Beyonce Bea is Washougal High School’s all-time leader in career points (1,761), rebounds (1,037) and blocks (234) and helped the Panthers to the 2A state title. Amanda Cowan/The Columbian
Based on the numbers, accolades and accomplishments, the mark Beyonce Bea leaves on Washougal’s girls basketball program speaks for itself.
But the senior hopes the long-term impact is even greater.
“I hope I’ve left people knowing Washougal can be a girls basketball town,” Bea said. “All your hard work will pay off in the end. You have to really believe in each other and believe in the program because it can do big things.”
Big things is what Bea, The Columbian’s All-Region girls basketball player of the year, has done throughout her illustrious career. She’s a three-time league MVP, career scoring (1,761 points), rebounds (1,037) and blocks (234) leader, and is a state champion heading to the University of Idaho’s women’s basketball program next season.
But that long-term impact Bea hopes she and her teammates built at Washougal something the 6-foot-1 guard/forward combo takes great pride in. Before Bea’s arrival, the girls basketball program had a limited playoff history with a small number of postseason wins and one state appearance in 1982-’83.
That playoff win total is now 21 behind 20 playoff victories in four years. In that same span, Bea led Washougal to four consecutive state title appearances behind four league titles, including its first-ever undefeated league season on its way to winning its first district crown and its first state title two weeks ago in Yakima.
That district-title win over defending state champion W.F. West, coupled with its regional win over an East Valley team Washougal defeated a week later for the state championship, gave Bea hope of what was to come. The Panthers placed fourth at state in 2016, Bea’s freshman year, and left Yakima the past two years without a trophy.
“I knew if we played together and relied on our defense, relied each other and believed in ourselves, we could definitely pull out a state championship.”
In the state championship game, the normally selfless Bea put Washougal on her shoulders with 30 points and 15 rebounds, including 12 of her team’s 14 points in overtime. In three state games, she averaged 21.7 points and 12.7 rebounds.
“You always want to end playing our best,” she said. “I wanted to do whatever I could to get us that win. The fact we already made it that far; it’s the championship game. You don’t want to make it there and take second … I put that into my my mind and didn’t let anything stop us from getting that state championship.”
Celebrations began that night, and stretched into the following week with an all-school assembly and a parade in downtown Washougal held by city leaders.
For Bea and the Panthers, they’re still celebrating.
“It was a really special moment,” she said, “and you never want that feeling to end. It’s the best feeling you can have, especially as a senior. Every time we see each other, we’ll be celebrating it.”
Rest of All-Region team
FIRST TEAM
Haley Hanson, Camas
Northwest Nazarene signee earned 4A GSHL MVP honors averaging 13.2 points per game, helping Papermakers to regionals.
Cassidy Gardner, Prairie
Portland State signee led Falcons in scoring, shot 38 percent from 3-point range as 3A GSHL co-MVP.
Aniyah Hampton, Hudson’s Bay
Freshman made a big impact leading Eagles in points (18 per game) and assists reaching 3A regionals.
Taylor Stephens, La Center
CWU signee averaged Clark County-best 23 ppg, leaves as Wildcats’ career scoring leader and 3-time Trico MVP.
Brooke Walling, Prairie
Fresno State signee was 3A GSHL co-MVP, 3A tournament MVP helping Falcons to state title. Also broke single-season blocks record (66).
SECOND TEAM
Skylar Bea, Washougal
All-league pick averaged nearly 8 points and 8 rebounds a game on state title-winning team.
Kendyl Carson, Prairie
Junior’s breakout game in 3A semis helped Falcons reach title game. Averaged 8.2 points, 6 rebounds per game.
Allison Corral, Prairie
Junior point guard had 4.8 assists and nearly 4 steals per game.
Jaydia Martin, Hudson’s Bay
Big scoring option for Eagles (13.6 ppg) in their best season since 2007.
Katie Peneueta, Heritage
Unanimous first-team all-4A GSHL pick was double-double machine all season for Timberwolves.
Mallory Williams, Prairie
Four-year varsity player led Falcons in rebounds (6.1 per game) and shot 35 percent from 3.
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