This week, area basketball teams will attempt to earn a berth to the regional round of the state playoffs.
The qualification process can get sort of complicated, so I’ll try to make it simple for you.
The following two local teams have clinched berth to the regionals: Skyview girls (4A) and Woodland girls (1A).
These 16 teams are still alive for a regional berth: Union boys (4A), Battle Ground boys (4A), Union girls (4A), Camas girls (4A), Columbia River boys (3A), Prairie boys (3A), Fort Vancouver boys (3A), Prairie girls (3A), Columbia River girls (3A), Hockinson boys (2A), Hockinson girls (2A), Washougal girls (2A), Woodland boys (1A), King’s Way Christian boys (1A), La Center boys (1A) and Columbia Adventist girls (1B).
So let’s take it team-by-team to see what they need to do to reach the state regional round next weekend.
4A BOYS: Even though Union and Battle Ground are on the same half of the consolation bracket of the 4A bi-district tournament, both could advance to regionals. Both teams face loser-out games Tuesday at Mt. Tahoma High in Tacoma: Battle Ground vs. Puyallup and Union vs. Emerald Ridge. If either team wins Tuesday, they’ll get two chances to advance to regionals — first on Thursday (possibly against each other) and a second on Saturday.
4A GIRLS: Union and Camas also face loser-out games Tuesday: Camas vs. Tahoma at Stadium High in Tacoma, Union vs. Kentridge at Puyallup High. If the Papermakers or Titans win Tuesday, they’ll get two shots to advance to regionals later in the week.
3A BOYS: Prairie and Fort Vancouver face loser-out games Monday at Rogers High in Puyallup. Prairie plays Foss, and Fort Vancouver plays Auburn Mountainview. If either team wins Monday, they will advance to the double -elimination portion of the bi-district. Columbia River is already in the double-elimination part of the bracket and can clinch a berth to regionals with a win Wednesday at Hudson’s Bay against the winner of Monday’s Hazen-Lincoln game.
3A GIRLS: Columbia River plays North Thurston in a loser-out game Monday at Clover Park High in Tacoma. The winner advances to the double-elimination part of the bracket. Prairie is already in the double-elimination part of the bracket and can clinch a berth to regionals with a win Wednesday at Hudson’s Bay against the winner of Monday’s Lakes-Timberline game.
2A BOYS: Hockinson meets Capital on Tuesday at Kelso to clinch a regional berth and a berth in the district title game on Friday. The loser must win two loser-out games Thursday and Saturday to advance to regionals.
2A GIRLS: Hockinson and Washougal both need to win three loser-out games this week to advance to regionals. The first loser-out games are on Monday at Mark Morris: Washougal vs. Centralia and Hockinson vs. Aberdeen.
1A BOYS: Woodland faces King’s Way Christian on Tuesday at R.A. Long in the district semifinal. The winner clinches a regional berth and a spot in the district final on Saturday. The loser must win a loser-out game on Thursday to advance to regionals. La Center meets Kalama Tuesday at R.A. Long in the first of two loser-out games the Wildcats must win this week to advance to regionals.
1B GIRLS: Columbia Adventist plays Mary M. Knight on Monday at Castle Rock for a regional berth. The loser is out. The winner plays in the district title game on Saturday.
