By Kennedy Dowse

The Rapids’ ended the regular season with a 14-6 record and a second place finish in the Greater Saint Helens League 2A Circuit. Their seven losses came exclusively against high caliber programs, including 4A powerhouses Skyview and Woodinville, as well as league rivals Washougal and Woodland. However, no rivalry was more intense than the three-game series against the eventual state runners-up - R.A. Long. Those three contests were decided by a combined total of just 12 points, proving that River could compete with the best in Washington:

Game 1: A double-overtime thriller decided by a Jeff Rooklidge buzzer-beater.

Game 2: A defensive battle lost by just a 3-point margin.

Game 3: An 8-point loss in the district playoffs.

Due to the district loss, the Rapids were given the 11 seed in the Washington 2A State Tournament. They opened the run with a  77–41 statement win over the 14 seed - Clover Park, but it was the following rounds where the team began to rewrite the record books.

In the Round of 12, the Rapids faced off against the 3 seed - Selah. In an overtime classic, River defied the odds to pull off a 67–63 upset. The victory was highlighted by an incredible 17–0 scoring run that spanned the first and second quarters, signaling to the rest of the team in the tournament that the Rapids were a force to be reckoned with.

The momentum peaked in the quarterfinals against Pullman. In a display of pure dominance, Columbia River went on a 26–0 run, officially setting the record for the largest unanswered scoring run in the history of the Washington State Tournament.

The Rapids’ magical run eventually collided with destiny in a semifinal clash against Bremerton. In a game that lived up to the stakes. Columbia River fought to the final second, only to have their championship hopes taken away by a buzzer-beater from the Knights’ Jalen Davis.

While the loss was a stinging conclusion to a storied postseason, the Rapids’ season will be remembered far beyond the final score. From record-breaking scoring streaks to overtime heroics, they produced moments of brilliance that have etched their names into the lore of Washington state basketball.