Washington (WIAA) 1A high school boys basketball state tournament: 2024 predictions, top players

After four grueling days of basketball at the Yakima Valley SunDome this week, somebody will be dancing with the big WIAA gold ball Saturday night.

Zillah shook off its regional struggles to stay unbeaten and is peaking heading into the Yakima Valley SunDome.

Here are SBLive WA's teams and players to watch, and round-by-round predictions - complete with a championship-game pick.

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CLASS 1A TOURNAMENT (Bracket)

(Wednesday first-round games in the Yakima Valley SunDome)

G1: No. 11 Riverside (18-6) vs. No. 6 Royal (20-7), 9 a.m. (Winner plays No. 5 Seattle Academy at 9 a.m. Thursday)

G2: No. 10 Meridian (14-11) vs. No. 7 Seton Catholic (21-3), 10:30 a.m. (Winner plays No. 1 Zillah at 10:30 a.m. Thursday)

G3: No. 13 Sultan (16-6) vs. No. 4 Freeman (20-3), 12:15 p.m. (Winner plays No. 3 Annie Wright at 12:15 p.m. Thursday)

G4: No. 9 King's (16-8) vs. No. 8 Tenino (16-7), 2 p.m. (Winner plays No. 2 Lynden Christian at 2 p.m. Thursday)

Semifinals Friday: 3:45 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Championship game Saturday: 7 p.m.

FAVORITE: Zillah

The Leopards own the only perfect record above 2B, and had a lopsided win in their regional, which has dogged them the last three tournaments. SCAC West player of the year Dekker Van de Graaf has five games of more than 30 points, while senior center Nic Navarre ( has become dominant, one mid-range jumper and rebound at a time.

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FAB FIVE

G Dawson Bouma, Lynden Christian, sr. (20.8 ppg, 1.8 spg, .467 3PT%)

G Jeremiah Harshman, Annie Wright, jr. (15.0 ppg, 6.7 apg)

F Nick Linhardt, King’s, sr. (19.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 2.1 apg)

C Nic Navarre, Zillah, sr. (17.7 ppg, 10.2 rpg)

G Dekker Van de Graaf, Zillah, soph. (22.9 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 4.1 apg)

PLAYER TO WATCH: Jeremiah Harshman, Annie Wright

The 6-foot-1 point guard quarterbacks an offense that is loaded with guards and wings, including Martin Kauapanger (18.9 ppg), Reggie Lester (14.4) and TJ Marshall (14.0), and hungry for its first state trophy.

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PREDICTIONS

First-round picks:

Royal over Riverside

Seton Catholic over Meridian

Freeman over Sultan

King’s over Tenino

Quarterfinal picks:

Seattle Academy over Royal

Zillah over Seton Catholic

Annie Wright over Freeman

Lynden Christian over King’s

Semifinal picks:

Zillah over Seattle Academy

Annie Wright over Lynden Christian

Championship pick:

Zillah 67, Annie Wright 62