For the fifth straight year a CWAC girls basketball team advanced to the Class 2A state championship game in the Yakima Valley SunDome.
But for the third time in a row, that team’s dreams of the gold ball were dashed by Lynden, which has won 75 consecutive games, and will return two-time tournament Finley Parcher next season in pursuit of a fourth consecutive crown.
The third-seeded Mustangs gave all the No. 1 Lions could handle in the March 7 final, before falling 59-49.
With two-time scoring champ and reigning conference MVP Herbie Wright set to return, Prosser could be the top challenger for Lynden. Wright is poised to topple the school’s scoring record held by Tamara Jones, now an assistant for the Mustangs and the MVP for the 2011 championship team.
Right behind the Mustangs is Ellensburg, which fell to the Mustangs in the semifinals before placing third, and Bella Standish, who is chasing the Bulldogs’ scoring record held by her aunt, Kayla Standish, who went on to star at Gonzaga before playing professionally in Australia.
Selah placed sixth in its first tournament in 45 years, and will return a strong core.
The boys ranks were thinned greatly by graduation, before Selah went unbeaten in conference play, with Grandview the clear second-best team in the regular season.
Fortunes changed in the postseason, however, and the Greyhounds won the district title and placed sixth at state in the SunDome behind the heroics of guard Frankie Medina, the runner-up in balloting for tournament MVP and the WIBCA 2A Player of the Year.
The Vikings dropped their final three games, and were ousted from the state tournament short of the quarterfinals.
Graduation again will take its toll, but Selah will return first-team all-conference guards Oliver Pepper, the CWAC MVP, and JR DePell, and again appear to be the favorites.
Here is how Stat Hound sees next season unfolding, pending transfers and coaching changes.
BOYS
2025-25 CONFERENCE STANDINGS (COMPLETE STANDINGS HERE): Selah 16-0; Grandview 13-3; Prosser 10-6; Ellensburg 8-8; Toppenish 7-9; Othello 6-10; East Valley 5-11; Quincy 4-12; Ephrata 3-13.
TOP RETURNING SCORERS (REGULAR SEASON): LJ Nunez, so., Othello, 26.27; Oliver Pepper, Selah, 24.67; Jeramy Garcia, East Valley, 24.55; Braden Santos, Grandview, 16.20; Alex Bazan, Toppenish, 15.91; Daniel Diaz Garcia, Prosser, 14.10; Jaxon Benge, Selah, 12.05; JR DePell, Selah, 10.45.
RETURNING ALL-CONFERENCE PICKS: MVP – Oliver Pepper, Selah, jr. First team – JR DePell, Selah, so.; Jeremy Garcia, East Valley, so.; LJ Nunez, Othello, so.; Braden Santos, Grandview, so. Second team – Alex Bazan, Toppenish, jr.; Jaxon Benge, Selah, jr. Honorable mention – Hudson Murphy, Ellensburg, jr.
TEAMS ON THE RISE: East Valley. With high-scoring guard Jeramy Garcia and a roster set to graduate just one player, the Red Devils could be set to rise in the standings after winning four of their last six CWAC contests. If Othello can build around LJ Nunez, the Huskies also could climb the standings.
TEAMS WITH HOLES TO PLUG: Grandview. Braden Santos, who burst on the scene to help pick up the slack left by graduation, will have to take an even bigger role with Medina and Deontae Howard gradating.
2026-27 FAVORITE: Selah. Despite a couple losses to graduation, the Vikings will have the backcourt combo of Pepper and DePell, and forward Jaxon Benge to lead the way as they try to repeat an unbeaten run in conference play.
TEAMS WITH THE SUNDOME IN SITE: Selah, Grandview. If the CWAC again gets two bids with a third team meeting a Northwest Conference squad for another state berth, getting three to the SunDome will be tough.
GIRLS
2025-25 CONFERENCE STANDINGS (COMPLETE STANDINGS HERE): Prosser 15-1; Ellensburg 13-3; Selah 12-4; Grandview 12-4; Toppenish 8-8; East Valley 5-11; Quincy 4-12; Othello 3-13; Ephrata 0-16.
TOP RETURNING SCORERS (REGULAR SEASON): Herbie Wright, Prosser, 27.50 PPG; Bella Standish, Ellensburg, 21.73; Leyla Rodriguez, Grandview, 15.04; Viviana Hernandez, Toppenish, 14.43; Makenna Pepper, Selah, 13.91; Elise Kingston, Selah, 13.14; Miya Lopez, Grandview, 12.74; Jennalynn Garza, Grandview, 12.43.
RETURNING ALL-CONFERENCE PICKS: MVP – Herbie Wright, Prosser, jr. First team – Elise Kingston, Selah, jr.; Leyla Rodriguez, Grandview, so.; Bella Standish, Ellensburg, jr. Second team – Jennalynn Garza, Grandview, so.; Viviana Hernandez, Toppenish, jr.; Audrey Herrera, Toppenish, jr,; Miya Lopez, Grandview, jr.; Makenna Pepper, Selah, so. Honorable mention – Lailah Carter, Prosser, so.; Keelyn Cox, Prosser, jr.; Janely Ramirez Farias, Quincy, jr.
TEAMS ON THE RISE: Toppenish. With all-CWAC second-teamers Viviana Hernandez and Audrey Hererra set to return, the Wildcats could make a move. In a top-heavy league, however, how many that equates to is hard to predict.
TEAMS WITH HOLES TO PLUG: Prosser, Ellensburg. Sure, the Mustangs return Wright, but sidekick Deidra Phillips graduates, and Standish’s all-conference running mates Ellie Markus and Molly Moffat also finished their prep careers.
2026-27 FAVORITE: Prosser. After being upset by Selah at home in early January, the Mustangs won 16 straight before falling to Lynden in the championship. With the emergence of point guard Lailah Carter, Prosser again figures to be the team to beat.
TEAMS WITH THE SUNDOME IN SITE: Prosser, Ellensburg, Selah, Grandview. The Greyhounds were the odd team out in the tight race atop the CWAC, and look to have more returning than the other top contenders. It should be another fun race to the SunDome.
