SBLive’s Washington boys basketball coaches polls: Garfield overtakes No. 1 spot in 3A after Hardwood Invite win
Schedules over the holiday break are usually designed for RPI-strengthening games, tests that league play can't replicate and, potentially, a trip for team bonding.
Some of that happened over the past two weeks, but many teams saw schedules mangled and trips canceled thanks to winter weather and a COVID-19 surge.
As school restarts and league play begins, SBLive's coaches poll returns for an update.
Coaches across the state cast votes again for an updated boys basketball coaches poll for 1A, 2A, 3A and 4A classifications. Each poll and is comprised of voting coaches from programs across the state in the corresponding classification. Points are awarded on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis. Number of first place votes are indicated in parentheses. The poll is organized by SBLive analyst Dan Dickau.
Here are the polls, which reflect opinions of coaches around the state as of Sunday, Jan. 2.
1A POLL
1. Lynden Christian 48 (3)
Record: 8-0
2. King’s 43 (2)
Record: 9-2
3. Zillah 40
Record: 7-0
4. Freeman 30
Record: 9-1
5. Seattle Academy 28
Record: 4-4
6. Life Christian Academy 26
Record: 5-1
7. Toppenish 22
Record: 7-1
T-8. Overlake 8
Record: 7-1
T-8. Quincy 8
Record: 9-2
10. Annie Wright 7
Record: 8-1
Others receiving votes: Northwest School, Chelan, Lakeside, Deer Park, Cedar Park Christian.
Voting 1A coaches: Rick Skeen (King’s), Tony Callero (Chelan), Chad Hand (Deer Park), Matt Leslie (Northwest School), Tyler Mendoza (Bear Creek).
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2A POLL
1. North Kitsap 57 (5)
Record: 6-2
2. R.A. Long 45 (1)
Record: 6-1
3. Lynden 41
Record: 5-1
4. Pullman 40
Record: 8-1
5. Sehome 26
Record: 6-1
6. Franklin-Pierce 23
Record: 4-0
7. West Valley (Spokane) 19
Record: 8-1
8. Tumwater 18
Record: 5-2
9. Mark Morris 16
Record: 6-3
10. Port Angeles 13
Record: 3-3
Others receiving votes: Clarkston, Ellensburg, White River, Highline, Grandview.
Voting 2A coaches: Jason Buffum (Ridgefield), Scott Orness (North Kitsap), Brandon Evenson (Ephrata), Jesse Buck (Woodland), Riley Bettinger (Archbishop Murphy), Jay Humphrey (West Valley of Spokane).
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3A POLL
1. Garfield 100 (10)
Record: 9-0
2. Auburn 89
Record: 9-1
3. O’Dea 71
Record: 6-1
4. Rainier Beach 65
Record: 7-0
5. West Seattle 52
Record: 6-0
6. Mt. Spokane 49
Record: 8-2
7. Gig Harbor 38
Record: 7-0
8. Seattle Prep 28
Record: 7-3
9. Bellevue 24
Record: 5-0
10. Ferris 11
Record: 5-2
Others receiving votes: University, Shorecrest, Timberline, Arlington, Lake Washington.
Voting 3A coaches: Garrick Phillips (University), Micheal Kelly (Seattle Prep), David Wagenblast (Mt. Spokane), Omar Parker (Liberty of Issaquah), Ryan Hansen (Auburn), Joe Hardy (Ingraham), Brett Henry (Evergreen of Vancouver), Nalin Sood (Mountlake Terrace), Brayden Leyde (Kennewick), Kelly Edwards (Bellevue).
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4A POLL
1. Mount Si 96 (7)
Record: 4-0
2. Union 79
Record: 5-1
3. Kamiakin 65 (2)
Record: 6-1
4. Curtis 62
Record: 6-2
5. Federal Way 48
Record: 2-2
6. Olympia 42 (1)
Record: 8-1
7. Woodinville 34
Record: 5-0
8. Camas 31
Record: 7-1
T-9. Tahoma 18
Record: 6-2
T-9. Jackson 18
Record: 6-1
Others receiving votes: Gonzaga Prep, Glacier Peak, Richland, Davis, Mariner, Skyline.
Voting 4A coaches: Blake Conley (Union), Mark Hein (Lake Stevens), Matty McIntyre (Gonzaga Prep), Tim Kelly (Curtis), Joe DeGrazia (Kamiak), Matt Gruhler (Skyview), Jason Griffith (Mount Si), Blake Solomon (Kentwood), Wayde Knowles (North Creek), Brian Meneely (Kamiakin).
Past coaches polls
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(Lead photo by Vince Miller)