Cashmere competes against Forks during the Battle at the Beach girls basketball tournament held last weekend in Ilwaco.

ILWACO — Nearly 20 girls prep basketball teams from around the region participated in the 2024 Battle at the Beach tournament last weekend in Ilwaco.

While the winter basketball season is still more than six months away, the popular three-day tournament and camp served as a rare opportunity for teams to test out their new starting lineups against talented competition from across the state.

Participating teams included Ilwaco, Naselle, Astoria, Knappa, Cashmere, Adna, Selah, Naches Valley, Onalaska, W.F. West, Toutle Lake, Zillah, Napavine, Aberdeen, Ridgefield, Rainier, Valley Catholic and Forks.

Three days of basketball

The teams were split into four groups with games being played simultaneously at the Ilwaco High School and Hilltop Middle School throughout the day on Friday and Saturday, concluding with a bracket-style tournament on Sunday.

In group pool play on Friday among area teams, Ilwaco beat Naselle (JV) 24-18. Naselle subsequently lost to Valley Catholic 53-19 and Forks 42-24.

On Saturday, Ilwaco lost to Toutle Lake 45-21 and Naselle lost to Naches Valley (JV) 37-17.

On Sunday, Ilwaco and Knappa were the lone area teams to compete in the eight-team Battle at the Beach bracket, which also included W.F. West, Onalaska, Aberdeen, Ridgefield, Forks and Selah.

Ilwaco lost to Ridgefield in their first game, eliminating the Lady Fishermen from the tournament.

Naselle and Astoria didn’t participate in the bracket play on Sunday.

Up next: The Ilwaco girls basketball team will participate in the BNB Camp, a basketball camp that began Monday, June 27 and continues through Thursday, June 20, at Ilwaco High School. The team will compete in 10 games over four days during the overnight camp.