A dozen basketball teams from Clark County are still playing in the postseason
Practice started in November. The non-league schedule took up most of December. Then there was the rush of league play after the new year. And now, after the intensity of two weeks of bi-district or district tournaments, 12 basketball teams from Clark County remain.
They are bound for state.
On Sunday, all 12 teams found out who they will play and where they will play in the state round of 16 — the regionals.
Clark County will get to see a lot of action up close, too, with four games Saturday at Battle Ground High School.
Five of the 12 teams have also already qualified for the final destination. They will be going to either the Tacoma Dome of Yakima Valley SunDome but will play in regionals for seeding. The other seven teams will play elimination games at regionals.
Here is how each team got to this point, with final RPI number among teams that made it to state:
Class 4A boys
Skyview: Co-league champion of the Class 4A Greater St. Helens League, lost the first game of bi-district, then won the next three to qualify for state. Ended up winning four in a row to finish fifth in the tourney, topping Kentwood 74-69 Friday.
RPI: 2
Next: Will play No. 7 Enumclaw at Battle Ground High School. Tip-off is 6 p.m. Saturday.
At stake: Winner will earn a first-day bye at the Tacoma Dome and go directly to the state quarterfinals. Loser will advance to the dome but must win an elimination game there to advance to elite eight.
Union: Co-league champion of the Class 4A GSHL, won the first two games of bi-district tournament to qualify for state, then finished third in the tourney with a 65-61 win over Curtis on Saturday. Ethan Smith hit six 3-pointers and led the Titans with 23 points.
RPI: 3
Next: Will play No. 6 Federal Way at Battle Ground High School Tip-off is 8 p.m Saturday. (Federal Way defeated Union in the bi-district semifinals.)
At stake: Winner will earn a first-day bye at the Tacoma Dome and go directly to the state quarterfinals. Loser will advance to the dome but must win an elimination game there to advance to elite eight.
Class 4A girls
Camas: Class 4A GSHL champion, won the first two games of bi-district tournament to qualify for state, then finished third in the tourney with a 40-39 win over Kentlake on Saturday. Haley Hanson hit a running 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Papermakers the win.
RPI: 8
Next: Will play No. 1 Central Valley at University High School in Spokane. Tip-off is noon Saturday
At stake: Winner will earn a first-day bye at the Tacoma Dome and go directly to the state quarterfinals. Loser will advance to the dome but must win an elimination game there to advance to elite eight.
Union: Runner-up in the Class 4A GSHL, went 3-2 in the bi-district tournament, winning three elimination games, including Saturday’s 44-35 victory over Olympia. Mason Oberg and Mackenzie Lewis each scored 13 for the Titans.
RPI: 16
Next: Will play No. 9 Todd Beamer at Puyallup High School. Tip-off is 8 p.m. Friday.
At stake: Winner will advance to the final 12 at the Tacoma Dome. Loser is eliminated.
3A boys
Prairie: Co-champion of Class 3A GSHL, Falcons won opening round of bi-district, lost in the quarterfinals, then had to win two elimination games. Prairie won a third consecutive game, earning fifth place in the tourney, with a 49-38 win over Wilson. Braiden Broadbent and Kameron Osborn each had 17 points in the victory.
RPI: 9
Next: Will play No. 16 Arlington at Battle Ground High School. Tip-off is 2 p.m. Saturday.
At stake: Winner will advance to the final 12 at the Tacoma Dome. Loser is eliminated.
3A girls
Prairie: Champions of the Class 3A GSHL, Falcons advanced to semifinals of bi-district tournament to qualify for state, then finished third in the tourney, beating Gig Harbor 42-35 on Friday.
RPI: 7
Next: Will play No. 2 Gig Harbor at Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma. (Yes, these teams will play each other back-to-back after Saturday’s third-place game at bi-district.) Tip-off is 6 p.m. Friday.
At stake: Winner will earn a first-day bye at the Tacoma Dome and go directly to the state quarterfinals. Loser will advance to the dome but must win an elimination game there to advance to elite eight.
2A boys
Columbia River: Co-champion of Class 2A GSHL, Chieftains qualified for state by reaching the District 4 finals. Mark Morris won the district title with a 50-49 win over River on Friday.
RPI: 7
Next: Will play No. 2 Selah at Ellensburg High School. Tip-off is 4 p.m. Saturday.
At stake: Winner will earn a first-day bye at the Yakima Valley SunDome and go directly to the state quarterfinals. Loser will advance to the dome but must win an elimination game there to advance to elite eight.
2A girls
Washougal: Champions of the Class 2A GSHL, the Panthers qualified for state by winning three consecutive games in the consolation bracket after being upset in the opening round of the district tournament. Washougal topped Woodland 52-36 on Saturday to advance. Beyonce Bea had eight points and six blocked shots. Emilee Smart also scored eight for the Panthers.
RPI: 10
Next: Will play No. 15 Fife at Battle Ground High School. Tip-off is 4 p.m. Saturday.
At stake: Winner will advance to the final 12 at the Yakima Valley SunDome. Loser is eliminated.
1A boys
La Center: Champions of the Trico League, the Wildcats then won the District 4 tournament, taking down league-rival King’s Way Christian in the championship game Saturday night 76-65. La Center outscored the Knights 27-3 in the third quarter to take command.
RPI: 11
Next: La Center will take on No. 14 Montesano at Mark Morris High School in Longview. Tip-off is 8 p.m. Friday.
At stake: Winner will advance to the final 12 at the Yakima Valley SunDome. Loser is eliminated.
King’s Way Christian: Runner-up in the Trico League, the Knights made it to state by reaching the championship game of the district tournament. King’s Way led La Center at the half Saturday night, but the Wildcats responded with a big third quarter. King’s Way settled for second place in district after the 76-65 decision.
RPI: 15
Next: King’s Way Christian will take on No. 10 Wahluke at Eisenhower High School in Yakima. Tip-off is 2 p.m. Saturday.
At stake: Winner will advance to the final 12 at the Yakima Valley SunDome. Loser is eliminated.
1A girls
La Center: Trico League champions, the Wildcats won the District 4 tournament with a 54-50 win over Elma on Wednesday. La Center has won 15 consecutive games.
RPI: 6
Next: La Center will take on No. 3 La Salle at Eisenhower High School in Yakima. Tip-off is 4 p.m. Saturday.
At stake: Winner will earn a first-day bye at the Yakima Valley SunDome and go directly to the state quarterfinals. Loser will advance to the dome but must win an elimination game there to advance to elite eight.
Class 1B girls
Columbia Adventist: Defeated Taholah to win the district tournament. Team qualified for state getting to the district finals.
RPI: 13
Next: Columbia Adventist will take on No. 12 Clallum Bay at Rogers High School in Puyallup. Tip-off is 8 p.m. Saturday.
At stake: Winner will advance to the final 12 at the Spokane Arena. Loser is eliminated.