Washington high school (WIAA) 1B boys basketball regionals 2024: Lummi eyes first title in nearly a decade
With the 16-team field set for regional round of the 2023-24 WIAA Class 1B boys basketball tournament, here is SBLive WA’s weekend overview of the matchups, players to watch – and game score predictions:
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Photo by Grant Timentwa
TOP BILLING
Top-seeded Lummi is riding a 22-game winning streak as it chases its first championship since 2016, but defending champ and No. 2 Wellpinit won’t go quietly with a loaded roster of its own.
BEST BET TO SCORE 30
Lummi sophomore Jerome Toby is already a three-year starter and does it all for the Blackhawks, including fill It up, which he should get a few chances to do.
RIDE THIS DARKHORSE
Eleventh-seeded Muckleshoot Tribal is 4-3 against teams in the field, and were competitive in a couple of the losses. With multiple games against Tulalip Heritage, Sound Christian and Neah Bay, the Kings are well-tested.
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Photo by Tommy Wolf
PROTECTED-GAME PREVIEW CAPSULES (Bracket)
No. 1 Lummi Nation (22-1) vs. No. 8 Naselle (19-3)
Noon Saturday, Mount Vernon HS
Skinny: The top-seeded Blackhawks draws a tough opener, drawing the Columbia Valley regular-season champs and league MVP Jacob Lindstrom.
Pick: Lummi Nation, 67-59
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No. 2 Wellpinit (20-2) vs. No. 7 Mossyrock (16-6)
4 p.m. Saturday, Cheney HS
Skinny: Last year’s champ still has a powerful lineup with 6-foot shooter Jordan Montgomery and double-double machine Grant Denison, and will face the district champion Vikings and big scorer Zack Munoz.
Pick: Wellpinit, 76-63
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No. 3 Moses Lake Christian (20-1) vs. No. 6 Cusick (19-3)
8 p.m. Friday, Moses Lake HS
Skinny: Moses Lake Christian has ripped off 19 straight victories, but the 2022 champion Panthers – led by the coach’s son, Bode Seymour – could be ready to pull an upset.
Pick: Cusick. 54-51
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No. 4 DeSales (20-4) vs. No. 5 Neah Bay (17-4)
2 p.m. Saturday, Kamiakin HS
Skinny: In another doozy of an opener, the Irish has won 13 straight and 17 of 18 while Neah Bay was rolling before a tight loss to Lummi in the district final.
Pick: Neah Bay. 63-59
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Photo courtesy of Soap Lake athletics
WINNER-TO-STATE-GAME PREVIEW CAPSULES
No. 9 Tulalip Heritage (17-8) vs. No. 16 Columbia Adventist (16-8)
8 p.m. Saturday, Arlington High School
Skinny: The Hawks’ rugged schedule, which featured four matchups against Lummi and another two against Muckleshoot Tribal, shoo have them primed for their opener.
Pick: Tulalip Heritage, 67-52.
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No. 10 Soap Lake (18-6) vs. No. 15 Summit Classical (17-7)
6 p.m. Friday, Moses Lake High School
Skinny: Soap Lake’s schedule – three games against Moses Lake Christian with one decided by a bucket – could give the Eagles the edge against the Bellevue-based Archers.
Pick: Soap Lake, 65-60.
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No. 11 Muckleshoot Tribal (19-6) vs. No. 14 Wilbur-Creston-Keller (14-7)
2 p.m. Saturday, Auburn High School
Skinny: A 10-game winning streak pushed the Kings into the top 10 before they fell twice in district play. If they regain their form, they could make some noise.
Pick: Muckleshoot Tribal, 71-63.
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No. 12 Oakesdale (16-7) vs. No. 13 Sound Christian (17-7)
8 p.m. Friday, Central Valley High School
Skinny: The Nighthawks reside in the perennially tough Southeast 1B, from which traditional power Sunnyside Christian couldn’t advance, and should be tourney ready.
Pick: Oakesdale, 63-56.
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