Core group of boys playoff team returns at The Dalles

THE DALLES - The Dalles High Riverhawks will be focusing on enjoying another successful season in OSAA Class 4A boys basketball, as the core group of the team returns from a state playoff run last year.

The Riverhawks, guided by third-year Coach Brian Stevens, finished 6-4 in the Tri-Valley Conference last year and 16-10 overall, as they made the playoffs for the second time in three years. The Riverhawks took third place behind Crook County and Madras (7-3 TVC, 19-7 overall). Crook County is competing in Class 5A this season.

The Riverhawks earned a No. 14 OSAA ranking and they advanced to the state playoffs where they lost to eventual state champion Baker High.

“For the first time in more than 22 years, The Dalles returns the same five starters - a core group that has rewritten the program’s record book over the past two seasons,” said Stevens. “In 2024, we secured the first winning league record in 14 years. We followed that with an even stronger 2025 campaign, earning the program’s first overall winning season in 15 years. We posted back-to-back winning league records for the first time in more than two decades.”

The Riverhawks’ starting five includes junior Oliver Stevens, seniors Calder Morrison, Derek Goulart and Reese Kinslow and junior Issac Pitt. Stevens earned a TVC first team all-league award last year; Morrison and Goulart both earned TVC second team all-league awards. Also back to the varsity team are senior Hudson Case and sophomore Sawyer Case.

“This year, the coaching staff (including assistant Shaun Anderson) built an intentionally challenging preseason schedule designed to harden the group for league competition and playoff intensity,” said Stevens. “The new goals are clear - win a league title and make the program’s first trip to the state quarterfinals for first time since 1987, but that certainly won’t be easy to do.

“The Tri-Valley Conference is loaded this year, with all five teams capable of winning the league title. Madras is considered as the preseason favorite.”

The Riverhawks open their 25-game schedule with a 5 p.m. Dec. 4 nonleague road game versus the Scappoose High Indians (16-11 last year) at the Crook County Invite tournament in Prineville. The Riverhawks play their first nonleague home game Dec. 17 against St. Helens.