THE DALLES — The Dalles boys basketball team split its final two games of the season with a win over Estacada, 71-60 on Feb. 24, and a loss to Molalla, 65-64, on Feb. 27.
The Riverhawks finished in fourth place in the OSAA Class 4A Tri-Valley Conference, just shy of a postseason opportunity. As it turned out, The Dalles needed to win both games to have a chance to qualify for the state playoffs.
Despite the finish, The Dalles’ boys program reached two major milestones in the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons. The Riverhawks, under Coach Brian Stevens, recorded their first back-to-back winning seasons in 16 years, and the program has finished .500 or better in league play for three straight seasons, something that hadn’t been accomplished since 1986.
The Feb. 24 contest against Estacada was senior night, as The Dalles community honored four Riverhawk seniors: Huson Case, Derek Goulart, Reese Kenslow, and Calder Morrison before the game.
The Rangers (14-9, 4-4) started hot from three-point range, shooting their way to a 42-33 halftime lead. The Riverhawks (13-12, 4-4) responded quickly to open up the second half, going on a 23-7 run in the third quarter to build a 56-49 lead through three quarters.
The Dalles held on to their lead in the fourth quarter behind junior guard Oliver Stevens, who finished with 26 points.
Three days later, the Riverhawks traveled to Molalla to battle the Indians (19-5, 5-3). Stevens was hot from the get-go, finishing with 36 points, shooting 57 percent from the field. He also had five assists and went 17-for-19 from the free-throw line.
Despite the individual effort from Stevens, the host Indians took care of business, 65-64, behind Grant Brusseau’s game-winner. Kurt Pedersen led the Indians with 20 points.
For the Riverhawks, Morrison added eight points and five rebounds, Case had nine points, Kenslow scored six, Bryson Cates added five, and Goulart had two points and five rebounds.
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