Washington high school (WIAA) 2B boys basketball regionals 2024: Which of three unbeatens can complete title push?
With the 16-team field set for regional round of the 2023-24 WIAA Class 2B boys basketball tournament, here is SBLive WA’s weekend overview of the matchups, players to watch – and game score predictions:
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CLASS 2B BOYS REGIONALS (Bracket)
Photo by Tommy Wolf/LitMediaProductions
TOP BILLING
Top-seeded Columbia of Burbank is one of three unbeatens in the classification – the five other classes have just one between them – and gets the slightest edge after taking third a year ago keyed by junior 1,000-point scorers Tristan Frimodt and Quincy Scott.
BEST BET TO SCORE 30
Napavine’s James Grose eclipsed the 2,000-point mark this season for the second-seeded Tigers. What’s another 30?
RIDE THIS DARKHORSE
No. 10 Adna has senior standout Braeden Salme back after he missed a couple months because of an injury and the Pirates have been hitting their stride since.
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Photo courtesy Napavine athletics
PROTECTED-GAME PREVIEW CAPSULES
No. 1 Columbia of Burbank (23-0) vs. No. 8 Chief Leschi (19-6)
4 p.m. Saturday, Kamiakin High School
Skinny: The Coyotes haven’t had a game decided by less than a dozen points this season, but the Warriors won 13 of their last 15 and could give the Coyotes a fight.
Pick: Columbia of Burbank 72-60.
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No. 2 Napavine (22-0) vs. No. 7 St. George’s (19-6)
Noon Saturday, W.F. West High School
Skinny: The Tigers topped the RPI rankings but weren’t give the top seeding, making this a potential game for the Central 2B champs.
Pick: Napavine 68-47.
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No. 3 Colfax (25-0) vs. No. 6 Toutle Lake (20-5)
6 p.m. Friday, West Valley (Spokane) High School
Skinny: Three of the Ducks’ losses were to Napavine in league and district play, so they could give the Bulldogs headaches, but Colfax’s standout duo of Jayce Kelly and Seth Lustig get them to the quarterfinals.
Pick: Colfax 59-55
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No. 4 Lake Roosevelt (22-1) vs. No. 5 Tri-Cities Prep (18-3)
2 p.m. Saturday, Wenatchee High School
Skinny: The Raiders and Jaguars would be unbeaten … if not for Columbia which accounts for all four losses in this matchup. The Raiders sneak by and into the quarters.
Pick: Lake Roosevelt 63-60
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Photo courtesy Adna athletics
WINNER-TO-STATE-GAME PREVIEW CAPSULES
No. 9 Northwest Christian of Colbert (16-9) vs. No. 16 White Swan (11-13)
2 p.m. Saturday, Cheney High School
Skinny: The Crusaders were 6-6 in early January before they started playing to the early expectations, and they put and end to the Cougars’ surprising postseason run.
Pick: Northwest Christian 71-53
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No. 10 Adna (18-7) vs. No. 15 La Conner (16-7)
6 p.m. Saturday, W.F. West High School
Skinny: The Pirates have the Salme brothers back together to lead the push for another trip to the Spokane Arena.
Pick: Adna 68-61
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No. 11 Coupevlle (17-5) vs. No. 14 Tonasket (14-10)
4 p.m. Saturday, Arlington High School
Skinny: The Tigers recovered from a seven-game midseason losing streak to make it to the regional, and now face and 250-mile trip to face the Wolves, who have won four straight.
Pick: Tonasket 61-57
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No. 12 Wahkiakum (18-6) vs. No. 13 Liberty of Spangle (14-11)
10 a.m. Saturday, W.F. West High School
Skinny: The Mules finished second in the rugged Central 2B and are battled-tested, while the Lancers closed by winning seven of their last eight games.
Pick: Wahkiakum 66-58
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(Featured photo and Columbia Burbank photos by Tommy Wolf)
