Washington (WIAA) 2A high school boys basketball state tournament: 2024 predictions, top players

New year, but same tournament favorite - two-time defending state champion and No. 1 seed Lynden

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.

Lynden returns as the defending state champion, but a host of contending hopefuls are waiting for their shot.

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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Photo by Sean Carter

CLASS 2A TOURNAMENT (Bracket)

(Wednesday first-round games in Yakima)

G1: No. 11 Bremerton (18-6) vs. No. 6 Mark Morris (19-6), 3:45 p.m. (Winner plays No. 4 Renton at 3:45 p.m. Thursday)

G2: No. 10 Sammamish (18-8) vs. No. 7 Rogers of Spokane (16-6), 5:30 p.m. (Winner plays No. 1 Lynden at 5:30 p.m. Thursday)

G3: No. 12 Columbia River (18-7) vs. No. 5 Anacortes (20-6), 7:15 p.m. (Winner plays No. 3 North Kitsap at 7:15 p.m. Thursday)

G4: No. 9 Pullman (17-6) vs. No. 8 Prosser (16-8), 9 p.m. (Winner plays No. 2 Grandview at 9 p.m. Thursday)

Semifinals Friday: 7:15 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Championship game Saturday: 3 p.m.

FAVORITE: Lynden

You betting against this we-know-how-to-win-it group? The Lions have won the past two WIAA championships - and return the tournament most valuable player from both title runs in G Anthony Canales.

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Photo by Todd Milles

FAB FIVE

G Anthony Canales, Lynden, sr. (23.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.9 steals)

C Cameron Draculan, Grandview, jr. (22.7 ppg)

G Davis Fogle, Anacortes, jr. (32.5 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 4.5 apg, 3.0 steals)

G Braydon Olson, Mark Morris, sr. (27.1 ppg, 4.2 apg, 2.9 steals)

G Cade Orness, North Kitsap, sr. (22.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 6.0 apg, 3.5 steals)

PLAYER TO WATCH: Davis Fogle, Anacortes

Fogle can do things as a 6-foot-6 point guard than others just cannot do. The springy, long-strider can put up a 50-point outing, or register a triple-double - all playing within a structured offense designed to keep the ball in his hands.

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PREDICTIONS

First-round picks:

Mark Morris over Bremerton

Rogers of Spokane over Sammamish

Anacortes over Columbia River

Pullman over Prosser

Quarterfinal picks:

Mark Morris over Renton

Lynden over Rogers of Spokane

North Kitsap over Anacortes

Grandview over Pullman

Semifinal picks:

Lynden over Mark Morris

North Kitsap over Grandview

Championship pick:

North Kitsap 67, Lynden 65

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