Bruin boys face tough start to basketball season

WHITE SALMON — The Columbia Bruins boys basketball team didn’t get much rest in the opening week of its 2025-26 season, playing four games in just five days — and losing all four.

Columbia (0-4) battled much larger schools in each of those games, as Washougal (2-1) plays in the WIAA class 2A, Woodland (3-0) is also 2A, Heritage (2-2) is 3A, and Milwaukie (1-1) is OSAA class 5A.

The Bruins’ Dec. 5 and 6 games were part of the first annual Battle of the Bridge tournament, hosted by Columbia High School and Hood River Valley High School.

Columbia started its season on Dec. 2 at home against Washougal with a 63-53 loss. The Bruins then traveled to Woodland on Dec. 3, where the Beavers came out on top, 65-28.

In the Battle of the Bridge Tournament, Columbia lost, 56-54, to Heritage on Dec. 5 and 70-30 to Milwaukie on Dec. 6 to close out the tournament.

Next up, the Bruins battle WIAA Class 2A Hudson’s Bay (0-4) at 7 p.m. on Dec. 8 at Columbia High School.