By Kennedy Dowse & Steven Hamann

Just off to the east of Steilacoom Lake in Lakewood, Washington, there is a school of 1,100 students and a lot of history. Built in 1938, Clover Park High School has been a contender in the eyes of the 2A Washington basketball world for the last couple years, finishing 5th in District 3 in 2024-25, but failing to make state after an upset loss to Port Angeles. However, the T-Wolves have had a lot of success across other sports, and have graduated a few professional athletes, including Jackie Kellogg (MLB/CFL), Cap Peterson (MLB), Ropati Pitoitua (NFL), Mike Reed (NFL) Tavita Pritchard (Stanford QB/Head Coach), Michael Parker (NBA), and Sandi Gordon (USA Women's National Soccer Team). The school has also graduated many important people in non-athletic fields), such as John Kelly, who was the Chairman and CEO of Alaska Airlines from 1995 to 2003.

The Clover Park basketball program has had great success over the past three years. They finished out those seasons averaging a 14-9 record and making it to the district postseason now seven years in a row, though this season may be new heights for the T-Wolves, as they finished on top of the SPSL. This year, Clover Park has had a great season, finishing with a 17-4 regular season record, and qualifying for state out of District 3. But now, they are set to face off against our Columbia River Rapids in the first round of the Washington 2A State Tournament, where the winner will advance to Yakima and the loser will go home.

Columbia River, despite being the favorites on paper, are still in for a tall order. The Rapids will enter the game with a 14-6 regular season record on the year, 3 of those losses being to the #2 seed in 2A R.A. Long, one being to 4A State team Woodinville, and a couple other cough-ups in league play to Washougal and Woodland, and the Rapids made State with a win in the losers bracket final of District 4. If the Rapids want to win they’ll have to slow down the powerhouse of an offense that Clover Park has. Averaging 73 points per game, and having multiple games with 90 plus points scored, they are a force to be reckoned with and among the best offenses in the 2A circuit. However, the Rapids have one of the best defensive skill sets of any team in the state of Washington, only allowing their opponents to score an average of just 47 points per game this year. In terms of common opponents, the Washougal Panthers are the lone squad in that list. Clover Park beat the Panthers by 27 in East Clark County, and the Rapids lost to the Panthers by 3 once - but came back to beat the “‘Shoug” twice, once by 21 and once by 5, both games at the Hoov. Marshall Scott is the go-to guy for the Timberwolves, with a great year including a 28 point double-double with five steals against the Orting Cardinals.

The Rapids will look to make it 10 straight wins over teams named the Timberwolves - though the others all have come against Heritage, including the home opener this year. 11 seeded Columbia River against 14 seeded Clover Park, 6:00, Saturday the 28th, at Camas High School. With a trip to Yakima on the line. We may see you later to meet another foe (one the Rapids would take on at the SunDome), but for now, this is all that’s guaranteed. It’s the Rapids vs the Timberwolves. We’ve just met the foe.