Washington (WIAA) 4A high school boys basketball state tournament: 2024 predictions, top players

Top-seeded Mount Si arrives in Tacoma with 24-0 record against in-state competition this winter

After four grueling days of basketball at the Tacoma Dome this week, somebody will be dancing with the big WIAA gold ball Saturday night.

Top-seeded Mount Si enters the week as the tournament favorite, but a host of contending hopefuls are also 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 Lane Mathews

CLASS 4A TOURNAMENT (Bracket)

Wednesday first-round games in Tacoma

G1: No. 11 Skyview (16-9) vs. No. 6 Federal Way (16-7), 3:45 p.m. (Winner plays No. 5 Davis (21-2) at 3:45 p.m. Thursday)

G2: No. 10 Jackson (17-9) vs. No. 2 Tahoma (19-6), 5:30 p.m. (Winner plays No. 1 Mount Si (24-2) at 5:30 p.m. Thursday)

G3: No. 13 Camas (17-10) vs. No. 4 Glacier Peak (22-3), 7:15 p.m. (Winner plays No. 3 Gonzaga Prep (20-5) at 7:15 p.m. Thursday)

G4: No. 9 Olympia (19-7) vs. No. 8 Kentwood (19-7), 9 p.m. (Winner plays No. 7 Richland (20-5) at 9 p.m. Thursday)

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

Championship game Saturday: 3 p.m.

FAVORITE: Mount Si

Wildcats, now 24-0 against in-state opponents and on an 18-game winning streak overall, are the clear favorites. 4A KingCo and District 1/2 champions looking to top the state bracket for the first time since 2020, following a fifth-place trophy in 2023 and runner-up finish in 2022.

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Davis' Cesar Hernandez shoots a free throw against Richland in Yakima on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023 / Photo by Brenda Hartline-Juarez

FAB FIVE

G Blake Forrest, Mount Si, sr. (13.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 6.4 apg, 1.9 steals)

G Trevor Hennig, Mount Si, sr. (23.1 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 5.2 apg, 1.7 steals)

G Cesar Hernandez, Davis, jr. (21.9 ppg, 4 rpg, 4.1 apg, 1.2 steals)

G Henry Sandberg, Gonzaga Prep, sr. (17 ppg)

G Josh Woodard, Richland, sr. (16.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 5 apg, 2.6 steals)

PLAYER TO WATCH: Trevor Hennig, Mount Si

The 6-foot-4 guard has been Wildcats’ top scorer each of the past two seasons. Weber State signee is averaging 23.1 points per game this winter and leads productive Mount Si backcourt.

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Photo by Todd Milles

PREDICTIONS

First-round picks:

Federal Way over Skyview

Tahoma over Jackson

Glacier Peak over Camas

Olympia over Kentwood

Quarterfinal picks:

Davis over Federal Way

Mount Si over Tahoma

Gonzaga Prep over Glacier Peak

Richland over Olympia

Semifinal picks:

Mount Si over Davis

Gonzaga Prep over Richland

Championship pick:

Mount Si 68, Gonzaga Prep 60

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