Two of Southwest Washington’s top high school basketball players, Camas senior Ethan Harris and Union senior Brooklynn Haywood, are heading into the Class 4A bi‑district playoffs this month, closing out their final high‑school seasons with postseason stakes that extend across the region.

Their story was first detailed in reporting by Clark County Today, which highlighted the leadership roles both athletes have taken on as their teams fight for state tournament berths. According to that reporting, Harris anchors a Camas boys squad aiming to return to the Tacoma Dome, while Haywood leads a Union girls program that has consistently challenged top‑ranked opponents throughout the season.

While Camas and Union compete in Clark County, their postseason trajectory matters throughout the Southwest Washington athletic landscape. Schools in Cowlitz County regularly meet Camas and Union programs in non‑league play, summer leagues, and tournament circuits, giving local athletes and coaches a direct view of the level of competition the 4A Greater St. Helens League produces each year. Strong playoff runs by league teams often reshape expectations for local matchups and influence off‑season planning among programs in Longview and Kelso.

The WIAA’s Class 4A bi‑district format determines which teams advance to the state championships, a process that routinely draws substantial regional interest. As of mid‑February, official brackets published by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association show multiple Southwest Washington teams still in contention, with final placements depending on results over the coming days. Harris and Haywood enter the bracket as senior leaders carrying both individual expectations and the competitive hopes of their respective schools.

For students and families in Cowlitz County who follow regional high school sports closely, the progress of nearby 4A programs often provides an early look at the caliber of teams that could await in future non‑league schedules or tournament play. With postseason games tightening and state berths on the line, Southwest Washington’s basketball landscape is entering its decisive stretch.

Why this matters

High‑school athletics in Southwest Washington form an interconnected ecosystem: performance in one county affects competitive expectations, resource planning, and athlete development in neighboring districts. Tracking the playoff arcs of programs like Camas and Union helps contextualize the competitive environment local athletes navigate. It also highlights the opportunities — and rising challenges — that shape the region’s broader sports culture.