Kamiakin Girls Basketball claimed the MCC title and made it to the Tacoma Dome the past two seasons. However, with there being only two state bids and a lot of talent in the district, it’s an uphill battle for the Braves as they start the playoffs tonight at home. Jamie Council catches up with Lane Schumacher, now in his 13th season as head coach for the Braves.
As the basketball season heads into its most important stretch, the Kamiakin Braves girls basketball team is once again proving why they’re a force in Eastern Washington hoops — battling challenges, showing depth, and leaning on a tight-knit group of players and supportive families.
Head coach Lane Schumacher, now in his 13th year at the helm, joined The Sports Council to break down how the Braves have navigated a rollercoaster season and what lies ahead.
“We’ve gone through some challenges… but when we play our best game, we can compete with anybody,” Schumacher said. “If you look at our losses, they’re all to top-six teams in the state. We know what it takes.”
Adapting to a Season of Changes
The Braves faced hurdles early on, including eligibility hold-ups for key players like transfer Ellie Heideman and setbacks with standout junior Emaunii Smith. But Schumacher says the program’s culture of flexibility has helped the team stay focused.
“We do a lot of shuffling in practice anyway, rotating lineups, so whatever lineup’s in there is used to playing together,” he explained. “That’s helped us keep everyone on the same page.”
Talent Runs Deep in the Tri-Cities
Kamiakin’s roster features an impressive mix of size, skill, and experience.
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Aubrey Herrin, a senior headed to the University of Portland, anchors the team with length, defense, and scoring.
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Liv Whitemarsh-bass and Crimson Childs both bring versatile scoring and rebounding — with college offers still on the table.
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Ellie Heideman, bound for Arizona Christian, adds toughness and shooting.
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Emaunii Smith, when eligible, can change a game’s momentum in a flash.
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Taylor Schumacher, the coach’s niece and a sophomore guard, contributes speed, energy, and perimeter shooting.
“It’s a fun group to coach,” Schumacher said proudly. “They like each other, they play well together, and they’re just great girls from great families.”
Tri-Cities Talent is on the Map
Shoemaker credits the region’s booming youth basketball culture for producing more high-level talent each year.
“You see more kids playing travel ball year-round, starting younger. And as Tri-Cities grows, you never know who the next star’s going to be,” he said. “On both the boys and girls sides, the MCC is a great league, and it’s getting the respect it deserves statewide.”
He pointed to past and current local standouts making waves — like USC’s Talia von Oelhoffen and UCLA’s Tyler Bilodeau — as proof that Tri-Cities hoops are being noticed far beyond the Columbia Basin.
No Room for Slips in the Playoffs
With only two bids up for grabs in their district this year, Kamiakin knows every possession matters. Schumacher says staying consistent for a full 32 minutes is key.
“We can’t have those four- or five-minute lapses where things drop off. We’ve had games where we start slow and dig ourselves into a hole — in playoff basketball, you can’t do that,” he said. “If we play a complete game, we can hang with anybody.”
Despite a heartbreaking overtime loss to Chiawana — capped by Kaia Foster’s dramatic buzzer-beater — Schumacher sees the lesson in the fight.
“It was a great shot by a great player. But it showed our girls we can go toe-to-toe with the fourth-best team in the state. The confidence is there.”
Perspective on a Season Beyond the Court
When asked about recent high-profile incidents in the MCC that forced games to be canceled, Schumacher underscored the importance of sportsmanship and parental support.
“I’ve never experienced anything like that at Kamiakin — thankfully,” he said. “Our parents and families are a huge part of our success. At the end of the day, it’s a game. We all want to win, but it doesn’t need to come to that.”
One Goal: Tacoma
For the Braves, the destination remains the same: Tacoma and the State Tournament.
“Like it or not, that’s the expectation — we’re used to going to Tacoma,” Schumacher said. “We know it won’t be easy. But the girls believe in themselves, and they know what it takes.”
Fans can follow Kamiakin’s playoff push at home games and on NFHS streams — and catch more local sports stories every week on The Sports Council, Thursdays at 11:30 AM on 1340 ESPN Tri-Cities or anytime on 1340espnradio.com.