A victory 80 years in the making. So, this Eastern WA school made it ‘a community affair’
There’s not much business, government or infrastructure in this small town of 3,600.
But if there’s one thing Burbank can celebrate, it’s a little bit of well-earned brass.
The Columbia High School community put on a party Thursday to celebrate the boys basketball team bringing home the 2025 championship.
The Coyotes’ 2B state win is the school’s first-ever title, a victory 80 years in the making, says Superintendent Todd Hilberg.
“This is huge for our entire community,” the 1995 Columbia alum told the Tri-City Herald. “The thing I always say about the 2Bs is it really is a community affair, and this whole town fell in love with this team. You lose that sometimes, the bigger you get.”
The community watched these kids grow up and has been following along since day 1, Hilberg says — even if they’re not related by blood. That’s the quality of a small community.
“These high school ball players are down in the elementary classrooms at lunch, they’re out there at recess. So, when you see these little guys out here, they know them on a first-name basis,” he said.
The boy Coyotes capped a 27-1 season on March 8 with a 47-45 championship win over Freeman at the Spokane Arena.
The trophy had seemed elusive since the 2022 season, when a group of freshmen helped the boys to a sixth-place finish.
But Columbia improved each consecutive year, placing third in 2023 and losing to Colfax in the 2024 finale.
So when they returned to Spokane for another go around, the Coyotes knew what they needed to do to get the job done and bring the trophy home.
“I’m finally satisfied, I’ll say that,” said point guard Tristan Frimodt, one of eight seniors on the team.
“I never felt like I was satisfied after all these years of going up there and losing. I always had a sour taste in my mouth. But this year? Something’s different. I don’t got that taste no more,” he said.
What’s Frimodt tasting these days?
“Victory,” he said.
Burbank throws a party
Burbank began Thursday’s festivities with an hour-long parade in blustery weather, weaving and turning through the community.
Twenty — including players, cheerleaders and Head Coach Todd Schumacher — huddled in a hay bale-lined trailer.
The procession was led by a Walla Walla County Fire District 5 engine and tailed by an ambulance, about 10 cars filled with parents and a few kids on bicycles and scooters.
After the community appearance, the Coyotes returned to Columbia High School where they were met with raucous applause, the high school band, cake and a hamburger barbecue.
It was standing room only as hundreds of family members, community members and alumni showed up at the auditorium — clad in gold, purple and black school colors — to celebrate the school’s first title.
Schumacher, a Kamiakin product, comes from a family of basketball coaches. After 13 years at the helm of the school’s boys program, he says, it’s exciting to win “the top prize” and see the community take pride in that.
“Not just this year, but the last handful of years we have had so many people come to Spokane and really support the entire tournament,” he said.
Players from before 2022 “set the tone” and expectations of the program, Schumacher says, helping them pave the road that led to this trophy.
The boy Coyotes have brought home five district championships the last five years. In total, the program has 15 conference titles under its belt.
Senior Quincy Scott, a top scorer, was named the 2B state player of the year, and Schumacher earned the honor of 2B boys coach of the year, by the Washington Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association.
Even weeks later, Schumacher is still getting texts and emails from former coaches, coaches across the state, and graduates from the ‘60s and ‘80s.
“That’s when you really feel it because it takes you out of the team. You’re like, wow, this really hits home,” he said.
One of those alums was so proud he offered Schumacher to cover the cost to get all 12 athletes championship rings, a luxury not all winners can afford.
‘It’s fantastic’
Bob Crater and his wife don’t have any grandkids on the team, but they’ve stayed dedicated Coyotes fans since they moved from Burbank to Spokane in 2017.
“It’s fantastic,” said Crater, 74. “Having seen these guys progress, like the coach said, and seeing them develop from the kindergarten age up, on some of them, it’s like they’ve come to full development. They’ve earned their reaching goal and they’re here. I’m proud of them.”
The retired fire chief and bus driver hopes the Coyotes earn more titles down the line, but he knows it won’t be easy — 2B athletics, coaches tell him, are incredibly competitive at the state level.
But Crater says it’s inspiring to see the community come together “this day and age.”
Daniel Couch, father of senior Braxton Couch, said the parents have been “super proud” of the students and what they’ve accomplished this year.
“The natural progression has been like this roller coaster ride,” he said.
Tensions were high in the final game against Freeman, but it was “electric,” said Couch, 44.
The family has put on more than 100 miles a day on the odometer, in between practices and back-and-forth with school. Braxton transferred to Burbank from Kamiakin as a freshman.
The traveling golden ball trophy will call Columbia High School home for one year. A commissioned replica for the school is in the works.
On a mic’d stage, in front of the Burbank community, Schumachers shared stories and presents with his athletes. The athletes then shared their thanks before a few community members came up, on by one, to give their congrats and ask questions.
One youngster asked Schumacher — to a room of gasps and laughs — who his favorite player was.
“That’s kind of like asking who is my favorite child,” Schumacher said with a chuckle. Two of his own kids are on the roster.
But the head coach looked to his athletes, and conceded: “You’re all my favorites.”
This story was originally published March 21, 2025 at 11:50 AM.
