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WR hosts Lady Hornet Summer Classic, walks away with championship

Published 2:10 pm Tuesday, June 23, 2026

By Kevin Hanson Contributor

COURTESY PHOTO The White River squad captured championship honors in the tournament they hosted over the weekend. Making up the squad were, from left: Addison Martinez, Callie Rose, Kaijah Young, Myia Olson, Maggee Schmitz, Kaitlyn Hewlett, Victoria Blakley, Gracie Banks, Addison Binder-Rene, Jordan Taylor, Lilly Banks and Malia Froemke.

COURTESY PHOTO The White River squad captured championship honors in the tournament they hosted over the weekend. Making up the squad were, from left: Addison Martinez, Callie Rose, Kaijah Young, Myia Olson, Maggee Schmitz, Kaitlyn Hewlett, Victoria Blakley, Gracie Banks, Addison Binder-Rene, Jordan Taylor, Lilly Banks and Malia Froemke.

Three victories on Saturday plus three more on Sunday was a championship equation for the White River High girls basketball program.

The June 20-21 event was the Lady Hornet Summer Classic, hosted on the White River campus. Fittingly, the host school walked off with first-place honors.

The tourney, organized by Hornet coach Chris Gibson, attracted teams from the Class 3A and 4A ranks from around Puget Sound. Some are near neighbors to Buckley (Puyallup, Auburn Riverside, Rogers and Kentridge for example), while others traveled a bit for the competition (Shorewood, Meadowdale, Inglemoor and Stanwood).

White River’s title run began with a 43-25 victory over Kentridge and was followed by triumphs over Meadowdale and Inglemoor. Returning to the gym Sunday, the Hornets first knocked off Rogers and then defeated Olympia. That brought a rematch with Meadowdale which ended with another White River victory and tournament bragging rights.

The squad departs Wednesday, June 24, for Southern California and its annual appearance in the San Diego Classic. Gibson and his programs (both varsity and junior varsity) have been a Classic force in recent years. Last summer the Hornet teams combined to win seven of eight contests.

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