Skyview boys and Seton Catholic boys are among the final six teams to play in their classifications

Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com

Ryan Hanson said he appreciated his coach’s trust in him.

He knew he was the first option if Demaree Collins could not break free for an open look.

Sure enough, the double team came after Collins, who passed the ball to Hanson, and — Boom! — the Skyview Storm will be playing for a trophy Saturday at the Class 4A boys basketball state tournament.

Hanson buried a 3-pointer with 8 seconds to play in overtime, lifting Skyview to an 80-77 victory over Tahoma in a fourth-place semifinal game Friday afternoon in the Tacoma Dome. That result sends the Storm to a Saturday trophy game.

As soon as the final horn sounded, the Storm rushed to Hanson, celebrating his game-winner.

“My heart was just pounding, and my adrenaline just goes through the roof,” Hanson said. “It’s unlike any feeling I’ve ever had.”

Skyview wins! pic.twitter.com/9jQlNMXWsp

— Paul Valencia (@ValenciaCCT) March 1, 2024

In the middle of the state, Seton Catholic also made it to the final day of the Class 1A boys basketball tournament. The Cougars beat Riverside in the fourth-place semifinals in the Yakima Valley SunDome.

Meanwhile, the Columbia River fell to Archbishop Murphy in the fourth-place semifinals of the Class 2A girls tournament, ending the Rapids’ season.

And in Spokane, Columbia Adventist Academy’s season also came to an end with a loss in the Class 1B boys basketball tournament. 

Here is how four Clark County teams fared Friday in their consolation bracket matchups. The Camas girls basketball team is playing Friday afternoon in the 4A championship semifinals. They will play Saturday, either for the championship or for third place.

Class 4A Boys

Fourth-Place Semifinal

No. 11 Skyview 80, No. 2 Tahoma 77, OT

It was all hands on deck for the Skyview Storm. 

And they needed every contribution to knock off the No. 2 seed.

Demaree Collins had his second consecutive 30-point game in this tournament, scoring 34 points. Malakai Weimer scored 14 of his 20 points in the second half and overtime. Gavin Packer, not often needed for his scoring, had six big points in the fourth quarter, plus an incredible pass in overtime to push the Storm to a four-point lead.

And then there was Hanson.

Skyview’s first option was Collins. 

Or was it?

Because everyone in the dome knew that Collins was going to get the ball, the Storm figured the double team was inevitable. Skyview coach Matt Gruhler knew exactly what would work.

“I’m proud of Demaree for trusting Ryan. He knew they were going to send everybody to him. He found the wide-open shooter, and we have all the confidence in the world in Ryan to knock it down.”

“It was the plan,” Hanson said of being the option for Collins. “I give all credit to (Coach Gruhler), trusting me with the final shot.”

“The guys are always ready,” Gruhler said. “We’ve got great players.”

Tahoma rallied from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to force overtime. Collins scored first in the extra session, and then Packer chased down a loose ball after a Tahoma miss, grabbed the ball, jumped, and threw a two-handed, backward, over-his-head pass to Collins for another easy basket.

Later, Weimer made two free throws and hit another big shot with 1:53 left for a 77-74 lead.

Again, Tahoma answered. 

And with 36 seconds left in overtime, it was tied again. 

Time for Collins to find Hanson, for Hanson to drill the shot.

“My feet weren’t set, but it felt super good coming off my hand. I figured it was going to go in,” Hanson said. “I want these moments, what’s best for my team.”

This will be Skyview’s second state tournament trophy in program history. The team finished sixth in 2018.

The Storm will play Kentwood at 9:30 a.m. Saturday in the fourth-place game. The loser will finish sixth.

No matter Saturday’s result, the Storm accomplished their main goal.

“We’re so excited to be here, but at the same time, we had goals to be here, to be one of the last six teams here,” Gruhler said. 

“It feels amazing we get to go home with hardware,” Hanson said.

Class 2A Boys

Fourth-Place Semifinal

No. 7 Seton Catholic 49, No. 11 Riverside 40 

Kaiden Wilson had another double-double in this tournament, helping Seton Catholic to a trophy game for the first time in program history.

Wilson had 12 points and 12 rebounds, and the Cougars outscored Riverside 14-7 in the final quarter to secure Friday morning’s victory in Yakima.

Rico George added 12 points and Brady Angelo had 10 points for the Cougars.

This is Seton Catholic’s fourth trip to state. The Cougars will face No. 4 Freeman at 8 a.m. Saturday in the fourth-place game. The loser will place sixth.

Class 2A Girls

Fourth-Place Semifinal

No. 6 Archbishop Murphy 62, No. 8 Columbia River 32

Columbia River’s impressive season came to an end Friday.

The Class 2A Greater St. Helens League champions did not have much left in the energy tank, shooting just 21 percent from the field in the first half Friday morning in Yakima.

The Rapids had a better second half, including an 8-0 run, but Archbishop Murphy earned the victory to reach a trophy game.

Gracie Glavin was 5 of 6 from the floor for River for a team-high 12 points. 

Class 1B Boys

Fourth-Place Semifinal

No. 3 Moses Lake Christian-Covenent Christian 62, No. 16 Columbia Adventist Academy 42

The Kodiaks, who won three state tournament games in a surprising run to the state quarterfinals, fell one win short of earning a trophy at the state tournament.

MLC-CC held Columbia Adventist to 11 points in the first half. 

Collin Delaney scored 14 points for the Kodiaks. Logan Pierce added 12.