Washington high school (WIAA) 4A/3A boys basketball tournament: Semifinal recaps, highlights, top performers

Four final-four games on the east court going on all day at the Tacoma Dome. High School On SI Washington will keep you updated

Cameron Hiatt and Edmonds-Woodway meet Mount Spokane in the Class 3A boys semifinals Friday. / Photo by Todd Milles

TACOMA, Wash. - The bright lights of the Tacoma Dome are on - and let's get ready for Day 3 of the WIAA Class 4A and 3A boys basketball championships.

High School On SI Washington will provide game recaps, video highlight and top performers throughout Friday in semifinal round games.

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CLASS 4A (Bracket)

Gonzaga Prep came back to defeat Glacier Peak to punch ticket to Class 4A boys championship game for first time since 2019. / Photo by Todd Milles

Gonzaga Prep 62, Glacier Peak 50 (OT): Even as his team trailed by 13 points in the first half, Gonzaga Prep coach Matty McIntyre stood with his arms crossed, almost unbothered.

His players did not flinch, either, as they went to work in eating into the deficit.

And when Ryan Carney drove the lane and made a bucket to start overtime, the Bullpups grabbed the game and never let go. The scored on all seven possessions in the extra period to turn away the Grizzlies.

"We've been in these types of games before," McIntyre said. "Maybe they are comfortable."

And you?

I'm miserable," McIntyre said in an animated manner. "I am in absolute agony."

After Carney opened overtime by giving the Bullpups a 49-47 lead, on the team's next trip, he buried a 3-pointer.

Meanwhile, Josiah Lee - who led Glacier Peak with 18 points - misfired on all five field goals in overtime.

Gonzaga Prep went 8-for-8 fron the free-throw line in the final 1:44 to put the game away, and punch their finals' ticket for the first time since 2019 when they were back-to-back state champions.

"We've got tough-minded kids," McIntyre said.

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Puyallup and Lawson Looker, left, advanced past West Valley of Yakima to reach first WIAA championship game since 1971. / Photo by Steve Faber

Puyallup 53, West Valley of Yakima 46: Drew Jones was masterful, carrying the Vikings' scoring load with a game-high 24 points - 11 coming in a crucial stretch of the third quarter, and eighth-seeded Puyallup squeezed by the No. 6 seed Rams n the WIAA semifinals Friday in the Tacoma Dome.

With the victory, Puyallup is in the state championship game for the first time since 1971.

"(Jones) is driving the car," Puyallup boys coach Kevin Olson said.

Puyallup was facing a very dangerous scoring team in the Rams, led by the Birley brothers and big man Parker Mills, who led the team Friday with 14 points.

After a quiet first half, Jones got cooking - scoring from all angles as all 11 of his third-quarter points came in the final six minutes.

West Valley closed it to 43-40 in Mills' three-point play with 4:41 remaining, but Jones found Mason Sonntag for a give-and-go dunk as the Vikings score on six of their final possessions of the game to sew up a finals' spot.

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Championship game

1-seed Gonzaga Prep (25-2) vs. vs. 8-seed Puyallup (23-7), 9 p.m.

Saturday schedule

Fourth/Sixth at 8 a.m. Third/Fifth at 11:15 a.m. Championship Saturday is at 9 p.m.

TOP PERFORMERS

Lance Horntvedt, Richland

29 points, 12-17 FGs, 11 rebounds

Landen Northrop, Richland

27 points, 10-17 FGs, 8 reboundsd

Drew Jones, Puyallup

24 points, 10-16 FGs, 7 rebounds

Ethan Harris, Camas

23 points, 9-18 FGs, 6 rebounds

Reed Nagel, Glacier Peak

18 points, 7-13 FG, 6 rebounds

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CLASS 3A (Bracket)

Cameron Hiatt has led Edmonds-Woodway to the Class 3A boys championship game with wins over Lincoln and Mount Spokane. / Photo by Todd Milles

Edmonds-Woodway 41, Mount Spokane 34: The difference in the game was simple. The Warriors had Cameron Hiatt and the Wildcats didn’t. The senior scored 26 points, including his own personal 9-1 run in the third quarter that gave his team the lead for good.

“It’s just a matter of making plays and sticking with it,” Hiatt said. “There is going to be times, and I think  the first half was a good example of that, when things aren’t really going your way. You’ve got stay mentally tough and you’ve got to stay mentally with it. We were able to do that.”

Hiatt also knocked down a three with 3:33 to play that gave the Warriors an eight-point lead, which proved too much for Mt. Spokane to overcome.

“It’s exciting,” Hiatt said. “You get in those types of moments, you dream about that stuff as a kid. I got to what I was trying to do and I made a read, and obviously it worked out.”

Edmonds-Woodway was able to get the win, despite scoring 10 fewer points that they did in any other game this season.

“(It) was a low-scoring game,” Hiatt said. “You’ve got to will those ones out. We did just that. We stayed mentally tough and ultimately, we got the W.”

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In the fourth meeting, Garfield gave Rainier Beach a tough test before falling in the Class 3A boys semifinals. / Photo by Todd Milles

Rainier Beach 59, Garfield 46: Yes, the Vikings enjoy a bag of riches when it comes to scoring talent, but in the rubber-meets-the-road, it is easy to know who they will call on.

Kaden Powers.

After the Bulldogs cut it to 45-44 with five minutres remaining, Rainier Beach went right to Powers near the lane. He responded with two quick buckets, including a 10-footer over Tripp Haywood for a 49-44 lead.

Powers finished with a game-high 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting.

"That is what Kaden is supposed to do," Rainier Beach boys coach Mike Bethea said.

Garfield never recovered, or responded well against the Vikings' defense, which held the Bulldogs to no field goals over the final 4:46, closing on a 14-3 run.

"Right now what is working for us is that damn zone," Bethea said. "And they are playing the hell out of it."

At one point in the first half, Garfield held a 10-point lead - but scored just four second-quarter points.

Jaylen Petty added 14 points for the Vikings, who finish the season 20-0 against Metro League teams. Haywood and JuJu Ervin had 14 points apiece as well for the Bulldogs.

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Championship game

5-seed Edmonds-Woodway (26-2) vs. 1-seed Rainier Beach (27-3), 5 p.m.

Saturday schedule

Fourth/Sixth at 9:30 a.m. Third/Fifth at 1 p.m. Championship Saturday is at 5 p.m.

TOP PERFORMERS

Beckham King, Seattle Prep

28 points, 10-12 FGs, 11 rebounds

Cam Hiatt, Edmonds-Woodway

28 points, 12-26 FGs, 9 rebounds

Kaden Powers, Rainer Beach

20 points, 8-13 FGs

Ben Heisel, Bellarmine Prep

19 points, 10 rebounds

Bryce Smith, Bellevue

18 points, 8 rebounds, 7 steals

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