In 1951, the four members of the Spokane City League -- Gonzaga, Lewis and Clark, North Central and Rogers -- mixed with Walla Walla and Yakima High School (currently Davis) to create the Columbia Basin Conference.

The second games of the City League’s round-robin schedule counted for double because the second game would also be recognized in the CBC. The City League however, remained as it had been. No Walla Walla or Yakima games would count there.

The Walla Walla Blue Devils dominated in 1951, going undefeated to win the new conference title. The following season, they shared the title with Gonzaga after the two teams tied 7-7 in their only matchup.

In 1953, Yakima had a modest season record of 4-3-2, but saved its best games for the Columbia Basin contests. The Pirates edged out North Central for the top spot.

In 1954, Rogers and Wa-Hi shared the title, Rogers losing the outright championship because of a late season loss to NC. In the final year of the Columbia Basin Conference, 1955, Lewis and Clark came away with the crown. The Tigers also finished on top of the Associated Press football poll that season, giving them the mythical state championship.

Shortly after the end of the 1955 football season, Walla Walla and Yakima were accepted into the Yakima Valley Football League, joining Richland, Pasco and Kennewick, and ending their odd five-year association with the Spokane schools.  It also gave them a more familiar landscape for future league contests.

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