WA high school boys basketball: 3A state tournament bracket breakdown
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Hardwood Classic 2024
High school state basketball champions will be crowned in Tacoma, Yakima and Spokane the weekend of February 29 - March 2.
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The Class 3A boys state basketball tournament begins Wednesday at the Tacoma Dome, where 15 games will be played in four days to decide this season’s champion.
Here’s what to watch for in the 2024 bracket, which features 12 programs from around Washington.
STATE REGIONALS RESULTS
State regionals play-in games
No. 17 Lincoln 56, No. 16 Lake Washington 50
No. 15 Stadium 58, No. 18 Timberline 57
No. 19 Marysville-Getchell 75, No. 14 Kelso 61
No. 13 Todd Beamer 63, No. 20 Ridgeline 57
Winner-to-quarterfinals, loser-to-first-round games
No. 8 North Central 60, No. 1 Auburn 54
No. 2 Eastside Catholic 67, No. 7 North Thurston 43
No. 6 Mt. Spokane 74, No. 3 Garfield 64
No. 4 O’Dea 59, No. 5 Mountlake Terrace 57
Winner-to-first-round, loser-out games
No. 17 Lincoln 60, No. 9 West Seattle 56
No. 10 Rainier Beach 66, No. 15 Stadium 60
No. 11 Arlington 76, No. 19 Marysville-Getchell 72
No. 13 Todd Beamer 73, No. 12 Mount Vernon 52
TACOMA DOME SCHEDULE
Wednesday’s first round and Thursday’s quarterfinals
No. 11 Arlington vs. No. 3 Garfield, 9 a.m. Wednesday
Winner vs. No. 4 O’Dea, 9 a.m. Thursday
No. 10 Rainier Beach vs. No. 7 North Thurston, 10:30 a.m. Wednesday
Winner vs. No. 8 North Central, 10:30 a.m. Thursday
No. 13 Todd Beamer vs. No. 5 Mountlake Terrace, 12:15 p.m. Wednesday
Winner vs. No. 6 Mt. Spokane, 12:15 p.m. Thursday
No. 17 Lincoln vs. No. 1 Auburn, 2 p.m. Wednesday
Winner vs. No. 2 Eastside Catholic, 2 p.m. Thursday
Friday’s semifinals
3:45 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Saturday’s championship and placing games
4th/6th — 8 a.m.
3rd/5th — 11:15 a.m.
Championship — 7 p.m.
10 PLAYERS TO WATCH
Ray Adams, North Thurston, sr.
Malcolm Clark, O’Dea, sr.
Jacob Cofie, Eastside Catholic, sr.
Zaveon Jones, Mountlake Terrace, sr.
Ryan Lafferty, Mount Spokane, sr.
Leyton Martin, Arlington, jr.
Jaylen Petty, Auburn, jr.
Legend Smiley, Garfield, jr.
Luvens Valcin, Auburn, sr.
Eli Williams, North Central, sr.
TEAM PREVIEWS
No. 1 Auburn (24-2) — The Trojans are taking a familiar path after their third straight regionals loss, this time to No. 8 North Central, 60-54. Two years ago, Auburn overcame that loss and won four straight at the Dome to take its first state title. A year ago, they lost in the semifinals to eventual champion Garfield. Junior guard Jaylen Petty (24 ppg) won 3A NPSL MVP honors for the second straight season. He can get hot in a hurry with his outside shot.
No. 2 Eastside Catholic (20-6) — It might sound funny for a team with 20 wins already, but the Crusaders might have gotten hot at the right time. Just a few weeks ago, Eastside Catholic lost four straight games. But they soundly defeated Rainier Beach in their final Metro Tournament game, won three in a row to win the District 2 title and took down No. 7 North Thurston in the Regionals to earn a Round of 12 bye. Virginia-bound Jacob Cofie leads the charge.
No. 3 Garfield (18-7) — The defending champs have endured something of an up-and-down journey this season and come to the Dome having lost two of their last three after a regional upset against Mount Spokane. If Garfield can get past No. 11 Arlington on Wednesday, it could set up an intriguing quarterfinal against No. 4 O’Dea, which has beaten Garfield two of three times this season. Guard Legend Smiley makes things go for Brandon Roy’s team.
No. 4 O’Dea (18-9) — The Irish lost three of their last four games during the postseason before eeking out a 59-57 Regional win against Mountlake Terrace to earn a bye into Thursday’s quarterfinals. O’Dea again boasts plenty of height, highlighted by 6-foot-8 wing Malcolm Clark and 6-6 junior Breylon Webb.
No. 5 Mountlake Terrace (21-3) — The Hawks enter the Dome having lost their last two games after suffering just one defeat all season prior. Guard Jaxon Dubiel is the team’s top scorer, averaging nearly 20 points a game while senior forward Zaveon Jones plays taller than his 6-foot-2 height, averaging a double-double with around 18 points and 11 rebounds per game.
No. 6 Mount Spokane (20-4) — The Wildcats have lost just once since the calendar turned to February, going 5-1 so far this month. After an upset of No. 3 Garfield, Mount Spokane has just one more game – a Thursday quarterfinal – before the month changes to March. 6-foot-5 guard Ryan Lafferty scores more than 20 a night.
No. 7 North Thurston (20-5) — Forward Ray Adams (18.7 points per game, 12 rpg, 3 bpg) has been a difference-maker on both ends of the floor for the Rams. Junior guard Liam Sheeran gets things distributed, averaging 4.7 assists and 3.3 steals.
No. 8 North Central (19-5) — The Wolfpack definitely come to the Dome on a high after knocking off top-seeded Auburn in the regionals last Friday. Guard Eli Williams (17.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 5 apg, 1.5 spg) scored 18 that night. The 6-11 and 6-8 brother tandem of Jacori (15.4 ppg) and Gelonni (5.9 rpg) Ervin provide defensive nightmares for opponents.
No. 10 Rainier Beach (14-12) — The Vikings don’t enter the Dome this week with a lot of momentum, having lost their final two games in the District 2 tournament, but facing a loser-out regional against Tacoma’s Stadium High, Beach survived, 66-60. Kaden Powers, a 6-5 junior, lives up to his name, powering the Vikings attack.
No. 11 Arlington (19-6) — Guard Leyton Martin (23.5 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 5.2 apg) is a knockdown shooter for the Eagles, who drew a difficult path when No. 3 Garfield – their Round of 12 opponent – was upset by Mount Spokane in the regionals, and then No. 4 O’Dea potentially waiting in the Thursday quarterfinals.
No. 13 Todd Beamer (20-4) — The Titans’ only loss this postseason was to Auburn during the district tournament. Beamer is led by Will Tellis (18.6 ppg) and Caleb Berry (18.4 ppg) scoring the basketball, Terrance Whiting (6.1 apg, 5.4 rpg, 2.9 spg) doing the dirty work and Ahmed Ismail (6.2 rpg, 1.3 bpg) inside.
No. 17 Lincoln (21-5) — What a week for the No. 17 seed, beating a hot No. 16 Lake Washington squad on Tuesday before knocking off No. 9 West Seattle on Saturday to advance to the Tacoma Dome. Forward Omarion Boston is the engine for the Abes on both ends. LaVhanta Sandling-Green leads a group of talented guards.
TNT CHAMPIONSHIP PICK
No. 1 Auburn 64, No. 4 O’Dea 61
This story was originally published February 27, 2024 at 5:00 AM with the headline "WA high school boys basketball: 3A state tournament bracket breakdown."
