WOODLAND — When the Columbia River boys basketball team needs a clutch performer, Ari Richardson readily answers the call.
Much like his game-winning 3-pointer in last year’s opening round of the Class 2A state tournament, the senior guard helped keep the Rapids afloat in Thursday’s winner-to-state, loser-out district playoff game against W.F. West.
Richardson ignited a once-struggling River offense by scoring 10 straight points in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, which gave the Rapids the lead for good in an eventual 55-48 win.
“I love these moments,” Richardson said.
The Rapids clinched their second consecutive 2A state berth behind Richardson’s 27 points, two late baskets from Luca Phillips (10 points), a hot-shooting first half from Aaron Hoey (11 points) and a lockdown defense that held the Bearcats scoreless for more than four minutes of the fourth quarter.
“We got a taste of it last year, so that’s been our whole goal this season,” Hoey said of a return trip to state. “We’re really excited (and) pumped.”
“We weren’t ready to head home after this one,” Richardson said.
The Rapids were unwavering in their mission to return to the big dance, River coach Mark Ganter said, even after they lost a tough 63-58 decision Tuesday at R.A. Long and faced multiple deficits against an athletic W.F. West team that led by as many as five points in the third quarter.
John Reeder scored four of River’s nine points to close the third quarter, getting the Rapids within two points.
In the fourth, the Rapids turned to their 2-3 zone defense, which forced four turnovers and held the Bearcats scoreless over a four-minute stretch.
“I think that the sense of urgency was there,” Ganter said. “We knew that it was close going into the fourth quarter, and we knew we had to keep that urgency up and not let our guard down.
“Alex Pont came in and he did a hell of a job. Luca (Phillips), he handed the big dude (Grady Westlund) pretty good. And then, Ari and Aaron did their thing.”
While Hoey had the hot hand in the first half, hitting three 3-pointers in the first quarter, Richardson took over the in fourth quarter, starting with a layup and two made free throws after taking a hard foul to tie the game at 40-40.
His teammates continued to feed him. Richardson swished a pair of 3-pointers to give the Rapids a 46-40 lead with four minutes to play. Upon hitting the second, he turned to the Rapids’ bench and pumped his fists, bringing players and coaches to their feet.
“Get him open (and) get him the ball,” Hoey said.
With a veteran group of players led by five seniors, the Rapids are intent on making a run back to the Yakima Valley SunDome, where they reached the Round of 12 last year before falling to Anacortes. Their goal this season has remained the same all along.
“At the beginning of the year, we went through our goals and what we wanted to do. … To a man, they said they wanted to get to state and make a run,” Ganter said. “Last year we felt that we left a little bit on the table with Anacortes. … So this year, (we have) that hunger of getting back to Yakima.”
Seedings for the 2A state opening round will be released Sunday.
“We know we can make a deep run at state, so we just had to get there,” Richardson said. “That was the first goal, we can just go from here.”
COLUMBIA RIVER 55, W.F. WEST 48
W.F. WEST — Fox Rogerson 0, Ross Kelley 7, Gage Brumfield 13, Weston Potter 6, Grady Westlund 17, Rooney Hayden 0, Wyatt Hoffman 0, Carlos Vallejo 5. Totals 21 (3) 3-6 48.
COLUMBIA RIVER — Alex Pont 0, Ari Richardson 27, Kellen Clary 2, John Reeder 5, Tyer Miles 0, Luca Phillips 10, Aaron Hoey 11, Josh Paxton 0. Totals 18 (7) 12-13 55.
W.F. West 17 6 15 10—48
Col. River 15 12 9 19—55
