Breaking down Washington's state basketball tournaments

The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association's new state basketball format moves from opening rounds at regional sites to the quarterfinals in the more traditional state venues. The Class 4A and 3A (boys and girls) tournaments getting going again Thursday through Saturday at the Tacoma Dome. The Class 2A and 1A tourneys are at the Yakima SunDome and the Class 2B and 1B tournaments are at the Spokane Arena.

MaxPreps Washington boys basketball playoff brackets
MaxPreps Washington girls basketball playoff brackets

Here's the skinny for all six tournaments:

CLASS 4A: CAN WROTEN, KINGMA OR BELL WIN TITLES?
The Class 4A boys tournament features three stars looking to end their careers with state titles.

Washington-bound Tony Wroten Jr. leads Garfield (Seattle) (22-3) into state, and the Bulldogs have been the state's top-ranked team all season. Wroten led the Bulldogs to the state title game as a sophomore but the Bulldogs couldn't beat powerful Federal Way. He missed last season with a knee injury suffered in football.
 
Oregon signee Brett Kingma, who averaged 30 points per game, led Jackson (Mill Creek) (23-2) to the state title game last year, but Kentwood claimed the title. Future Gonzaga player Gary Bell leads Kentridge (Kent) (20-7) into to the tourney. Also, look out for Curtis (University Place) (21-5), which is led by Washington State recruit DaVonte Lacy, and Gonzaga Prep (Spokane) (20-3), which has won 11 straight.

For the girls, top-ranked Chiawana (Pasco) (22-3) is the favorite with No. 3 Bellarmine Prep (Tacoma) (21-5) and No. 4 Federal Way (24-2) the top challengers. Also, don't sleep on Lewis & Clark (Spokane) (17-6), which upset Chiawana in the first round. LC won three straight titles from 2006-8

CLASS 3A: WILL METRO RETURN TO THE TOP?
The Class 3A boys tournament is usually the Metro League Invitational as a team from the Seattle league wins nearly every year. Union (Vancouver), which didn't make the final eight, stopped that run last year. The Metro won the previous eight 3A titles.

Three Metro League teams are in the field with top-ranked O'Dea (Seattle) (23-3) the favorite. No. 5 Seattle Prep (Seattle) (22-5) and Chief Sealth (Seattle) (21-8) are also in contention.

In the girls tourney, top-ranked Holy Names Academy (Seattle) (26-0) is the team to watch. Holy Names was upset in the title game last year by Cleveland in an all-Metro League final.

CLASS 2A: CAN BURLINGTON-EDISON FINALLY WIN?
The Burlington-Edison Tigers (21-3) have finished second the last three years.

The last two years, they lost to the Squalicum Storm in the title game. The No. 3 Tigers beat Squalicum (16-8) of Bellingham in the Northwest District title game. Squalicum (Bellingham) made it to state by beating top-ranked Clover Park (Lakewood) (24-3), which rebounded to make it to the final eight. Throw in No. 2 Grandview (23-2) and it's a crowded race.

For the girls, top-ranked Prosser (23-1) and No. 2 River Ridge (Lacey) (21-3), which has won three of the last four titles, are the favorites. River Ridge beat Prosser for the title last year.

CLASS 1A: CAN CASCADE CHRISTIAN WIN ANOTHER?
Top-ranked Cascade Christian (Puyallup) (22-2) won the state title last year. It also won the football title in the fall and is the favorite to win another title on Saturday.

For the girls, top-ranked Freeman (Rockford) (24-1) is the defending state champ. No. 2 La Salle (Union Gap) brings an undefeated record (24-0) into the quarters.

CLASS 2B: NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN IS READY FOR ANOTHER
No. 3 Northwest Christian (Colbert) (22-1) saw its streak of state titles end last year at four. They figure to be in the run for another state title as does top-ranked Colfax (22-3).

For the girls, co-No. 1s Darrington (22-2) and Reardan (22-3) are the favorites. Two-time champ Colfax was knocked off in the first round.

CLASS 1B: CAN SUNNYSIDE DO IT AGAIN?
No. 2 Sunnyside Christian (Sunnyside) (22-2) has won three of the last four small-school titles, and it figures to be in the mix as well as No. 1 Almira-Coulee-Hartline (Hartline) (24-1).

Top-ranked and two-time defending state champ Colton (22-2) is the favorite for the girls race, but watch out for Almira-Coulee-Hartline (22-2), which upset Colton at regionals.