Runnin' through WIAA Class 2B boys basketball regionals: Top-seeded Davenport seeking first state championship

With the 16-team field set for the regional round of the 2022-23 WIAA Class 2B boys basketball tournament, here is SBLive WA’s weekend overview of the matchups, players to watch – and game score predictions:

CLASS 2B BOYS REGIONALS

TOP BILLING

Sure looks like top-seeded Davenport, Morton-White Pass (No. 2), Lake Roosevelt (No. 3) and Columbia (Burbank) at No. 4 are all headed on a crash course toward each other by the end of all of this, but which one will leave Spokane with the gold ball?

BEST BET TO SCORE 30

Davenport senior guard Tennessee Rainwater is as sure a bet as any to put up huge numbers on any given night. Wouldn't be surprising at all to see him do so as the stage gets bigger and bigger.

RIDE THIS DARKHORSE

Tenth-seeded Chief Leschi might not play in the toughest league in the state and the Warriors might not be the tallest team around, but they can certainly score in bunches to keep a game interesting.

PROTECTED-GAME PREVIEW CAPSULES

No. 1 Davenport (23-2) vs. No. 8 Adna (18-7)

6 p.m. Friday, Cheney High School

Skinny: Except for a couple minor hiccups, Davenport has enjoyed an incredibly dominant season up to this point with senior guard Tennessee Rainwater leading the way for the Gorillas. Expect him to have a big tournament.

Pick: Davenport, 74-58

---

No. 2 Morton-White Pass (20-3) vs. No. 7 Northwest Christian (Colbert) (20-4)

Noon Saturday, W.F. West High School

Skinny: When teams key in on Morton-White Pass' Josh Salguero, everyone else on the Timberwolves roster gets to reap the benefits, making MWP a tough matchup across the board for Northwest Christian this weekend.

Pick: Morton-White Pass, 67-57

---

No. 3 Lake Roosevelt (20-3) vs. No. 6 Napavine (21-4)

4 p.m. Saturday, Wenatchee High School

Skinny: With a win over Morton-White Pass earlier this season, Napavine has shown it can pull off an upset and hang with anyone, but Lake Roosevelt has been about as consistent as a coach could hope for this season.

Pick: Lake Roosevelt, 64-60

---

No. 4 Columbia (Burbank) (22-1) vs. No. 5 Brewster (18-5)

8 p.m. Friday, Richland High School

Skinny: The regular-season matchup between the two was a blowout win for the District 5 champion Coyotes, but the Bears are no strangers to the state playoffs and high-stake games, so they should put up a better fight this time around.

Pick: Columbia (Burbank), 71-63

---

WINNER-TO-STATE-GAME PREVIEW CAPSULES

No. 9 Lind-Ritzville-Sprague-Washtucna-Harrington (18-7) vs. No. 16 Dayton-Waitsburg (13-7)

Noon Saturday, Cheney High School

Skinny: Senior forward Chase Galbreath can do just about everything the Broncos need of him as the first team all-leaguer has multiple double-doubles to his name this year, making it hard to imagine them not moving on to Spokane.

Pick: Lind-Ritzville-Sprague-Washtucna-Harrington, 62-50

---

No. 10 Chief Leschi (20-4) vs. No. 15 La Conner (11-12)

Noon Saturday, Auburn High School

Skinny: Warriors were winners of eight straight until district play matched them up with Morton-White Pass and Napavine, and what they lack in height they make up for with a handful of efficient scorers.

Pick: Chief Leschi, 66-57

---

No. 11 Wahkiakum (17-7) vs. No. 14 Cle Elum-Roslyn (20-4)

6 p.m. Friday, W.F. West High School

Skinny: Zakk Carlson and Brodie Avalon have proven themselves to be quite the duo for Wahkiakum this season and will more than likely be the difference-makers in this matchup with Cle Elum-Roslyn.

Pick: Wahkiakum, 58-47

---

No. 12 Tri-Cities Prep (16-7) vs. No. 13 Auburn Adventist (18-4)

8 p.m. Saturday, Richland High School

Skinny: Three of the Jaguars' losses have been to Columbia and all but one of the Falcons' losses have been by less than 10 points, giving this matchup a coin-flip type of feel.

Pick: Auburn Adventist, 49-45