Road trip! State basketball previews for 2A, 1A, 2B, 1B tournaments in Yakima, Spokane
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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 Tacoma Dome hosts four state basketball tournaments this week — Class 4A boys and girls and Class 3A boys and girls — but the remainder of the South Sound’s high-school programs trek across the Cascades for state hoops in Yakima and Spokane.
Class 2A and 1A programs battle for a title inside the Yakima Valley SunDome, and the state’s 2B and 1B schools take to Spokane Arena to crown a champion. The Round of 12 begins Wednesday, trimming a field of dozen down to eight. Quarterfinals are held Thursday, semifinals are Friday, and state championships commence Saturday, along with placing games.
Here’s a deeper look at brackets, schedules, and local contenders in small school state tournaments:
CLASS 2A BOYS
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Wednesday’s first round and Thursday’s quarterfinals
No. 11 Bremerton vs. No. 6 Mark Morris, 3:45 p.m. Wednesday
Winner vs. No. 4 Renton, 3:45 p.m. Thursday
No. 10 Sammamish vs. No. 7 Rogers (Spokane), 5:30 p.m. Wednesday
Winner vs. No. 1 Lynden, 5:30 p.m. Thursday
No. 12 Columbia River vs. No. 5 Anacortes, 7:15 p.m. Wednesday
Winner vs. No. 3 North Kitsap, 7:15 p.m. Thursday
No. 9 Pullman vs. No. 8 Prosser, 9 p.m. Wednesday
Winner vs. No. 2 Grandview, 9 p.m. Thursday
Friday’s semifinals
7:15 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Saturday’s championship and placing games
4th/6th – 9:30 a.m.
3rd/5th – 1 p.m.
Championship – 3 p.m.
CLASS 2A GIRLS
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Wednesday’s first round and Thursday’s quarterfinals
No. 14 West Valley (Spokane) vs. No. 3 W.F. West, 9 a.m. Wednesday
Winner vs. No. 4 Prosser, 9 a.m. Thursday
No. 10 Sammamish vs. No. 7 White River, 10:30 a.m. Wednesday
Winner vs. No. 1 Ellensburg, 10:30 a.m. Thursday
No. 12 Enumclaw vs. No. 5 Clarkston, 12:15 p.m. Wednesday
Winner vs. No. 6 Archbishop Murphy, 12:15 p.m. Thursday
No. 9 Ridgefield vs. No. 8 Columbia River, 2 p.m. Wednesday
Winner vs. No. 2 Lynden, 2 p.m.
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 – 5 p.m.
SOUTH SOUND CONTENDERS
No. 3 W.F. West (21-4) – Untouchable in the 2A Evergreen (12-0), league-champion W.F. West suffered a surprising stumble in the regional round, a thrilling loss to No. 6 Archbishop Murphy, 58-55, that could have been tied with a last-second, game-tying three. Instead, the Bearcats are in Wednesday’s Round of 12. But it has the personnel to recover. Junior center Julia Dalan is the anchor, averaging a 24-point, 15-rebound double-double and five blocks per game, and Bearcats freshmen Dilyn Boeck (10 PPG) and Joy Cushman (8 PPG) help comprise a younger starting five. W.F. West meets No. 14 West Valley of Spokane in Wednesday’s Round of 12 at 9 a.m. in the Yakima Valley SunDome; a win would set up a quarterfinals rematch with No. 4 Prosser, which the latter won in last year’s “Elite Eight,” 58-33.
No. 7 White River (20-3) — The Hornets are making what feels like an annual trip to Yakima – contenders in every “Sweet 16” since 2008-09 – this time rostering freshman guard and leading-scorer Maggee Schmitz, who averages 13 points and four steals per game. White River fell to No. 2 Lynden in the opening round, but would clinch the program’s first quarterfinals appearance since 2019 with a win Wednesday. “It always starts with our defense,” White River coach Chris Gibson said. “We’ve got to rebound the basketball. And hopefully, our transition game is huge for us, too. We’ve just got to make some shots.” Senior forward Ava Bright delivers 10 points per game; senior guard Josie Jacobs adds nine.
No. 12 Enumclaw (16-8) – Backs against the wall in Saturday’s loser-out regional, Hornet defenders swarmed 25 turnovers and senior forward Bella Firnkoess dropped 17 points to push Enumclaw into the 2A Round of 12 for consecutive seasons. Firnkoess, both the team’s leading scorer and rebounder, averages 14 points and nine boards per game. Junior point guard Kalee Swanson tallies 12 points, four rebounds, and three assists; senior Natalie DeMarco adds seven points per night. The program closed the regular season on a five-game win streak, grabbed a fourth-place district placing, and meets No. 5 Clarkston next, at 12:15 p.m. Wednesday.
CLASS 1A BOYS
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Wednesday’s first round and Thursday’s quarterfinals
No. 11 Riverside vs. No. 6 Royal, 9 a.m. Wednesday
Winner vs. No. 5 Seattle Academy, 9 a.m. Thursday
No. 10 Meridian vs. No. 7 Seton Catholic, 10:30 a.m. Wednesday
Winner vs. No. 1 Zillah, 10:30 a.m. Thursday
No. 13 Sultan vs. No. 4 Freeman, 12:15 p.m. Wednesday
Winner vs. No. 3 Annie Wright, 12:15 p.m. Thursday
No. 9 King’s vs. No. 8 Tenino, 2 p.m. Wednesday
Winner vs. No. 2 Lynden Christian, 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.
SOUTH SOUND CONTENDERS
No. 3 Annie Wright (22-2) – No in-state program has toppled Annie Wright this season, and a 28-point blowout of No. 6 Royal last weekend propelled the Gators to a third-consecutive 1A quarterfinals appearance. Opponents struggle to keep up with its starting five in transition, all of which score in double-figures, on average, and an emphasis on team defense contributes to what head coach Dominique Williams believes is the best team he’s coached in his Annie Wright tenure. “We’re unselfish,” senior captain TJ Marshall said, who averages 14 points and two steals per game. “We’re all looking to get each other involved in every game. We’re fine with (having) a different leading scorer every game, because we know everyone’s going to be hot on different nights.” Junior forward Martin Kaupanger paces Annie Wright with 19 points and seven boards per game. Junior point guard Jeremiah Harshman adds 15 points and seven assists.
CLASS 1A GIRLS
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Wednesday’s first round and Thursday’s quarterfinals
No. 11 Montesano vs. No. 6 Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls), 3:45 p.m. Wednesday
Winner vs. No. 5 Wapato, 3:45 p.m. Thursday
No. 10 Seattle Academy vs. No. 7 Bellevue Christian, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday
Winner vs. No. 1 Nooksack Valley, 5:30 p.m. Thursday
No. 13 Eatonville vs. No. 4 King’s, 7:15 p.m. Wednesday
Winner vs. No. 3 Lynden Christian, 7:15 p.m. Thursday
No. 9 Cashmere vs. No. 8 Toppenish, 9 p.m. Wednesday
Winner vs. No. 2 Deer Park, 9 p.m. Thursday
Friday’s semifinals
7:15 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Saturday’s championship and placing games
4th/6th – 9:30 a.m.
3rd/5th – 1 p.m.
Championship – 9 p.m.
SOUTH SOUND CONTENDERS
No. 13 Eatonville (16-4) – Here come the Cruisers: Bailey Andersen’s 20 points in a loser-out regional gave Eatonville a narrow win over scrappy No. 12 Seton Catholic, 40-36, and booked the program a trip to Yakima. It’s the Andersen show in Eatonville, where the junior guard averages 22 points per game and recently scored her 1,000th career point for the Cruisers on Feb. 14. Junior center Lillian Bickford averages nine points per game; junior forward Hailey Hall adds eight.
CLASS 2B BOYS
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Wednesday’s first round and Thursday’s quarterfinals
No. 14 Tonasket vs. No. 6 Toutle Lake, 3:45 p.m. Wednesday
Winner vs. No. 4 Lake Roosevelt, 3:45 p.m. Thursday
No. 10 Adna vs. No. 7 Saint George’s, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday
Winner vs. No. 1 Columbia (Burbank), 5:30 p.m. Thursday
No. 12 Wahkiakum vs. No. 5 Tri-Cities Prep, 7:15 p.m. Wednesday
Winner vs. No. 3 Colfax, 7:15 p.m. Thursday
No. 9 Northwest Christian (Colbert) vs. No. 8 Chief Leschi, 9 p.m. Wednesday
Winner vs. No. 2 Napavine, 9 p.m. Thursday
Friday’s semifinals
7:15 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Saturday’s championship and placing games
4th/6th – 9:30 a.m.
3rd/5th – 1 p.m.
Championship – 3 p.m.
SOUTH SOUND CONTENDERS
No. 8 Chief Leschi (19-7) – Powered by its first-team backcourt, the Warriors are fully healthy heading into Spokane, now winners in 13 of their last 16 games. Senior guards Thomas Dillon (15 PPG, 7 RPG) and Mickey Lara (14 PPG, 2.5 SPG) are the engines, but junior forward Ajani Winzer averaged 18 points and eight rebounds in the district tournament upon return from a 16-game absence (broken wrist). Chief Leschi drew top-seed Columbia (Burbank) in the regional round but fell, 65-53, in a contest the Warriors felt they could have won. Head coach Scott Halasz says Chief Leschi is playing its best basketball of late: “We are riding the dark horse under-the-radar mentality, as teams don’t have much film on us at full strength.”
CLASS 2B GIRLS
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Wednesday’s first round and Thursday’s quarterfinals
No. 11 Cle Elum-Roslyn vs. No. 3 Okanogan, 9 a.m. Wednesday
Winner vs. No. 4 Colfax, 9 a.m. Thursday
No. 10 Davenport vs. No. 2 Warden, 10:30 a.m. Wednesday
Winner vs. No. 8 Mabton, 10:30 a.m. Thursday
No. 12 Toutle Lake vs. No. 5 Rainier, 12:15 p.m. Wednesday
Winner vs. No. 6 Adna, 12:15 p.m. Thursday
No. 9 Tonasket vs. No. 1 Napavine, 2 p.m. Wednesday
Winner vs. No. 7 Brewster, 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 – 5 p.m.
CLASS 1B BOYS
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Wednesday’s first round and Thursday’s quarterfinals
No. 11 Muckleshoot Tribal vs. No. 6 Cusick, 9 a.m. Wednesday
Winner vs. No. 4 DeSales, 9 a.m. Thursday
No. 15 Summit Classical Christian vs. No. 7 Mossyrock, 10:30 a.m. Wednesday
Winner vs. No. 1 Lummi Nation, 10:30 a.m. Thursday
No. 12 Oakesdale vs. No. 5 Neah Bay, 12:15 p.m. Wednesday
Winner vs. No. 3 Moses Lake Christian-Covenant Christian, 12:15 p.m. Thursday
No. 16 Columbia Adventist vs. No. 8 Naselle, 2 p.m. Wednesday
Winner vs. No. 2 Wellpinit, 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.
CLASS 1B GIRLS
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Wednesday’s first round and Thursday’s quarterfinals
No. 11 Lummi Nation vs. No. 6 Oakesdale, 3:45 p.m. Wednesday
Winner vs. No. 4 Crosspoint, 3:45 p.m. Thursday
No. 10 Mossyrock vs. No. 7 Wilbur-Creston-Keller, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday
Winner vs. No. 1 Neah Bay, 5:30 p.m. Thursday
No. 12 Garfield-Palouse vs. No. 5 Almira-Coulee-Hartline, 7:15 p.m. Wednesday
Winner vs. No. 3 Waterville-Mansfield, 7:15 p.m. Thursday
No. 9 Sunnyside Christian vs. No. 8 Curlew, 9 p.m. Wednesday
Winner vs. No. 2 Mount Vernon Christian, 9 p.m. Thursday
Friday’s semifinals
7:15 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Saturday’s championship and placing games
4th/6th – 9:30 a.m.
3rd/5th – 1 p.m.
Championship – 9 p.m.
This story was originally published February 27, 2024 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Road trip! State basketball previews for 2A, 1A, 2B, 1B tournaments in Yakima, Spokane."
