Below are capsules for this weekend’s high school basketball state regional games involving local boys teams.
The state regional round consists of 16 teams in each classification. Twelve teams in each classification advance from the regional round to next week’s Hardwood Classics in the Tacoma Dome (Class 4A and 3A), Yakima Valley SunDome (2A and 1A) or Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena (2B and 1B).
For 3A and 1B only, there was a state play-in round involving seeds 13-20 that determined the final four teams in the 16-team state regional field.
Regional games involving seeds 1-8 are non-elimination contests, with both teams advancing to the Hardwood Classic. The reward for winning a non-elimination regional game is a bye into the state quarterfinals.
The other eight seeds play in loser-out regional contests, with the winners advancing to the first day of the Hardwood Classic.
The losers of the top-eight-seed regional games face the winners of bottom-eight-seed regional games in first-day Hardwood Classic matchups next Wednesday. The winners of those contests advance to next Thursday’s state quarterfinals.
NOTE: All seeding references below are to state tournament seeds.
CLASS 4A
No. 13 Chiawana vs. No. 12 Mariner
When: Saturday, 4 p.m.
Where: Arlington H.S.
Implications: Winner to round of 12; loser out
Records: Chiawana 15-8, Mariner 15-8
About the Riverhawks: Chiawana is back in the state tournament for the first time since 2019 and the second overall time in program history since the school’s opening in 2009. The Riverhawks posted a winning record for the fifth consecutive season and placed third in the Mid-Columbia Conference at 11-5 in league play. Chiawana reached the 4A District 8 title game, falling 59-53 to fifth-seeded Gonzaga Prep. The Riverhawks average 68.2 points and allow 58. Chiawana is led by 6-foot-4 senior guard Kade Smith and 6-foot-6 senior forward Donavin Young. The latter scored 25 points in the team’s state-clinching victory over eighth-seeded Richland in the district semifinals.
About the Marauders: After back-to-back three wins seasons in 2016-17 and 2017-18, Mariner is making its third state appearance in the past four postseasons and aiming for its second consecutive trip to the Tacoma Dome. The Marauders, who are riding a streak of five straight winning seasons, finished 6-2 in league play and split the Wesco 4A championship with Jackson for their second consecutive conference title. The team averages 70.4 points behind the standout senior tandem of guard Jailin Johnson and forward Makai Bloomfield. Both have eclipsed the 30-point barrier multiple times this season, including Bloomfield’s school-record 47 points against Lake Stevens on Feb. 2 and Johnson’s 39 points in the team’s bi-district quarterfinal win over Woodinville on Feb. 11. The pair also combined for 50 points in the team’s state-clinching comeback victory over Jackson last Thursday. The Marauders allow 65.8 points per game. Mariner is the only Wesco 4A team — boys or girls — to reach the state tournament.
CLASS 3A
No. 6 Mountlake Terrace vs. No. 3 Eastside Catholic
When: Saturday, 6 p.m.
Where: Bellevue College
Implications: Winner to quarterfinals; loser to round of 12
Records: Mountlake Terrace 18-5, Eastside Catholic 18-8
About the Hawks: Mountlake Terrace is once again in the state tournament following its second consecutive 3A District 1 championship and first Wesco 3A/2A title since 2018. The Hawks, who finished 13-2 in league play, are making their sixth state appearance in the past seven postseasons, which includes an area-best sixth-place finish in 3A last season, and have reached state 11 times since 2009. Terrace’s stingy man defense allows just 49.7 points per game, and the Hawks are 13-0 when holding opponents to 50 points or fewer. Junior guard Jaxon Dubiel, junior forward Zaveon Jones and senior guard Chris Meegan lead a balanced offense that averages 62 points. All three regularly score in double figures and have all done so in the same game at least nine times this season. Dubiel has led the Hawks in scoring over the past four games with a 19.8-point average. Jones was named to The Herald’s All-Area second team last season. Terrace has won 13 of its past 14 games by an average of 21.3 points.
About the Crusaders: Eastside Catholic enters the state tournament on a red-hot run after winning the 3A District 2 championship. The Crusaders are riding a six-game winning streak with all the victories coming over 3A state tournament squads, including two wins over second-seeded Garfield and one over fifth-seeded O’Dea. Eastside Catholic finished third at 8-6 in the ultra-tough Metro Mountain Division. The Crusaders are led by 6-foot-10 center Jacob Cofie, a four-star recruit ranked as the No. 93 overall junior in the nation by 247sports.com. Cofie holds offers from Colorado, Montana, Ohio State, Oregon and Washington. Eastside Catholic is making its fifth consecutive state tournament appearance and has placed third or better five times since 2013. The Crusaders average 61.2 points and allow 55.3. All six of the team’s in-state losses have come to 3A state tournament squads.
No. 20 Walla Walla vs. No. 12 Arlington
When: Saturday, 8 p.m.
Where: Arlington H.S.
Implications: Winner to round of 12; loser out
Records: Walla Walla 13-12, Arlington 18-5
About the Blue Devils: Walla Walla is making its second trip across the state this week after upsetting 13th-seeded Mount Vernon in a loser-out opening round matchup Tuesday. The Blue Devils finished fifth in the Mid-Columbia Conference at 8-8 in league play and knocked off Kennewick in a second-place game of the 3A District 8 tournament to qualify for state. This is Walla Walla’s first state tournament appearance since placing fourth in 4A in 2010. Junior guard Ken Higgins led the Blue Devils with 17 points in their victory over Mount Vernon, and senior guard Daniel Coram paced the team with 17 points in its state-clinching win over Kennewick. Walla Walla averages 60.9 points and allows 58.7.
About the Eagles: Arlington finished tied atop the Wesco 3A/2A standings with Mountlake Terrace at 13-2 in league and made a run to the 3A District 1 title game. The Eagles outscored opponents by 17.7 points in league play and sport a lockdown defense that led Wesco 3A/2A while allowing just 48 points per game. Senior David Zachman and sophomore Leyton Martin lead an Arlington offense that averages 60.5 points. Zachman, a 6-foot-6 center, averages team highs with 16.2 points and 7.6 rebounds. Martin, a 6-foot guard, fills the stat sheet with 15.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, six assists and 2.7 steals per contest. Senior guard Ty Rusko adds another 8.9 points per game. The Eagles reached the state tournament for the fourth time in the past five postseasons, but are in search of their first trip back to the Tacoma Dome since earning a program-best fifth-place trophy in 2013.
No. 16 Shorecrest vs. No. 9 Gig Harbor
When: Saturday, 8 p.m.
Where: Tacoma Community College
Implications: Winner to round of 12; loser out
Records: Shorecrest 17-6, Gig Harbor 21-3
About the Scots: Shorecrest is back in the state tournament for the fourth consecutive season and has made seven state appearances since 2014. The Scots finished tied for third in Wesco 3A/2A with a 12-3 record and advanced through the state tournament’s opening round by holding on for a 48-45 victory over 17th-seeded Stadium on Tuesday. Shorecrest led Wesco 3A/2A in scoring while averaging 64.2 points. The Scots’ offense is led by 6-foot-5 senior swingman Parker Baumann, a second-team pick to The Herald’s All-Area teams last season. He netted a team-high 21 points in the victory over Stadium. Shorecrest, which holds a victory over sixth-seeded Mountlake Terrace, features plenty of experience and size with eight seniors and five players listed at 6-foot-5 or taller.
About the Tides: Gig Harbor finished second in the South Sound Conference at 12-2 in league play and reached the finals of the 3A District 3/4 tournament before falling in a close 60-59 contest to fourth-seeded Auburn. The Tides knocked off seventh-seeded Timberline in the district semifinals. Gig Harbor is making its second consecutive state tournament appearance after reaching the quarterfinals last season. The Tides are led by a pair of 6-foot-6 senior guards in Will Landram and Luke Browne. Landram averages 18.3 points per game and Browne 17.6. Gig Harbor also sports plenty of size with eight players checking in at 6-foot-3 or taller. The Tides average 68.8 points and allow just 46.6. All three of the team’s losses have come to top-seven teams in the 3A bracket.
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