Road to Spokane: WIAA Class 2B 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 2B 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
Photo by Andy Buhler
No. 11 Toutle Lake vs. No. 6 Napavine, 3:45 p.m.
Winner gets No. 4 Brewster Thursday at 3:45 p.m.
No. 10 Columbia (Burbank) vs. No. 7 Adna, 5:30 p.m.
Winner gets No. 1 Kalama Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
No. 13 Northwest Christian vs. Morton-White Pass, 7:15 p.m.
Winner gets No. 3 Colfax Thursday at 7:15 p.m.
No. 9 Lake Roosevelt vs. No. 8 Coupeville, 9 p.m.
Winner gets No. 2 Liberty (Spangle), 9 p.m.
COVERAGE REWIND
9 PLAYERS TO WATCH
Jackson Esary smiles after leading Kalama to a second straight district title.
Photo by Andy Buhler
G Jackson Esary, Kalama, sr.
G Tristan Frimodt, Columbia-Burbank, fr.
F Kelson Gebbers, Brewster, jr.
G John Lustig, Colfax, sr.
F Keith Olsen, Napavine, sr.
F Josh Salguero, Morton/White Pass, jr.
G Braeden Salme, Adna, soph.
G Quincy Scott, Columbia-Burbank, fr.
G Zach Swanson, Toutle Lake, soph.
G Tayshawn Colvin, Liberty of Spangle, sr.
THE FAVORITE
Photo by Andy Buhler
Kalama's lone loss of the season came in its opener, when its football players were recuperating from a state football championship. The Chinooks are on a different field of play, but have the same title aspirations — and same will to win. Don't bet against Jackson Esary, James Grose and co. with the game on the line.
THE FIELD
Consider it wide open. Will it be John Lustig-led Colfax? How about Tayshawn Colvin and offensively potent Liberty? Why not Division I prospect Kelson Gebbers and Brewster, who are riding high from a district title and first round bye? Can another Central 2B or Northeast 2B team emerge from the crowd – or a state newcomer, like hot-shooting Columbia-Burbank or one-loss Coupeville?
FINAL FOUR TEAMS
Napavine, Kalama, Colfax, Liberty (Spangle)
CHAMPIONSHIP PICK
Kalama 75, Liberty 69
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.
