Bruin boys basketball cling to playoff hopes after Seton win

WHITE SALMON — The Columbia High Bruins recorded one of their biggest wins of the season, 47-45, over the Seton Catholic High Cougars in a WIAA Class 1A Trico League boys basketball game Jan. 28 at Columbia High School in White Salmon.

For the Bruins, guided by third-year Coach Brady Trullinger, the victory over the Cougars helped keep their hopes for a spot in the upcoming district playoffs, which begin Feb. 10, alive. The victory snapped a three-game losing streak and it moved the Bruins (3-9 Trico, 5-13 overall) into a fifth-place tie with the Cougars (3-9 Trico, 6-11 overall) in the league standings.

“It was a great win over Seton, especially since it was on Senior Night, so that made it pretty fun, too,” said Trullinger, whose squad beat the Cougars for the first time since 2017. “It’s been a long time since we’ve beaten Seton, and the guys were really excited about it. The win really helps set us up with a good chance of making the district playoffs. We finished in fifth place last year and we reached the district playoffs, and that’s what we’re hoping to do this year, too.”

The top four teams in the eight-team league standings automatically earn a district playoff berth. The Trico’s fifth-place team earns a play-in round contest versus the fourth-place team from the Evergreen League; the winner of that game qualifies for the district playoffs.

“If we win our last two games and if the result of some other games turns out in our favor around the league, then we’ll have a good chance to reach the playoffs,” said Trullinger. “We’re right where we need to be to try and get fifth place and, hopefully, we’ll make it. Our guys have been playing well and they never quit. They’re really gritty and they’re willing to do all the dirty work to get a win — even if it’s ugly. This is the hardest working group of guys that I’ve coached in my three-year career at Columbia High School.”

Two days after the Seton win, the Bruins faced one of their toughest opponents of the season in road game against the league leading No. 11-ranked Fort Vancouver High Trappers (12-0 Trico, 15-3 overall). The Bruins were unable to continue the momentum from their previous win, and they lost, 92-47, in Vancouver.

The Bruins were scheduled to play Feb. 3 at Castle Rock (1-11 Trico, 4-14 overall). The Bruins will conclude the regular season with a 7:30 p.m. road game Feb. 5 in a Gorge rivalry matchup against the Stevenson High Bulldogs (2-10 Trico, 4-13 overall). The Bruins won an earlier matchup between the two squads, 66-44, at home Jan. 15.