Runnin’ through WIAA Class 2A boys basketball regionals: Can Pullman finish undefeated run to state title?
With the 16-team field set for regional round of the 2022-23 WIAA Class 2A boys basketball tournament, here is SBLive WA’s weekend overview of the matchups, players to watch – and game score predictions:
CLASS 2A BOYS REGIONALS
TOP BILLING
Pullman is the lone unbeaten boys team in the state, and the 2022 runner-up returns three starters led by high-scoring guard Jaedyn Brown. The Greyhounds’ championship pursuit likely will face at least one hurdle from the Northwest Conference and its three top-six seeded teams – Anacortes (2), Sehome (5) and defending champ Lynden (6).
BEST BET TO SCORE 30
The opener for the Greyhounds and the aforementioned Brown against R.A. Long looks ripe for a scoring outburst, whether it’s from the Pullman senior or Lumberjacks 12th-grader Calvin Holden, who has rewritten the school’s record book, including a 54-point effort against Ridgefield earlier this season.
RIDE THIS DARKHORSE
No. 10 Enumclaw, which is going for its first state trophy since a fourth-place finish in Class 4A in 2018, had won 16 straight games before being edged by Renton in a district championship matchup.
PROTECTED-GAME PREVIEW CAPSULES
Photo by Andy Buhler
No. 1 Pullman (23-0) vs. No. 8 R.A. Long (20-4)
2 p.m. Saturday, West Valley (Spokane) High School
Skinny: The Greyhounds, second last year, will face a stiff challenge, with three of the Lumberjacks’ losses coming to fourth-seeded Mark Morris (twice) and N. 7 Prosser by a total of 12 points. R.A. Long finished fourth in ’22.
Pick: Pullman, 77-68
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No. 2 Anacortes (21-2) vs. No. 7 Prosser (18-4)
2 p.m. Saturday, Arlington High School
Skinny: The Seahawks, who are in the state field for the first time since 2019, made it through the rugged Northwest Conference with just one hiccup. The Mustangs will provide a well-balanced test.
Pick: Anacortes 66-62
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No. 3 Renton (23-1) vs. No. 6 Lynden (20-4)
8 p.m. Friday, Auburn Mountainview High School
Skinny: The Lions spent much of the season at or near the top of the SBLive top 10 before they dropped three of their last eight games. Still, no team in 2A has had more postseason success in the last several years than Lynden.
Pick: Lynden 63-59
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No. 4 Mark Morris (22-2) vs. No. 5 Sehome (18-4)
4 p.m. Friday, W.F. West High School
Skinny: The Monarchs saw their 20-game winning streak in a district championship loss to R.A. Long, while Sehome was the district runner-up to Anacortes, but owns wins against defending 2A and 1A champs Lynden and Lynden Christian.
Pick: Sehome, 59-57
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WINNER-TO-STATE-GAME PREVIEW CAPSULES
Photo by Vince Miller
No. 9 West Valley (Spokane) (19-4) vs. No. 16 Clover Park (13-8)
8 p.m. Saturday, West Valley (Spokane) High School
Skinny: The Eagles suffered three losses to top-seeded Pullman while the Timberwolves bounced back from a three-game losing skid in late-January to earn the regional berth.
Pick: West Valley, 65-55
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No. 10 Enumclaw (20-3) vs. No. 15 Ridgefield (13-10)
4 p.m. Saturday, Auburn High School
Skinny: The Hornets rode a 16-game winning streak before Renton upended them in a district final. The Spudders will be looking for their first three-game winning streak of the season in Saturday’s matchup
Pick: Enumclaw, 64-58
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No. 11 Tumwater (18-5) vs. No. 14 Foss (19-6)
6 p.m. Saturday, Tumwater High School
Skinny: After dropping four games in late December to 4A and 3A state qualifiers, the T-birds – who were sixth at state last year – won 11 of their last 12. The Falcons return to state for the first time since 2018.
Pick: Tumwater, 62-58
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No. 12 Sammamish (16-8) vs. No. 13 North Kitsap (17-7)
4 p.m. Saturday, Bellevue College
Skinny: The Vikings, who were first in 2021 and third last year, dropped their last two games, including a loss to the Redhawks last weekend in the game for third and fourth place in the West Central/Sea-King Bi-District.
Pick: Sammamish, 67-60
