Boys and girls teams from the Storm, as well as Camas, Columbia River, and Seton Catholic among the 10 teams from Clark County still in the postseason

Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com

It’s a double dose of state basketball for four local high schools.

Camas, Skyview, Columbia River, and Seton Catholic have their boys and girls basketball teams playing at opening round – or state regional – games Friday and Saturday. 

Unfortunately for fans, the teams are not playing at the same sites. But if those fans want to be adventurous, they can still go to both games. For each school, one team is playing on Friday and the other is playing on Saturday.

Road trip!

In all, there are 10 teams left in Clark County. Joining the eight teams already listed are the Ridgefield girls and the Columbia Adventist Academy boys. 

For the schools with two teams playing, well, it is safe to say that Skyview has to be the most surprising only because the Skyview girls had such a tough road to state in the bi-district tournament.

At Camas, the girls team is the No. 1 seed in the state, and the boys won a league title last year and won a share of the league title this year. No surprise.

The Columbia River girls won their league title, and the boys finished second in their league. So, again, it was not a stretch to imagine both teams going to state.

At Seton Catholic, two Trico League champions, and both played in their district championship games.

At Skyview, though, while the boys won a share of the 4A Greater St. Helens League title, the girls finished third. And then the girls were placed in one of the most difficult positions in the bi-district tournament in order to qualify for state. 

The Skyview girls went on the road for an elimination game. Won it. Then again. Won it. Then hit the road again in the semifinals of the bottom bracket, and won that game, as well. Three road games. Three wins. And a state berth.

“I feel so excited to be part of this school and the athletic programs we have here at Skyview,” said junior Charlotte Baker. “I feel so honored to be here.”

She noted there are teams out there with individual stars who did not make it to state. Skyview basketball is all about everyone on the roster. 

“We have a team that can do it all together,” she said. “That’s how we got to state, having a team do it together.”

Skyview boys coach Matt Gruhler said the winter sports teams carried over the momentum started from the football team’s successful campaign in the fall. Then this winter, Skyview wrestling had four individual state champions, and now both basketball teams are in the state tournament.

“The girls are playing their best ball right now. It’s been a really fun couple of weeks to be part of,” Gruhler said. “It’s always fun to be part of the Skyview community.”

The Skyview girls are seeded 16th of the 16 teams in the 4A tournament and are on the road to face No. 9 Lake Stevens at Arlington High School on Friday. The Storm expected that number. No matter, they’re still playing.

“Obviously, it’s super exciting,” Baker said. “The season started out kind of rough for us. We had to get used to being together. It’s a whole different team (from last year). A different environment, a different culture, everything. The team bonding really helped. It’s a special group of girls.”

The Skyview boys are not surprised to be here. They just took some time to get going, the coach said.

“I think our expectations were to be league champions,” Gruher said. 

The Storm shared the title with Camas. 

Skyview returned five players who started last year and another player who was injured last year but started the previous season. 

“We thought we had a good chance to compete with the best in the state,” Gruhler said.

Skyview lost some games against quality competition early in the season. Gruhler said the transition to new roles was not as smooth as the Storm had hoped. By the end of the season, though, things were clicking.

Skyview even defeated Camas in the bi-distirct tournament to earn a trip to state.

Skyview received the 11-seed to state, which meant a close-to-home game for the opening round. The Storm boys are at Battle Ground High School on Saturday. 

Local games:

A reminder that Battle Ground High School is a site for opening round games. The Ridgefield girls (6 p.m.) and Seton Catholic girls (8 p.m.) play Friday night. On Saturday, it’s the Skyview boys (2 p.m.), the Camas girls (4 p.m.) and the Columbia River boys (6 p.m.)

The schedule and what’s at stake:

Here are the lineups for Clark County basketball teams in the state regionals – the WIAA opening round basketball games. Some games are elimination games. Others are for placement into the final 12 bracket. 

Friday:

Class 4A Girls: No. 16 Skyview vs. No. 9 Lake Stevens, 6 p.m. at Arlington High School. Winner advances to final 12 at Tacoma Dome. Loser is eliminated.
Class 4A Boys: No. 13 Camas vs. No. 12 West Valley of Yakima, 6 p.m. at Davis High School. Winner advances to final 12 at Tacoma Dome. Loser is eliminated.
Class 2A Girls: No. 16 Kingston vs. No. 9 Ridgefield, 6 p.m. at Battle Ground High School. Winner advances to final 12 at Yakima Valley SunDome. Loser is eliminated.
Class 2A Girls: No. 8 Columbia River vs. No. 1 Ellensburg, 8 p.m. at Ellensburg High School. Winner advances directly to state quarterfinals at the Yakima Valley SunDome. Loser goes to the round of 12 at the SunDome.
Class 1A Girls: No. 13 Eatonville vs. No. 12 Seton Catholic, 8 p.m. at Battle Ground High School. Winner advances to final 12 at Yakima Valley SunDome. Loser is eliminated.

Saturday:

Class 4A Boys: No. 14 Woodinville vs. No. 11 Skyview, 2 p.m. at Battle Ground High School. Winner advances to final 12 at Tacoma Dome. Loser is eliminated.
Class 4A Girls: No. 8 Gonzaga Prep vs. No. 1 Camas, 4 p.m. at Battle Ground High School. Winner advances directly to the state quarterfinals at the Tacoma Dome. Loser goes to the round of 12 at the dome.
Class 2A Boys: No. 13 White River vs. No. 12 Columbia River, 6 p.m. at Battle Ground High School. Winner advances to final 12 at Yakima Valley SunDome. Loser is eliminated.
Class 1A Boys: No. 7 Seton Catholic vs. No. 2 Lynden Christian, 2 p.m. at Lynden High School. Winner advances directly to state quarterfinals at the Yakima Valley SunDome. Loser goes to the round of 12 at the SunDome.
Class 1B Boys: No. 16 Columbia Adventist vs. No. 9 Tulalip Heritage, 8 p.m. at Arlington High School. Winner advances to final 12 at Spokane Arena. Loser is eliminated.