The Cougars are preparing for the Class 1A state quarterfinals after winning the program’s first state playoff game, and seven other teams with Clark County ties are playing in their respective tournaments in Tacoma and Yakima
Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com
The most important win in Seton Catholic girls basketball history had to be Saturday’s overtime thriller over Zillah in the Opening Round of the Class 1A state tournament.
After all, it was the first state tournament win for the program, a victory that catapulted the Cougars directly to the quarterfinals.
The biggest win in team history, though, might have come in late January, in a game that had no bearing whatsoever on a league title nor a district championship. In fact, it was a simple non-league game against a team from Oregon.
OK, maybe not just any team from Oregon.
Little Seton Catholic, a Class 1A team in Washington, took on gigantic Jesuit, a perennial state power in Class 6A, Oregon’s largest classification.
“There was a different vibe with the girls in the pre-game warmup, in the pre-game talk with them. There was no fear in their eyes,” Seton Catholic coach Phil Kent said of his players.
The Cougars, who started the year with a 2-6 record (playing a very tough schedule that included defending Washington state big-school champion Camas), have won 19 in a row. Including that defining victory over the Crusaders.
That win streak has led to this final week, with the Cougars preparing to play in the Yakima Valley SunDome in the Class 1A tournament for the first time. They also get to bypass the round-of-12 games. They will play Thursday in the elite eight.
Wednesday is the first day of the final week of high school basketball in Washington, with round-of-12 games in the Tacoma Dome and in Yakima for Clark County teams. The Seton Catholic girls and the Camas boys (4A) are the teams that made it straight to the quarterfinals and will play Thursday. Six other teams are in the round-of-12, with elimination games Wednesday: Union girls (4A), Camas girls (4A), Columbia River girls (2A), Woodland girls (2A), Columbia River boys (2A), and the Seton Catholic boys (1A).
Of all of these Southwest Washington programs, the Seton Catholic girls basketball team is the only one making its first appearance in the dome for the final week of the season.
History in the making, and this historic season took an incredible turn Jan. 25 with a 35-32 win over Jesuit. In December, Jesuit beat Seton Catholic by 28.
“The energy throughout the gym was crazy,” said senior Hailey Hammerstrom. “Whether you were on the court or off, everyone had such a big role in that game. Walking into the second half just knowing, ‘Hey, we can do this,’ that was big for our confidence.”
The Cougars would return to league play and run the table on the Trico League, then won the district championship with a victory over mighty Montesano.
With that incredible winning streak, the Cougars earned the 6-seed to state. That was monumental because the top eight seeds are assured of making it to the dome for at least the round-of-12. A win in the Opening Round seeding game would send the Cougars to the quarterfinals, though.
Up next was Zillah.
“In the locker room (before the game), everyone had this sense of peace. We were going to make it to the dome,” Hammerstrom said.
But there was a rallying cry to go prove themselves again, to steal the seed.
“The Jesuit game gave us a confidence and a feeling that we belong,” junior Remy Jenniges said. “We are meant to be at state. We have a shot against them. Why not us?”
Seton had the lead late, but Zillah rallied to tie the game, forcing overtime. Zillah had it going its way. Seton Catholic had each other.
“Zillah had so many fans. It was loud in there. It was crazy,” said junior Riley Seymer. “They went on a run and put us in kind of an ‘oh-no’ situation. Just going out there knowing we had each other was a big thing.”
“All the momentum was going their way,” Jenniges said, “but the jumpball (to begin overtime) was a restart.”
“Let’s just go out and play,” Seymer said.
Victory.
“It was such a team win. The last few minutes of the game showed how much we have in us and how much we can fight back,” Hammerstrom said. “We shocked a lot of people and sent a message across the state.”
Seton Catholic has at least two games left, but they want three. (Teams that make it to the elite eight are assured of two games in the tournament, either they continue in the championship bracket or fall into the consolation bracket.)
“It’s kind of crazy to see where we’ve come. Freshman year, we barely made it to district, struggling to make it through our league,” Hammerstrom said.
The goal is to keep making believers of the rest of 1A girls basketball and bring home a trophy from the state tournament.
“No matter what happens, we made history this year,” Hammerstrom said.
Then, pointing at her younger teammates: “They’ll carry it on next year, and they’ll be right back there.”
Teams from Clark County (and Woodland) in state basketball tournaments:
Class 4A boys: Camas plays in the quarterfinals at 9 a.m. Thursday, March 6 in the Tacoma Dome against Wednesday’s winner between Glacier Peak and Arlington.
Class 4A girls: Camas plays Lake Stevens in the round-of-12 at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 5 in the Tacoma Dome. The winner advances to the quarterfinals Thursday. The loser is eliminated from the tournament.
Class 4A girls: Union plays Glacier Peak in the round-of-12 at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday, March 5 in the Tacoma Dome. The winner advances to the quarterfinals Thursday. The loser is eliminated from the tournament.
Class 2A boys: Columbia River plays Lakewood in the round-of-12 at 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 5 in the Yakima Valley SunDome. The winner advances to the quarterfinals Thursday. The loser is eliminated from the tournament.
Class 2A girls: Columbia River plays Port Angeles in the round-of-12 at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 5 in the Yakima Valley SunDome. The winner advances to the quarterfinals Thursday. The loser is eliminated from the tournament.
Class 2A girls: Woodland plays Bainbridge in the round-of-12 at 9 p.m. Wednesday, March 5 in the Yakima Valley SunDome. The winner advances to the quarterfinals Thursday. The loser is eliminated from the tournament.
Class 1A boys: Seton Catholic plays Cashmere in the round-of-12 at 3:45 p.m. Wednesday, March 5 in the Yakima Valley SunDome. The winner advances to the quarterfinals Thursday. The loser is eliminated from the tournament.
Class 1A girls: Seton Catholic plays in the quarterfinals at 12:15 p.m. Thursday, March 6 in the Yakima Valley SunDome against Wednesday’s winner between Lakeside and Annie Wright.
Also read:
- The Study of Sports Podcast, March 14, 2025: A recap of state basketball, and a discussion on the formats of Washington tournaments
A new episode of The Study of Sports Podcast dives into Washington state basketball tournament formats, celebrating standout teams and players, and sharing insights from Spring Training. - State basketball: Columbia River shines to take fourth place: Camas ends up sixthColumbia River secures fourth place, and Camas ties for sixth in the Washington state high school basketball championships
- High school girls basketball: Camas coach Scott Thompson’s resignation becomes official
Camas girls basketball coach Scott Thompson officially steps down after leading the team to multiple state tournaments, including a 2024 championship. - State basketball tournaments: Camas boys, Columbia River boys advance to trophy roundCamas and Columbia River boys basketball teams advanced in the state tournament, securing a spot in the trophy round after key victories.
- High school basketball: There will be no state champions from Clark County this seasonClark County teams fell short in the WIAA state basketball quarterfinals, with all six teams now battling in the consolation bracket.
