3A boys basketball tournament bracket: Top players, previews, predictions
The Class 3A boys state basketball tournament begins Wednesday at the Tacoma Dome, where 15 games will be played in four days to decide this season’s champion. Here’s what to watch for in the 2026 bracket, which features 12 high school programs from around the state.
STATE REGIONALS RESULTS
Winner-to-quarterfinals, loser-to-first-round games
No. 1 Rainier Beach 90, No. 8 Bellevue 69
No. 7 Lincoln 71, No. 2 O’Dea 58
No. 3 Mount Spokane 59, No. 6 Prairie 53
No. 5 Bellarmine Prep 60, No. 4 Eastside Catholic 59
Winner-to-first-round, loser-out games
No. 9 Auburn Mountainview 72, No. 17 Mountain View 69
No. 10 Shorewood 51, No. 18 Monroe 48
No. 11 Edmonds-Woodway 73, No. 14 Enumclaw 59
No. 12 Liberty 63, No. 13 Central Valley 51
TACOMA DOME SCHEDULE
Wednesday’s first round and Thursday’s quarterfinals
No. 6 Prairie vs. No. 11 Edmonds-Woodway, 9 a.m. Wednesday
Winner faces No. 5 Bellarmine Prep, 9 a.m. Thursday
No. 2 O’Dea vs. No. 10 Shorewood, 10:30 a.m. Wednesday
Winner faces No. 1 Rainier Beach, 10:30 a.m. Thursday
No. 4 Eastside Catholic vs. No. 12 Liberty, 12:15 p.m. Wednesday
Winner faces No. 3 Mount Spokane, 12:15 p.m. Thursday
No. 8 Bellevue vs. No. 9 Auburn Mountainview, 2 p.m. Wednesday
Winner faces No. 7 Lincoln, 2 p.m. Thursday
Friday’s semifinals
3:45 and 5:30 p.m.
Saturday’s championship and placing games
4th/6th place at 8 a.m.
3rd/5th place at 11:15 a.m.
Championship at 7 p.m.
15 PLAYERS TO WATCH
F Yabi Aklog, Eastside Catholic, sr.
F Josiah Bowman, O’Dea, sr.
G JJ Crawford, Rainier Beach, fr.
F Jaden Ghoreishi, Mount Spokane, sr.
F Ben Heisel, Bellarmine Prep, sr.
F Justus Holt, Lincoln, soph.
G Tyler Marlow, Shorewood, soph.
C Carson Morningstar, Prairie, sr.
G Kolven Posey, Auburn Mountainview, sr.
G Davion Shareef-Dulaney, Lincoln, soph.
G Jackson Skaggs, Bellevue, sr.
F Tyran Stokes, Rainier Beach, sr.
G Brian Webster, O’Dea, sr.
G Jackson Whitaker, Liberty, sr.
G Ronnie Wiggins, Bellarmine Prep, jr.
TEAM PREVIEWS
No. 1 Rainier Beach (26-1) — How’d Mike Bethea’s team respond after winning last year’s Class 3A state title and losing TNT state player of the year Jaylen Petty, who’s now starting for ranked Texas Tech in the Big 12? How ‘bout bringing in the No. 1 recruit in the nation from California in Tyran Stokes? The electric 6-foot-7 forward, along with freshman JJ Crawford — the son of former NBA player Jamal Crawford — has Beach as the heavy favorite to win another one in Tacoma.
No. 2 O’Dea (19-8) — We’d imagine Jason Kerr’s group won’t need any motivation after looking lost in a loss to Tacoma’s Lincoln High in the regional round. Guard Brian Webster (19.2 points per game, 5.4 reb) can score at all three levels and forward Josiah Bowman averages 11.7 rebounds and 6.5 rebounds.
No. 3 Mount Spokane (18-6) — The biggest reason for optimism is the return of last year’s Greater Spokane League MVP Jaden Ghoreishi, who missed most of the regular season with a blood clot illness, according to The Spokesman Review. He was averaging 19 points per game before his exit, and the Wildcats are a different team when he’s on the floor. Forward Tysen Lewis (11 ppg, 6 reb) is another player to watch.
No. 4 Eastside Catholic (19-10) — 6-foot-10 forward Yabi Aklog is a matchup issue for most defenses, averaging a 18.9 point, 11 rebound double-double this season. 6-foot-5 Tytan McNeal, a star tight end recruit in football, averages 17 points and eight rebounds. Guard Steven Sun also averages 17 points.
No. 5 Bellarmine Prep (22-3) — Lions earned a bye after beating No. 4 Eastside Catholic in the regional round. Bellarmine is without sharpshooting guard Kade Price, who suffered a knee injury in the 3A PSL tournament. The defensive-minded Lions don’t plan to roll over because of Price’s absence, though. Guard Ronnie Wiggins can hit shots, and brothers Ben and Luke Heisel aren’t afraid to do the dirty work in the paint.
No. 6 Prairie (18-5) — Two-time Greater St. Helens League MVP Carson Morningstar, a 6-foot-8 center, is the player to watch. He recently became the school’s career leading scorer and averages 24 points and 13 rebounds. Guards Ben Nkansah and Malachi Patton can hit shots when defenses collapse on Morningstar.
No. 7 Lincoln (18-6) — After a convincing upset win over No. 2 O’Dea, Ryan Rogers’ group comes into the Dome feeling like it can win it all in its home city. And why not? Sophomore guard Davion Shareef-Dulaney — who is already one of the state’s top players — already passed 1,000 points in under two seasons. And if sophomore forward Justus Holt’s 23-point outburst against O’Dea is the start of something special, look out.
No. 8 Bellevue (21-8) — The Wolverines certainly didn’t shy away from anyone this winter, playing one of the state’s toughest schedules. Does that preparation translate into calmness and poise in Tacoma? Senior guard Jackson Skaggs is the top scorer (18.4 ppg), while Tayten Jones (16 ppg) and Nick Norrah (11.8) are both in double figures.
No. 9 Auburn Mountainview (20-5) — After a lopsided loss to Lincoln in the district championship game, the Lions bounced back with a win over Mountain View in the regional round to punch their ticket to the Dome. Senior guard Kolven Posey is the player to watch — a smooth, effortless-looking scorer who can fill up the stat sheet in a hurry.
No. 10 Shorewood (19-7) — A sneaky dangerous team heavy on upperclassmen. Sophomore Tyler Marlow (13.8 ppg, 5.8 reb) and senior Jaden Marlow (11.8 ppg, 5.8 reb) are the team’s top scorers. Defensively, the Stormrays are holding opponents to 52 points per game.
No. 11 Edmonds-Woodway (23-2) — No Cam Hiatt (now playing for Dartmouth) this year for the Warriors, but the winning ways have continued. Senior guard DJ Karl (15.4 ppg, 4.4 reb) has been a factor, while Grant Williams (12.1 ppg) and Will Alseth (11.1 ppg, 6.5 reb) also average double digits.
No. 12 Liberty (22-6) — The Patriots will go as far as senior guard Jackson Whitaker can will them. The 6-foot-3 Seattle Pacific commit is the school’s all-time leading scorer, averaging 25.3 points per game with six rebounds and four assists. He scored 43 points in a winner-to-state game against Seattle Prep. Senior guard Mason Chin (14 ppg, 8 reb) and Tyson Burley (14 ppg, 4 ast) are also capable scorers.
TNT CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTION
No. 1 Rainier Beach 76, No. 7 Lincoln 66
