Darrington senior guard Brevin Ross (second from right) goes up for a layup during practice Tuesday evening at Darrington High School. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Darrington senior guard Brevin Ross (second from right) goes up for a layup during practice Tuesday evening at Darrington High School. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Darrington boys basketball experiencing revival

The once powerhouse program that had fallen on hard times is state-bound for the 1st time since 2008.

When Darrington boys basketball coach Cam Ross took over the Loggers’ program four seasons ago, one of the first things he told his players was that they were going to get the team back to where it used to be.

The Loggers were coming off a seventh straight losing season and were far from the program that had won a 2003 Class B state title and made state playoff appearances in nine of 12 seasons from 1996-2008.

It was gonna take work.

“I always told the boys you can’t be a basketball player just from November to January, February,” Ross said. “You have to pick up a basketball, whether it’s going down to the local park here and just playing two-on-two or shooting baskets by yourself. You can’t just wait until November to pick up a basketball and expect everything to just be great. It takes time and effort.”

Ross could tell from his players’ responses that they were ready to take on the task.

“I had some kids just shaking their heads like, ‘Yeah,’” he said. “So I knew I had some buy-in from kids. They were tired of being beat down. They worked hard and bought into going to summer camps and summer basketball tournaments, getting better.”

Darrington won just three games in Ross’ first season and four in 2017-18, but last season noticeable progress emerged as the Loggers tallied 15 victories and earned their first winning season and district tournament berth since 2008-09. It was also the first time the team had eclipsed four wins over that span.

“We knew we were gonna have to make goals,” said senior Brevin Ross, Cam’s son. “Our sophomore year (2017-18) it was to be competitive with teams in our league, and last year we really wanted to make a district playoff run and we were able to make districts last year.”

Brevin Ross said the goal this season was a league title and a state playoff run.

Goal achieved.

Darrington clinched a share of the Northwest 2B/1B Conference title in early February and punched its ticket to the regional round of the 2B state tournament with a 49-47 victory over Auburn Adventist this past Saturday.

“If I’m being honest, this was all kind of part of our plan,” Brevin Ross said. “We came in our freshman year and we knew we were gonna be a rebuilding program. We started a lot of young guys. We had a lot of freshmen, sophomores starting on our varsity team.”

Darrington’s landmark victory didn’t come without a drama-filled week on the hardwood, though. The Loggers had a chance to clinch a state berth this past Thursday in the 2B Tri-District 1/2/3 Tournament title game against Friday Harbor. It was the rubber match of three meetings between the co-Northwest 2B/1B champions, and the Loggers entered the fourth quarter with a 12-point lead that Friday Harbor eventually overcame for a 48-47 win.

“It was a crusher,” Cam Ross said. “Kind of a quiet bus ride home.”

That loss pushed Darrington to its winner-to-state, loser-out true second-place contest with Auburn Adventist just two days later.

“Friday I came into practice and our kids were still a little bit bummed out,” Cam Ross said. “I talked to them and told them what was on the line, what we worked for. If we played the way we did in the first half on Thursday night, I was confident that we could come out with a victory on Saturday.”

The Loggers flipped the script in their final chance for a state berth. Darrington entered the fourth quarter down 11 points and pulled within 47-46 in the final minutes despite junior Caleb Rivera, who had poured in a game-high 28 points, fouling out midway through the final period. Senior Aden Requa delivered the clutch play the Loggers needed with just under 50 seconds to go. The 6-foot guard intercepted a cross-court skip pass and sprinted down the court for the difference-making layup, and Darrington added a free throw to hold on for a 49-47 victory.

“I really wasn’t thinking too much,” Requa said of what was going through his mind has he raced down the court for the game-winning bucket. “I was kind of all in the moment. All I was thinking about was scoring and hoping to not get fouled. I was trying to keep a clear mind (and) trying not to get worried about anything.”

The Loggers held Auburn Adventist to only one point over the final eight minutes.

“The boys never panicked. They just kind of kept playing their game and kept chipping away,” Cam Ross said. “… The kids just kind of never gave in and really buckled down on defense.”

It was a special moment for the senior class of Brevin Ross, Requa and Bashaun Williams, who all entered the program when Cam Ross took over.

“It’s something as a kid growing up I’ve always wanted to see and be a part of,” Brevin Ross said, “and it’s cool we finally got that. The support we’ve been getting here is unreal from people that are in this town.”

No. 13 seed Darrington (17-6) faces 12th-seeded Kettle Falls (16-9) in a loser-out state regional game at 6 p.m. Saturday at Mount Spokane High School. The winner advances to a 7:15 p.m. Wednesday matchup at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena with the loser of fifth-seeded Life Christian and No. 4 seed Brewster.

“We set a goal and we’ve reached it. That’s amazing,” Williams said. “I couldn’t be more proud of the team and the family I’m with right now.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Cal Raleigh wins 2025 MLB Home Run Derby

Cal Raleigh called his shot years ago. In a childhood video spreading… Continue reading

Portland Fire unveil name, branding as WNBA’s 15th team

A flame is being reignited for Portland’s new WNBA franchise. On Tuesday,… Continue reading

Silvertips forward Shea Busch participates in the Florida Panthers development camp at Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on July 1, 2025. Florida selected Busch in the fourth round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft on June 28. (Photo courtesy Shea Busch)
Shea Busch experiences whirlwind NHL Draft week

The Florida Panthers selected the Silvertips forward in the fourth round on June 28.

Late Mystics surge dooms Storm as stars struggle

Seattle dropped to 13-9 after shooting 36.2% from the field.

Jorge Polanco (7), right, of the Seattle Mariners celebrates his ninth inning home run with J.P. Crawford (3) while playing the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on Sunday, July 13, 2025, in Detroit. (Gregory Shamus / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Mariners sweep Tigers on way to All-Star break

The Detroit Tigers still have the best record in baseball,… Continue reading

Mariners select LSU pitcher with No. 3 pick in MLB draft

College baseball’s best pitcher is coming to the Emerald City. The Seattle… Continue reading

Jannik Sinner of Italy celebrates winning championship point against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during the Gentlemen's Singles Final on day 14 of The Championships Wimbledon 2025 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on Sunday, July 13, 2025, in London. (Julian Finney / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Sinner conquers Alcaraz for his first Wimbledon title

The vision of Jannik Sinner covered in sweat and… Continue reading

Rome Odunze scans the field in a scrimmage at his youth football camp at Archbishop Murphy High School on July 10, 2025. The former University of Washington star is entering his second NFL season with the Chicago Bears. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
Odunze ‘gives back’ in Everett youth football camp

The former University of Washington star hosts a single-day camp at Archbishop Murphy on Thursday.

The New York Yankees' Aaron Judge, top right, celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off sacrifice fly ball during the 10th inning against the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium on Thursday, July 10, 2025, in New York. (Justin Casterline / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Yankees walk off Mariners on Judge’s sac fly for series sweep

Seattle blows 5-0 lead after Bryan Woo takes no-hitter into eighth inning.

Raleigh says Munoz tipped pitches during Yankees’ comeback

The Yankees had a bead on Seattle Mariners closer Andrés Muñoz. That’s… Continue reading

Midfielder Christian Soto dribbles up field during Snohomish United's 5-1 win against the Tacoma Stars at Stockers Fields on July 9, 2025 (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
Snohomish United keeps playoff hopes alive in home finale

With 5-1 win against Tacoma, the USL2 club’s focus on local talent keys success in inaugural season.

AquaSox down Devils for consecutive wins

The AquaSox were on a 2-10 stretch coming into the series.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.