ISSAQUAH — As Fort Vancouver players exited their locker room to a boisterous fanbase that traveled from Clark County, words from head coach James Jones still echoed in their minds.
“They set the standard,” the first-year coach said.
That standard led to one of Fort’s best seasons in boys basketball. Making their first state playoff appearance since 1990, the Trappers’ season ended with a 61-48 loss to a Bellevue Christian team that led from start to finish to advance to next week’s Class 1A Round of 12 in Yakima.
The Trappers’ season went 17-8 overall, and the win total is second-most victories since the 1990 state-bound team went 19-6.
Emotions ran high for a number of outgoing seniors, including Josiah Jointer, Liam Cvitkovich and Isaiah Gonzalez.
Cvitkovich, a four-year boys basketball player and multi-sport athlete, believes the accomplishments of 2024-25 will only jumpstart the Trappers to big things moving forward.
“I feel like we did start something for Fort Vancouver,” the senior forward said. “Everybody thinks if you go to Fort, you’re not that good at sports. I feel like we changed it around, not just for boys basketball, but for the whole (school) culture.”
This school year marks the first time Fort is a 1A Trico League member across all sports. Since 2019, the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association has included socioeconomic factors when reclassifying schools. Furthermore, schools can petition the WIAA to play down one classification. In January 2024, Fort won its appeal to play in Class 1A beginning in 2024-25 through the 2027-28 school year.
Cvitkovich, also a multi-sport athlete, said the chance to play at the 1A level is where the Trappers need to be school-wide right now.
“I feel like we need this,” he said. “It’s where we are as a school … every sport, we need this. If we continue (to do well), I think we can go back up to 2A, or even 3A.”
Without hesitation, Jointer said, playing at the 1A level affords athletes opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise experience. For starters, belief, he said.
“It gives us confidence to go out there and compete,” Jointer said.
Jointer had a game-high 20 points Friday. Nine of them came in the second quarter when the Trappers’ momentum the final 2 minutes cut a double-digit Bellevue Christian lead to 25-19 by halftime. It came after the Trappers felt behind 15-4 early and committed six first-quarter turnovers.
Jointer had 11 in the second half, which is when sophomore Isaiah Barajas got hot from 3-point range. He hit 3s on consecutive possessions that helped the Trappers pull with in seven at 45-38. They never got closer after that behind a Bellevue Christian (19-5) attack of balanced scoring from Conner Banach (12 points), Luke Evanson (12), Drake Penberthy (10) and Brock Huber (10).
Barajas finished with 13 points and Leighton Livengood added 11.
Their season might’ve ended Friday, but the standard is now set for Fort Vancouver’s Trappers.
Said Jointer: “Hopefully, what we did this year builds a legacy to be remembered.”
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BELLEVUE CHRISTIAN 61, FORT VANCOUVER 48
BELLEVUE CHRISTIAN — Quincy Tonkin 0, Luke Evanson 12, Conner Banach 12, Kyler Skogstad 5, Brady Tonkin 7, Drake Penberthy 10, Cayden DeHaan 2, Brock Huber 10.
FORT VANCOUVER — Josiah Jointer 20, Leighton Livengood 11, Isaiah Gonzalez 2, Isaiah Barajas 13, Liam Cvitkovich 0, Sam Howard 0, Allen Salazar 0, Kenan Sabanovic 2, Veniamin Koval 0. Totals 19 (5) 5-13 48.
Fort Van. 4 15 14 15 – 48
Bell. Chr. 15 10 20 16 – 61
