1A Preview: Top 5 Non-League Games to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we prepare for the new hoops season to get underway I did a little digging to uncover the best non-league games to watch this year. This list excludes in-season tournaments, of which there will be plenty, and focuses on the best 1A non-league games. These games include some of the top players and top teams from this division, and you may only get one chance to see them compete against each other. Here are my top 5 non-league games in the 1A division this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Dec 2 King's vs Blaine (@ Nooksack HS) 5:40 PM</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Players to Watch: </em>[player_tooltip player_id='1354101' first='Cam' last='Hiatt'] (King's),<strong> Nick Linhardt</strong> (King's), [player_tooltip player_id='1450935' first='Dylan' last='Meyers'] (King's), [player_tooltip player_id='1580918' first='Matthew' last='Russ'] (Blaine), [player_tooltip player_id='1416315' first='Carson' last='Lehnert'] (Blaine), [player_tooltip player_id='1587990' first='Lucas' last='Smith'] (Blaine)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Notes: King's were runners-up in last year's 1A State Tournament. [player_tooltip player_id='1354101' first='Cam' last='Hiatt'] was one of the best freshmen in the state and takes the lead for the Knights this year. Blaine's seniors look to lead them deeper than their first-round exit at last year's tournament, and it starts with a great test against King's.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Dec 28 Quincy @ Freeman 6:30 PM</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Players to Watch: </em>[player_tooltip player_id='1612206' first='Aiden' last='Bews'] (Quincy), [player_tooltip player_id='1450943' first='Julian' last='Ibarra'] (Quincy), [player_tooltip player_id='1178379' first='Boen' last='Phelps'] (Freeman), [player_tooltip player_id='1485584' first='Colton' last='Wells'] (Freeman)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Notes: </em>These two teams actually met at the end of last season after both suffered losses in the second round of the State Playoffs. Freeman took the win by double digits, but both teams lost some key players between now and then. Quincy has two super-solid players leading their charge while Freeman depends on Phelps to light their fire. Young talent stepping up could be the difference in this one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Dec 29 Chelan @ Freeman 5:00 PM</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Players to Watch: </em>[player_tooltip player_id='1450963' first='Dylan' last='Jay'] (Chelan), [player_tooltip player_id='1270692' first='Braiden' last='Boyd'] (Chelan), <strong>Isaac Wilson</strong> (Chelan), [player_tooltip player_id='1178379' first='Boen' last='Phelps'] (Freeman), [player_tooltip player_id='1485584' first='Colton' last='Wells'] (Freeman)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Notes: </em>Freeman takes on two of the top teams from District 5 in back-to-back nights, ending with a Chelan team that knows how to put a lot of points on the board. [player_tooltip player_id='1450963' first='Dylan' last='Jay'] is a tall sharpshooter that fits the mold of Chelan's attack. Boyd was an all-league player last season and <strong>Isaac Wilson</strong> steps up to run point for the Goats. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Jan 14 Lynden Christian @ Seattle Academy 2:30 PM</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Players to Watch: </em>[player_tooltip player_id='1270689' first='Tyler' last='Sipma'] (Lynden Christian), [player_tooltip player_id='1457515' first='Jeremiah' last='Wright'] (Lynden Christian), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2158603' first='Kayden' last='Stuit'] </strong>(Lynden Christian), [player_tooltip player_id='1587972' first='Griffin' last='Dykstra'] (Lynden Christian), [player_tooltip player_id='923108' first='Carson' last='DeBruhl'] (Seattle Academy), [player_tooltip player_id='1450928' first='Chaney' last='Wampold'] (Seattle Academy), [player_tooltip player_id='923121' first='Finn' last='McSherry'] (Seattle Academy), [player_tooltip player_id='1450995' first='Jalani' last='Clemmons'] (Seattle Academy), [player_tooltip player_id='1587997' first='Miles' last='Struss'] (Seattle Academy)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Notes: </em>Lynden Christian is the defending 1A Champions and shows no reason why they can't repeat. Meanwhile, Seattle Academy is full of up-and-coming talent and has a good mix of experienced guards that could lead them to a strong season in 2022-23.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Jan 26 Zillah @ Chelan 7:15 PM</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Players to Watch: </em>[player_tooltip player_id='1270840' first='Luke' last='Navarre'] (Zillah), [player_tooltip player_id='1612212' first='Dominic' last='Navarre'] (Zillah), [player_tooltip player_id='1450963' first='Dylan' last='Jay'] (Chelan), [player_tooltip player_id='1270692' first='Braiden' last='Boyd'] (Chelan), <strong>Isaac Wilson</strong> (Chelan)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Notes: </em>Zillah will lean heavily on the Navarre brothers this season with Luke a returning all-league player and versatile scorer, and Dominic a budding player with big size and increasing skill. This will be another heavyweight matchup in the 1A late in the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->