacoom, the No. 2 seed in this tournament, in the semifinals at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Yakima Valley SunDome.
Columbia River, the No. 1 seed, swept Mark Morris for the fourth time this season in the opening round. The Rapids swept Anacortes in the quarterfinals. River faces No. 4 Burlington-Edison in the semifinals, also at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
The championship match is scheduled for 5:15 p.m.
In the Class 4A volleyball tournament, No. 5 Camas won its first match, sweeping North Creek, but lost late Friday night in the quarterfinals. Graham-Kapowsin, the No. 4 seed, won the final three sets for a 3-1 victory. Camas falls into the consolation bracket and will have to win Saturday morning in order to earn a trophy.
Oh, also on Saturday, Camas (4A) and Ridgefield (2A) are playing quarterfinal football games.
We did say it will be a chaotic day.
