Runnin' through WIAA Class 4A boys basketball regionals: Are Curtis and Mount Si due for a championship rematch?
With the 16-team field set for the regional round of the 2022-23 WIAA Class 4A boys basketball tournament, here is SBLive WA’s weekend overview of the matchups, players to watch – and game score predictions:
CLASS 4A BOYS REGIONALS
TOP BILLING
Easy to picture any one of these top four seeds right there at the end winning it all. Will it be Curtis again or is the gold ball trophy headed elsewhere?
BEST BET TO SCORE 30
Camas' Beckett Currie hit 12 3-pointers in a game earlier this season and while that might be hard to do again, Currie proved he can pile on points quickly.
RIDE THIS DARKHORSE
Plenty of things to like with how No. 13 Chiawana is playing as of late, especially factoring in most of its losses coming to state qualifiers.
PROTECTED-GAME PREVIEW CAPSULES
Photo by Vince Miller
No. 1 Curtis (24-3) vs. No. 8 Richland (21-3)
8 p.m. Friday, Tacoma Community College
Skinny: Defending state champions have won 12 consecutive games and their deep playoff experience could take them far once again, but the first step to that is a solid Richland squad.
Pick: Curtis, 73-63
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No. 2 Mount Si (23-2) vs. No. 7 Tahoma (19-5)
8 p.m. Friday, Lake Washington High School
Skinny: Mount Si seems to have everything falling into place at the right time with the shooters and skill to dictate the pace of any game, so will Tahoma be able to keep up?
Pick: Mount Si, 67-51
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No. 3 Olympia (22-5) vs. No. 6 Skyline (19-5)
8 p.m. Friday, Tumwater High School
Skinny: One of the more intriguing matchups this weekend, but Skyline will have its work cut out if the Spartans are still dealing with injury troubles.
Pick: Olympia, 57-52
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No. 4 Federal Way (22-2) vs. No. 5 Gonzaga Prep (21-3)
8 p.m. Friday, Auburn High School
Skinny: Federal Way handled Gonzaga Prep with ease in the regular-season matchup back in December and given that the Eagles could've easily been the top seed, hard to bet against them here.
Pick: Federal Way, 79-68
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WINNER-TO-STATE-GAME PREVIEW CAPSULES
Photo by Vince Miller
No. 9 Union (18-6) vs. No. 16 Sumner (13-14)
Noon Saturday, Battle Ground High School
Skinny: Union and Sumner meet with the Titans probably playing their best basketball (haven't lost since early January) while the Spartans did just enough to escape the district tournament.
Pick: Union, 76-58
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No. 10 Camas (17-7) vs. No. 15 West Valley-Yakima (14-8)
8 p.m. Friday, Battle Ground High School
Skinny: Papermakers were on a bit of a roll until two district losses last week, but sharpshooter Beckett Currie can turn things around in a big way with West Valley coming to town.
Pick: Camas, 68-60
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No. 11 Davis (16-5) vs. No. 14 Issaquah (15-10)
8 p.m. Friday, Davis High School
Skinny: Issaquah surprised everyone with its win over Skyline in districts. Do the Eagles have some more magic in them or will Davis put a stop to it and snatch the spot in the Tacoma Dome?
Pick: Davis, 63-49
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No. 12 Mariner (15-8) vs. No. 13 Chiawana (15-8)
4 p.m. Saturday, Arlington High School
Skinny: Mariner is riding the high of a one-point upset victory over Jackson to advance to this stage, but Riverhawks also built momentum with win over Richland in district semis.
Pick: Chiawana, 62-59
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