Washington high school (WIAA) 1A boys basketball regionals 2024: Undefeated top seed Zillah pursues perfection
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 1A BOYS REGIONAL (Bracket)
Photo by Sean Carter
TOP BILLING
Unbeaten Zillah, which has victories over the 2A No. 1 and 2 seeds, gets a slight nod over two-time defending champion and second-seeded Lynden Christian and No. 3 Annie Wright, which hasn’t lost to an in-state opponent.
BEST BET TO SCORE 30
SCAC West player of the year Dekker Van de Graaf averaged 23.1 points a contest for the top-seeded Leopards hitting to 30-point mark five times – including 33 against Seton Catholic in a late-December game in the SunDome.
RIDE THIS DARKHORSE
No. 9 King’s will try to advance to the title game the last three tournaments and two of those journeys started in a loser-out on Wednesday of the state tournament, where th.ey’ll begin again with a regional victory
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Photo by Vince Miller
PROTECTED-GAME PREVIEW CAPSULES (Bracket)
No. 1 Zillah (23-0) vs. No. 8 Tenino (16-6)
8 p.m. Friday, Davis High School
Skinny: The Leopards will try to erase the regional hiccup of a year – at Davis High School, no less – to keep their perfect season intact headed to the Yakima Valley SunDome.
Pick: Zillah, 78-62.
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No. 2 Lynden Christian (21-2) vs. No. 7 Seton Catholic (21-2)
6 p.m. Saturday, Mount Vernon High School
Skinny: The two-time defending champions have reigning tournament MVP Jeremiah Wright and high-scoring guards Dawson Bouma and Gannon Dykstra leading them into this year’s tournament.
Pick: Lynden Christian, 73-61.
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No. 3 Annie Wright (21-2) vs. No. 6 Royal (20-6)
4 p.m. Saturday, Tacoma Community College
Skinny: The Gators are deep in the backcourt and at wing as their pursuit of a first state trophy with the a Knights squad led by a good chunk of Royal’s juggernaut football team.
Pick: Annie Wright, 69-61.
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No. 4 Freeman (20-2) vs. No. 5 Seattle Academy (15-6)
2 p.m. Saturday, West Valley (Spokane) High School
Skinny: The Scotties haven’t lost in more than two months, and will try to fend off the Cardinals, whose last loss was Dec. 18 to 2A contender North Kitsap.
Pick: Seattle Academy, 59-55.
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Photo by Vince Miller
WINNER-TO-STATE-GAME PREVIEW CAPSULES
No. 9 King’s (15-8) vs. No. 16 Lakeside of Nine Mile Falls (11-13)
4 p.m. Saturday, Shorewood High School
Skinny: The Knights have been the runners-up in the past three tournaments, and open with an Eagles squad that stunned top-10 Omak to qualify.
Pick: King’s, 65-52.
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No. 10 Meridian (13-11) vs. No. 15 Life Christian (13-10)
8 p.m. Friday, Mount Vernon High School
Skinny: The Trojans took their lumps in the Northwest Conference, but persevered to advance while the Eagles also faced a tough schedule
Pick: Meridian, 59-53.
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No. 11 Riverside (17-6) vs. No. 14 Bellevue Christian (14-9)
6 p.m. Saturday, West Valley (Spokane) High School
Skinny: The Rams stunned top-10 Quincy for a regional berth to face a well-tested Vikings team that gave Annie Wright its toughest in-state battle.
Pick: Bellevue Christian, 52-49.
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No. 12 Montesano (19-6) vs. No. 13 Sultan (15-6)
4 p.m. Saturday, Tumwater High School
Skinny: The Turks haven’t had tournament win since a 2B victory in 1961, but must beat the Bulldogs, who won nine of their last 10.
Pick: Sultan, 54-47
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