Road to Yakima: WIAA Class 2A 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 2A boys basketball programs are set to face off in the Yakima SunDome.
First round games begin Monday morning and run through championship games Saturday night. Here is SBLive’s tournament preview - with players to watch, team favorites, schedules and championship game predictions:
WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE
Tumwater's Connor Hopkins dribbles in transition in a Lower Columbia College's Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute game on Jan. 17 at Myklebust Gymnasium in Longview.
Photo by Joshua Hart
No. 14 Prosser vs. No. 6 White River, 3:45 p.m.
Winner plays No. 4 Pullman on Thursday at 3:45 p.m.
No. 10 Franklin Pierce vs. No. 7 Port Angeles, 5:30 p.m.
Winner plays No. 1 North Kitsap Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
No. 12 Grandview vs. No. 5 Tumwater, 7:15 p.m.
Winner plays No. 3 R.A. Long Thursday at 7:15 p.m.
No. 9 Lakewood vs. No. 8 Sehome, 9 p.m.
Winner plays No. 2 Lynden Thursday at 9 p.m.
State semifinals Friday: 7:15 p.m. and 9 p.m.
State championship Saturday: 3 p.m.
COVERAGE REWIND
7 PLAYERS TO WATCH
North Kitsap's Jonas La Tour had 21 points and 11 boards in the 2020 state championship, beating Clarkston for the school's first title.
Photo by Scott Butner
G Jaedyn Brown, Pullman, jr.
G/F Luke Brewer, Tumwater, jr.
F Rylan Donovan, White River, sr.
G Cavin Holden, R.A. Long, sr.
G Jonas La Tour, North Kitsap, sr.
G Jordan Medcalf, Lynden, sr.
F Aaron Ofstun, R.A. Long, sr.
THE FAVORITE
Two years ago, North Kitsap made a run to win its first state championship in school history. Seattle Pacific commit Jonas La Tour had 21 points and 11 boards in the final as a sophomore, and has only gotten better since. The Vikings don't have a traditional big, but boast long, dynamic guard who can all shoot, and score fast. After losing to Port Angeles late in the season, the Vikings rallied to win a district title. They're the wire-to-wire favorite — and are determined to defend their crown.
THE FIELD
After years of playing second-fiddle to crosstown foe Mark Morris, R.A. Long is back on top of Southwest Washington, having run through the 2A GSHL and beating Tumwater in the district title. But the Jacks don't exactly have a glide-path — they might have to face Luke Brewer and the T-Birds again in the semis ... No. 2 Lynden might also need to play a familiar foe to get to there in Sehome, making its first Dome trip in coach Skyler Gillespie's decade-long tenure ... the only 2A team to beat NK — Port Angeles — is also still alive, and can book a scary quarterfinal rematch with the Vikings with a Wednesday win over Franklin Pierce. ... No. 6 White River beat Port Angeles to reach its district title game, but lost to No. 3 R.A. Long in the regional round. The unpredictable team in the middle of it all? No. 4 Pullman, which nabbed District 8's lone bid.
FINAL FOUR TEAMS
White River, North Kitsap, R.A. Long, Lynden
CHAMPIONSHIP PICK
North Kitsap 78, R.A. Long 72
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.
