Road to regionals: Washington high school (WIAA) 2A boys basketball preview, game picks

Three-time defending state champion Lynden has a dangerous opponent coming to visit for regionals - 2A GSHL runner-up Mark Morris

Despite a late-season loss, Brant Heppner and Lynden were awarded the top seed in the WIAA Class 2A championships. / Photo by Todd Milles

Only one more game separates WIAA state-championship hopefuls from the destination spot for Class 2A basketball: Yakima SunDome.

Starting Friday, 16 teams play in the regional round of the WIAA playoffs - with 12 schools advancing to the state tournament in Yakima.

Here is the Class 2A regional boys basketball primer:

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CLASS 2A SCHEDULE (Bracket)

PROTECTED

1-seed Lynden (23-1) vs. 8-seed Mark Morris (20-4), 6 p.m. Saturday, Mount Vernon HS

2-seed R.A. Long (22-1) vs. 7-seed Foster (18-7), 6 p.m. Saturday, Mark Morris HS, Longview

3-seed Bremerton (18-5) vs. 6-seed Lakewood (18-6), 6 p.m. Saturday, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma

4-seed West Valley of Spokane (20-3) vs. 5-seed Selah (19-4), 6 p.m. Saturday, West Valley HS, Spokane

LOSER-OUT

9-seed Sequim (18-4) vs. No. 16-seed Lindbergh (15-10), 6 p.m. Friday, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma

10-seed Prosser (19-7) vs. No. 15-seed Ridgefield (15-8), 6 p.m. Saturday, Richland HS

11-seed Columbia River (18-5) vs. No. 14-seed Renton (7-18), 4 p.m. Saturday, Mark Morris HS, Longview

12-seed Franklin Pierce (19-4) vs. No. 13-seed Bainbridge (18-5), 8 p.m. Friday, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma

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TOP DOG

Only one school - Northwest Christian of Colbert - has won four consecutive championships at anly level (2B, 2006-09). Lynden has a chance to match that feat next week, and with senior Brant Heppner and coach Brian Roper leading the way, it would be unwise to bet against the Lions.

CAN FILL IT UP

Because he is generally efficient and team-first, when Bremerton sophomore Jalen Davis gets 30 points, it usually comes quickly and in low-key fashion. When he chooses to go one-on-one against a defender, he is virtually unguardable.

CAN'T-MISS MATCHUP

2A GSL champion West Valley of Spokane just ended Grandview's season last weekend in a district crossover game. Now, the Eagles get to host another state contender from the CWAC - high-powered Selah, led by brothers Jackson and Oliver Pepper.

GAME PICKS

Lynden over Mark Morris

R.A. Long over Foster

Bremerton over Lakewood

Selah over West Valley of Spokane

Sequim over Lindbergh

Prosser over Ridgefield

Columbia River over Renton

Franklin Pierce over Bainbridge

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Playoff Pick 'Em

High School on Si 2025 Playoff Pick 'Em Challenge / Graphic illustration by Jesus Baca

Playoff Pick 'Em is a brand-new bracket prediction challenge for high school sports, where users compete to pick the most accurate bracket. The contest is free-to-play and is available nationwide for most sports on High School On SI. Enter today and pick your favorite teams to take home the title!

High School On SI is celebrating the WIAA Hardwood Classic and the road to the Tacoma Dome with a $500 prize to the winners of the 4A Boys and 4A Girls brackets in the Playoff Pick 'Em Challenge. Enter for free today!

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SBLIVE FINAL WASHINGTON BOYS BASKETBALL RANKINGS

CLASS 4A RANKINGS

1. Richland (23-1)

2. Glacier Peak (21-2)

3. Auburn (23-2)

4. Gonzaga Prep (22-2)

5. Mount Si (19-7)

6. Camas (18-4)

7. West Valley of Yakima (17-5)

8. Puyallup (20-6)

9. Davis of Yakima (20-3)

10. Kentwood (19-6)

Others: Olympia (21-5), Arlington (19-7), Lake Washington (20-7), Emerald Ridge (19-7).

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CLASS 3A RANKINGS

1. Rainier Beach (24-2)

2. Bellevue (21-5)

3. Garfield (18-7)

4. Lincoln of Tacoma (25-3)

5. Edmonds-Woodway (23-2)

6. Seattle Prep (17-10)

7. Mount Spokane (17-7)

8. Monroe (21-3)

9. Shorecrest (21-3)

10. Auburn Mountainview (22-2)

Others: Federal Way (19-4), Eastside Catholic (13-14), Liberty of Issaquah (16-8). Bellarmine Prep (22-7).

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CLASS 2A RANKINGS

1. Lynden (23-1)

2. R.A. Long (22-1)

3. Selah (19-4)

4. Bremerton (18-5)

5. Prosser (19-7)

6. Mark Morris (20-4)

7. West Valley of Spokane (20-3)

8. Lakewood (18-6)

9. Columbia River (18-5)

10. Franklin Pierce (19-4)

Others: Bainbridge (18-5), Sequim (18-4), Ridgefield (15-8), Foster (18-7)

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CLASS 1A RANKINGS

1. Annie Wright (19-2)

2. Lynden Christian (21-2)

3. Royal (23-1)

4. Zillah (19-4)

5. King's (18-4)

6. Seton Catholic (18-5)

7. Riverside (16-5)

8. Meridian (17-7)

9. Bear Creek (18-5)

10. Chelan (21-5)

Others: Bellevue Christian (18-5), Cashmere (18-8), Fort Vancouver (17-6), Wapato (15-10).

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CLASS 2B RANKINGS

1. Columbia of Burbank (23-1)

2. Freeman (20-3)

3. Reardan (21-2)

4. Colfax (20-3)

5. Lake Roosevelt (21-4)

6. Northwest Christian of Colbert (18-7)

7. Toledo (22-3)

8. Tri-Cities Prep (20-5)

9. Napavine (21-3)

10. Okanogan (19-6)

Others: Adna (19-5), La Salle (18-7), Liberty Bell (15-10), Rainier (15-10).

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CLASS 1B RANKINGS

1. Almira-Coulee-Hartline (22-1)

2. DeSales (22-1)

3. Moses Lake Christian (19-2)

4. Lummi (22-3)

5. Willapa Valley (21-2)

6. Tulalip Heritage (20-3)

7. Neah Bay (18-4)

8. Wellpinit (18-6)

9. Summit Classical (21-6)

10. Columbia Adventist (18-4)

Others: Muckleshoot Tribal (18-5), Inchelium (17-4), Sound Christian Academy (19-6), Sunnyside Christian (18-8).

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