2 weeks Ago By The Columbian
The Evergreen boys basketball team is playing its best basketball at the right time — just in time for the postseason. The Plainsmen’s 67-61 victory Friday over 3A Greater St. Helens League champion Prairie secured their berth to next week’s bi-district tournament.
By virtue of the league’s tiebreaker rules using quality wins, Evergreen earned the 3A GSHL’s final postseason spot over Heritage. Evergreen and Heritage finished tied for third at 4-4 in league after the Timberwolves’ 70-56 win Friday over Kelso, but Evergreen secured the playoff bid because of the win over a higher-ranked Falcons team in the league standings. Powered by Dez Daniel’s game-high 25 points, Evergreen (8-12) enters the postseason on a season-high four-game winning streak.
On Friday, Evergreen led Prairie for the entire second half until the final 38 seconds when Prairie’s Ben Nkansah (17 points) hit a 3 that tied the game at 61-all. A steal and layin by Daniel with 2.3 seconds left — coupled with Evergreen free throws off Prairie technical fouls — sealed it for the Plainsmen.
Evergreen went 4 of 5 on free throws in the closing seconds. Hudson Nellis added 18 points for Evergreen. Carson Morningstar led Prairie with 21 points.
Both teams learn their 3A bi-district opponents Sunday. 4A Greater St. Helens League CAMAS 80, BATTLE GROUND 47 — Ethan Harris scored 18 of his game-high 22 points in the first half as the Papermakers completed 4A Greater St.
Helens League play at 8-1. Camas (17-4) will find out its 4A bi-district opponents when the draw is made on Sunday morning. Opening round games are scheduled for Wednesday.
Nyima Namru had 15 for the Papermakers and Jace VanVoorhis added 12. James Gill III and Jacob Renfore led Battle Ground with 11 points each. SKYVIEW 53, UNION 41 — The Storm and Titans finished tied for second, but Skyview edges Union on head-to-head, as both teams look ahead to the 4A bi-district tournament next week.
The 4A bi-district tournament seeding is released Sunday. Malakai Weimer led Skyview with 17 points and 12 rebounds, and Gavin Packer added eight points and six assists. For Union, 2A Greater St.
Helens League RIDGEFIELD 82, HUDSON’S BAY 36 — Jack Hughes poured in a game-high 29 points to help Ridgefield end its regular-season on a game-winning streak. Hughes had 12 of his team’s 19 points in the first quarter. Drew Krsul added 17, Jamison McCann had 13 and Isaiah Ashenfelter chipped in 11.
The Spudders are the league’s No. 4 seed into next week’s 2A district tournament, and travel to 2A Evergreen Conference champion Black Hills to open districts. COLUMBIA RIVER 88, WOODLAND 52 — Ari Richardson was one of four Rapids in double figures, as they earned their 10th league win of the season.
Richardson poured in a team-best 20, including five 3-pointers over the second and third quarters. River scored 20 or more points in the final three quarters. Aaron Hoey added 16 points, John Reeder had 15 and Alex Pont chipped in 12.
The Rapids are 2A GSHL’s No. 3 seed to next week’s 2A district tournament, and travel to 2A Evergreen Conference runner-up Tumwater. Elijah Andersen led all scorers with 22 for Woodland.
WASHOUGAL 82, HOCKINSON 63 — The Panthers close out their first playoff-bound season since 2019 with their fifth league win. Washougal, the league’s fifth-place team, hosts Aberdeen on Feb. 13 in a district play-in game.
Hockinson, the league’s sixth-place team, faces W.F. West on the road next Thursday in another district play-in game.
1A Trico League SETON CATHOLIC 70, KING’S WAY CHRISTIAN 46 — The Cougars hit 14 3-pointers on their way to a perfect 1A Trico season at 14-0. Rico George led all scorers with 19 points, and was one of four Seton players to reach double figures. Brady Angelo added 16, and Lance Lee and Kaiden Wilson each had 15.
The quartet combined for 13 of the team’s 3-pointers. Both teams are postseason bound for the 1A district tournament next week. Seton Catholic, the league champion, is the league’s top seed.
King’s Way Christian earns fourth by virtue of the league’s tiebreaker rules over Castle Rock and White Salmon. The three teams finished tied for fourth at 6-8 in league. Jackson Lovato led King’s Way with 13 points.
LA CENTER 82, FORT VANCOUVER 77 — The Wildcats (Trico’s third seed) and Trappers (second) are 1A district tournament bound next week. La Center travels to 1A Evergreen runner-up Tenino, and Fort Vancouver hosts third-place Elma. GIRLS BASKETBALL 4A Greater St.
Helens League UNION 89, SKYVIEW 49 — The Titans scored a season-high in points to cap 4A GSHL play at 6-1. Brooklynn Haywood had a game-best 40 points, including half of her team’s 18 3-pointers. Myla Larry added 11 for the Titans, who scored 29 points in the second and third quarters.
Both teams advance to bi-districts. Cameron Watson led the Storm with 20 points. 3A Greater St.
Helens League EVERGREEN 72, PRAIRIE 58 — Adrian Wright’s game-high 27 points paced the Plainsmen in their regular-season finale win on the road. The Plainsmen finish second in the 3A GSHL at 6-2 and advance to next week’s bi-district tournament. Kimora Ross added 14 for the Plainsmen.
Harmony Fallin led all scorers with 24 for Prairie, and Gabrielle Kay-Corrales added 20..
