Road to Spokane: WIAA Class 1B 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 1B boys basketball programs are set to face off in the Spokane Arena.

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

No. 11 Naselle vs. No. 3 Northwest Yeshiva, 9 a.m.

Winner gets No. 4 Willapa Valley Thursday at 9 a.m.

No. 10 Mount Vernon Christian vs. No. 7 Lummi Nation, 10:30 a.m.

Winner gets No. 1 Almira-Coulee-Hartline Thursday at 10:30 a.m.

No. 12 Crosspoint vs. No. 5 Sunnyside Christian, 12:15 p.m.

Winner gets No. 6 Moses Lake Christian Thursday at 12:15 p.m.

No. 9 Wellpinit vs. No. 8 DeSales, 2 p.m.

Winner gets No. 2 Cusick Thursday at 2 p.m.

Full bracket

COVERAGE REWIND

• Top stars, best performances in WIAA regional basketball playoff round

• SBLive’s final Washington high school boys basketball power rankings, by classification (Feb.21)

• Led by Colton Seymour, Cusick aiming for deep 1B state finish 41 years in the making: 'This year, it’s us'

7 PLAYERS TO WATCH

G Pierre Boorman, Moses Lake Christian Academy, sr.

F Thunderr Doty, Crosspoint, sr.

F Reece Isaak, Almira-Coulee-Hartline, sr.

F Tryan Lane, Lummi, sr.

G Jack Lesko, DeSales, sr.

G Colton Seymour, Cusick, sr.

G Cole Wagenaar, Sunnyside Christian, jr.

THE FAVORITE

Remember the senior-laden Almira-Coulee-Hartline football team that won a 1B title — convincingly? That same cast of characters — led by Reece Isaak and Grady Murray — is big, physical and on pace to do it again on the hardwood. 

THE FIELD

Let Cusick senior Colton Seymour find his flow offensively at your own peril. The five-year starter leads a team determined to reach its first final in 41 years. But any title run will have to go through either dangerous, Pierre Boorman-led no. 6 Moses Lake Christian Academy, 1B juggernaut Sunnyside Christian (the No. 5 seed), or a senior-laden No. 12 Crosspoint. ... No. 4 Willapa Valley conquered district 4 and a strong Sunnyside Christian to earn first round bye. But can it get past ACH?

FINAL FOUR PREDICTIONS

Willapa Valley, Almira-Coulee-Hartline, Sunnyside Christian, Cusick

CHAMPIONSHIP PICK

Almira-Coulee Hartline 64, Cusick 61

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.