Road to Tacoma: WIAA Class 3A state boys basketball preview
The 2021-22 WIAA basketball season is down to its final week, and for the first time since the world shut down in March 2020, the 12 remaining Class 3A boys basketball programs are due to arrive soon in Tacoma.
Here is SBLive’s tournament preview - with players to watch, team favorites, schedules and championship game predictions:
COVERAGE REWIND
Get acquainted with the field through SBLive's coverage from throughout the 2021-22 season.
WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE
Timberline junior guard Brooklyn Hicks, 3A South Sound Conference MVP.
Photo by Andy Buhler
No. 14 Eastside Catholic (19-9) vs. No. 3 O’Dea (20-7), 9 a.m.
Winner plays No. 5 Seattle Prep (19-6) on Thursday at 9 a.m.
No. 15 Kennewick (20-6) vs. No. 2 Auburn (23-2), 10:30 a.m.
Winner plays No. 1 Garfield (22-0) on Thursday at 10:30 a.m.
No. 12 Ferris (17-5) vs. No. 4 Rainier Beach (18-4), 12:15 p.m.
Winner plays No. 6 Gig Harbor on Thursday at 12:15 p.m.
No. 9 Mountlake Terrace (18-2) vs. No. 8 Timberline (17-5), 2 p.m.
Winner plays No. 7 Mt. Spokane (21-5) on Thursday at 2 p.m.
State semifinals Friday: 3:45 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
State championship Saturday: 7 p.m.
7 PLAYERS TO WATCH
Auburn's Tre Blassingame, senior guard.
Photo by Vince Miller
G Tre Blassingame, Auburn, sr.
G Brooklyn Hicks, Timberline, jr.
G Koren Johnson, Garfield, sr.
F Will Landram, Gig Harbor, jr.
F Sherrell McCullum, Garfield, jr.
F Maverick Sanders, Mt. Spokane, sr.
G Braeden Smith, Seattle Prep, sr.
THE FAVORITE
Garfield players and head coach JayVon Nickens celebrate Hardwood Invite tournament win over Auburn in December.
Photo by Vince Miller
The preseason return of Koren Johnson, a Washington commit and first team all-state pick as a sophomore, immediately changed the outlook of the Bulldogs, the reigning 3A state champs and winners of 3 of the last 6.
Around Johnson is a group that came into the program the as freshmen the last time head coach JayVon Nickens was at the helm. The Bulldogs (22-0) are strong at every position, and have a daunting interior duo of 6-7 junior Jaylin Stewart and 6-6 bruiser Sherrell McCullum, an experienced backcourt that includes Metro League defensive POY Raphiel Justice and brings a versatile 6-6 wing in Kenzel Massey off the bench.
ABOUT THE FIELD
Mt. Spokane's Ryan Lafferty, sophomore point guard, was a second team all-Greater Spokane League selection.
Photo by Andy Buhler
The consensus two best teams could meet for a long-awaited rematch … in the quarterfinals. No. 2 Auburn’s regional round loss to No. 7 Mt. Spokane put the Trojans on the same side of the bracket — and made the bottom half of the bracket that much more compelling … Are the long, disciplined, defensively sound Wildcats, led by junior Maverick Sanders, on a glide path to its second title appearance in three years? … Gig Harbor is surging into the quarterfinals. The Tides have a dynamic one-two punch in 6-6 forward Will Landram (also the school’s quarterback) and 6-6 sharp-shooting junior Luke Browne, and backed up their 17-1 record by beating traditional power O’Dea in the regional round with Landram on the bench in sweats. … Led by Colgate commit Braeden Smith, and versatile forwards Christian King and Tyler Mrus — who led the Panthers to the quarterfinals two years ago — could five-seed Seattle Prep be the lone Metro League team to make it to Friday, or will historical powers O’Dea, Eastside Catholic or Rainier Beach make a run?
FINAL FOUR PREDICTION
Seattle Prep, Garfield, Gig Harbor, Mt. Spokane
CHAMPIONSHIP PICK
Garfield 82, Mt. Spokane 70
TICKET INFO
Four-day tournament pass is $50 for adults, $38 for students and senior citizens. Three-day tournament pass is $38/$30. Non-championship (Wed.-Fri.) single-day tickets are $15/$12. Championship (Sat.) single-day tickets are $16/$13.
