Eagles will take on Hockinson for third place in district tournament
Jaydia Martin and the Hudson’s Bay Eagles have one more high school girls basketball game this season.
It is not the game they wanted, but they are grateful for any games.
“It was kind of surprising. I had convinced myself that we weren’t even going to have a season because it was getting pushed back so much,” Martin said. “I was super excited to be able to play on the court, whether we won games or we didn’t. We had a lot of injuries last year, so being able to play together this year was amazing.”
Oh, and the Eagles won a lot. Enough to claim the Class 2A Greater St. Helens League title in this abbreviated season. This is Bay’s first year in Class 2A.
Which means it was the first year in this district, a district which is often considered the best in the state.
Wednesday night, the Eagles lost in the semifinals. Up one at halftime, Tumwater was just too strong in the second half. Hudson’s Bay will be taking on Hockinson in the third-place game.
Yes, Hockinson. This season has been a tremendous accomplishment for the Hawks, with their run to the semifinals. The Hawks just missed on their comeback bid at W.F. West on Wednesday before falling in the semifinals. The Hawks will always have their quarterfinal win over league-power Washougal, and they get a chance to take home third place if they can top the Eagles on Thursday.
With the combination of senior skill and younger talent, this was perhaps one of Bay’s best teams in years. And that’s quite a statement because Hudson’s Bay had reached the state tournament the past two years.
“Just to get a season in, get a last one in with our seniors, it meant a lot,” said junior Paytin Ballard. “It’s nice to get one last run in.”
The Eagles made quite a memorable season out of it. Class 2A is just a designation, but the Eagles fear no one. They played 4A power Camas and gave the Papermakers quite the scare. The Eagles played Washougal twice. The first was considered a non-league game. Washougal, the 2018 state champion, won the first game, but the Eagles overpowered Washougal the second time, giving the Eagles the league title.
Ballard said it was important for this year’s freshmen to see the Bay Way, how this program competes day in and day out.
“Our goal right now is to keep building our program,” Ballard said. “The last few years at Bay have been really monumental. We’re just leaving an impact on everybody in Clark County. You know, this is Bay, and we’re here to compete.”
Martin will be headed to Eastern Washington University next school year. But she will always be rooting for the Eagles of Hudson’s Bay, as well.
“It’s been amazing for us,” Martin said of this season. “We had everybody back and we were all able to play together. Nobody was injured. To be able to come together as a team and make that happen and get all these wins in and celebrate all together like that? It was just a victory.”
Class 2A boys tournament
Ridgefield nearly stunned the district in its semifinal game Wednesday night. The Spudders took No. 1 W.F. West to overtime on Wednesday before falling by four points. Ridgefield will face Black Hills in the third-place game.
