State slates set for 7 local squads

YAKIMA, Wash. — State basketball action picks up in earnest on Wednesday, with Davis heading off to the Class 4A tournament at the Tacoma Dome, the La Salle girls and White Swan boys taking the court at the Spokane Arena for the 2B tourney and four SCAC West teams — two in the boys tourney and two in the girls — joining the Class 1A party at the Yakima SunDome.

The Davis boys (20-7) are making their first trip to the Class 4A state tournament since 2004, and they’ll open play in the Tacoma Dome at noon Wednesday against Decatur (17-9). Decatur is a tournament regular that has earned its fourth consecutive tournament berth, but after starting the season 5-0, the Gators have gone 12-9 since, including losing three of their last six games.

The Davis-Decatur winner will advance to a quarterfinal meeting against the winner of an opening-round matchup between No. 7 Jackson and No. 9 Skyline.

Fans of local 1A teams won’t have to wait long, with the undefeated Granger boys (22-0), ranked second behind only Chelan in the final Associated Press poll, opening at 9 a.m. against Lakeside (11-13), with the winner facing a likely quarterfinal date with No. 6 King’s (19-6).

Mabton (15-8), SCAC district runnerup to the Spartans, will face perennial power Bellevue Christian (17-6) at 7:30 p.m., just before the game that will be — at least for the bulk of the state’s prep basketball fans — Wednesday’s most awaited first-round matchup.

The 9 a.m. boys game pits No. 1 Chelan (23-1) against defending champion Vashon (20-3), the only other team to hold the top ranking all season long. The Pirates fell from the top spot after losing in Nisqually League play to Cascade Christian, and then lost to the Cougars again in Tri-District play.

On the girls side, SCAC district champion Granger (21-1) drew a 12:30 p.m. first-rounder Vashon Island (18-7), a team the fourth-ranked Spartans beat 48-28 at the SunDome on Dec. 18. Zillah (15-8), which has come on strong in the latter half of the season, will play at 7:30 p.m. against one of the favorites, No. 3 Freeman (22-1).

In Class 2B at the Spokane Arena, the top-ranked La Salle girls (20-2) will open at 2 p.m. against Evergreen Lutheran, while the White Swan boys (18-4) get the early wakeup call for the 9 a.m. game against Soap Lake.

4A Boys
At Tacoma Dome
Auburn vs. Gonzaga Prep, 9 a.m.
Stanwood vs. Federal Way, 10:30 a.m.
Davis vs. Decatur, noon
Jackson vs. Skyline, 2 p.m.
Walla Walla vs. Lincoln, 3:30 p.m.
Wilson vs. Lake Washington, 5 p.m.
Eastlake vs. Lake Stevens, 7 p.m.
Kentwood vs. Mead, 8:30 p.m.

4A Girls
At Tacoma Dome
Rogers (Puyallup) vs. Lake Stevens, 9 a.m.
Lewis & Clark vs. Issaquah, 10:30 a.m.
Edmonds-Woodway vs. Auburn Riverside, noon
Federal Way vs. Chiawana, 2 p.m.
Newport vs. Kentwood, 3:30 p.m.
Puyallup vs. Mead, 5 p.m.
Marysville-Pilchuck vs. Garfield, 7 p.m.
Moses Lake vs. Bellarmine Prep, 8:30 p.m.

1A Boys
At Yakima Valley SunDome
Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) vs. Granger, 9 a.m.
King’s vs. Toledo, 10:30 a.m.
Nooksack Valley vs. Freeman, 12:30 p.m.
Ilwaco vs. Meridian, 2 p.m.
Lake Roosevelt vs. Cascade Christian, 4 p.m.
Burbank vs. Onalaska, 5:30 p.m.
Mabton vs. Bellevue Christian, 7:30 p.m.
Vashon Island vs. Chelan, 9 p.m.

1A Girls
At Yakima Valley SunDome
Cedar Park Christian vs. Okanogan, 9 a.m.
Connell vs. Seattle Christian, 10:30 a.m.
Vashon Island vs. Granger, 12:30 p.m.
Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) VS. Toledo, 2 p.m.
Chelan vs. Bellevue Christian, 4 p.m.
Lynden Christian vs. Rainier, 5:30 p.m.
Zillah vs. Freeman, 7:30 p.m.
Onalaska vs. Nooksack Valley, 9 p.m.

2B Boys
At Spokane Arena
Soap Lake vs. White Swan, 9 a.m.
Pe Ell vs. Bear Creek, 10:30 a.m.
Waitsburg-Prescott vs. Napavine, 12:30 p.m.
Life Christian vs. Davenport, 2 p.m.
LaConner vs. Toutle Lake, 4 p.m.
Asotin vs. Entiat, 5:30 p.m.
Willapa Valley vs. Chief Leschi, 7:30 p.m.
Colfax vs. Liberty Christian, 9 p.m.

2B Girls
At Spokane Arena
Napavine vs. Darrington, 9 a.m.
Reardan vs. Entiat, 10:30 a.m.
Liberty Chr. vs. NW Christian (Lacey), 12:30 p.m.
Evergreen Lutheran vs. La Salle, 2 p.m.
Orcas Island vs. Wahkiakum, 4 p.m.
DeSales vs. Colfax, 5:30 p.m.
Toutle Lake vs. Tacoma Baptist, 7:30 p.m.
Liberty Bell vs. Asotin, 9 p.m.