Top 25 Cross-Classification Matchups to Watch in 2022-23 (Pt II)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is the second part of the <em><a href="https://prephoops.com/2022/11/top-25-cross-classification-matchups-to-watch-in-2022-23-pt-i/">Top 25 Cross-Classification Matchups</a> </em>of the 2022-23 season. Let's jump right in.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Dec 10 Freeman @ Clarkston 6:00 PM</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Dec 13 R A Long @ Camas 7:00 PM</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Players to Watch: </em>[player_tooltip player_id='1270613' first='Cavin' last='Holden'] (R A Long), <strong>Jaxon Cook</strong> (R A Long), [player_tooltip player_id='1270731' first='Theo' last='McMillan'] (Camas), [player_tooltip player_id='1450989' first='Beckett' last='Currie'] (Camas), [player_tooltip player_id='1450988' first='Jace' last='Vanvoorhis'] (Camas)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This 2A/4A matchup should be a fairly even game with both teams relying on great guard play. R A Long finished fifth at the 2A State Tournament last season and has one of the top 2A players in [player_tooltip player_id='1270613' first='Cavin' last='Holden'], and Camas has an experienced guard in McMillian, but two 2025 guards in Currie and Vanvoorhis that will be names to follow for a while. This could be a high-scoring affair and we should see the threes rain down in Camas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Dec 21 O'Dea @ Curtis 7:00 PM</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Players to Watch: </em>[player_tooltip player_id='1450495' first='Miles' last='Goodman'] (O'Dea), [player_tooltip player_id='923132' first='Mason' last='Williams'] (O'Dea), [player_tooltip player_id='1439541' first='Miles' last='Clark'] (O'Dea), [player_tooltip player_id='1463067' first='Noel' last='Davis'] (O'Dea), [player_tooltip player_id='1086786' first='Amare' last='Jackson'] (O'Dea), [player_tooltip player_id='1450483' first='Zoom' last='Diallo'] (Curtis), [player_tooltip player_id='923122' first='Tyce' last='Paulsen'] (Curtis), [player_tooltip player_id='1416284' first='Cinque' last='Maxwell'] (Curtis), [player_tooltip player_id='1450566' first='Devin' last='Whitten'] (Curtis)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This should be one of the best games all season between two teams who have legitimate shots at the 3A and 4A titles. O'Dea clearly has the size advantage with Goodman at 6'10, and Miles and [player_tooltip player_id='1440564' first='Malcolm' last='Clark'] at 6'7. But the Vikings didn't just walk into the 4A Title last year. They are a tough team who can bottle up any team. Expect a packed house for this one at Curtis.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Dec 22 Lynden @ Gig Harbor 5:00 PM</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Players to Watch: </em>[player_tooltip player_id='1450490' first='Anthony' last='Canales'] (Lynden), [player_tooltip player_id='1417278' first='Coston' last='Parcher'] (Lynden), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1439242' first='Kobe' last='Baar'] </strong>(Lynden), <strong>Brant Heppner </strong>(Lynden), [player_tooltip player_id='923106' first='Luke' last='Browne'] (Gig Harbor), [player_tooltip player_id='1416283' first='Will' last='Landram'] (Gig Harbor), [player_tooltip player_id='1560533' first='Christian' last='Parrish'] (Gig Harbor), [player_tooltip player_id='1612262' first='Luke' last='Allison'] (Gig Harbor)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This 2A/3A matchup is one of the most interesting games of the year. Defending 2A champ Lynden goes into the Tides' house in a big crossover game. Gig Harbor returns almost all their key guys from a year ago, but the matchup I'm looking forward to seeing is [player_tooltip player_id='1450490' first='Anthony' last='Canales'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1416283' first='Will' last='Landram']; both are lengthy, versatile wings. This should be an awesome game nearing the halfway point in the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Dec 22 Shorecrest @ Kamiak 7:15 PM</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Dec 27 Mariner vs Mt Spokane (@ Central Valley HS) 5:00 PM</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Jan 3 Tumwater @ Timberline 7:00 PM</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Jan 5 Federal Way @ Auburn 7:00 PM</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Players to Watch: </em>[player_tooltip player_id='1450499' first='Kofi' last='Peyton'] (Federal Way), [player_tooltip player_id='923123' first='Dace' last='Pleasant'] (Federal Way), [player_tooltip player_id='1270612' first='Vaughn' last='Weems'] (Federal Way), [player_tooltip player_id='1270693' first='Dane' last='Lewis'] (Federal Way), [player_tooltip player_id='923104' first='Isaiah' last='Afework'] (Federal Way), [player_tooltip player_id='1270688' first='Dae'Sean' last='Johnson-Holiman'] (Federal Way), <strong>Doni Burkett</strong> (Federal Way), [player_tooltip player_id='1633559' first='Colton' last='West'] (Federal Way), [player_tooltip player_id='1086779' first='Semaj' last='Brown'] (Auburn), [player_tooltip player_id='1450496' first='Luvens' last='Valcin'] (Auburn), [player_tooltip player_id='1416286' first='Tyrell' last='Nichols'] (Auburn), [player_tooltip player_id='1560530' first='Jerry' last='Petty'] (Auburn)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These two squads are basically neighbors on the map; Federal Way on the west side, and Auburn next door to the east. The Eagles are geared up for a 4A title run while Auburn is coming down after winning the 3A title last season. Auburn has a lot of changes but is still one of the most talented 3A teams and this will be a tough game that could go either way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Jan 13 Mt Spokane @ Gonzaga Prep 7:00 PM</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Jan 19 Sehome @ Lynden Christian 7:15 PM</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Jan 21 Rainier Beach @ Olympia 7:00 PM</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Players to Watch: </em>[player_tooltip player_id='1112472' first='Ryan' last='Mpouli'] (Rainier Beach), [player_tooltip player_id='923111' first='Miles' last='Gurske'] (Rainier Beach), <strong>Mario Clark </strong>(Rainier Beach), [player_tooltip player_id='1451032' first='Jeremiah' last='White'] (Rainier Beach), <strong>Patrice Mpouli</strong> (Rainier Beach), <strong>Victor Raymond</strong> (Rainier Beach), [player_tooltip player_id='1217797' first='Parker' last='Gerrits'] (Olympia), [player_tooltip player_id='1270674' first='Andreas' last='Engholm'] (Olympia), <strong>Mason Juergens</strong> (Olympia), [player_tooltip player_id='1450937' first='Drew' last='Carlson'] (Olympia), [player_tooltip player_id='1485541' first='Matt' last='Lindblom'] (Olympia), <strong>Cree Barna</strong> (Olympia), [player_tooltip player_id='1450936' first='Wesley' last='Brewer'] (Olympia)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 3A Rainier Beach Vikings finished second at State last season, while the 4A Olympia Bears finished third. Granted, these teams had almost completely opposite summers. Rainier Beach has nearly an entirely new varsity team while Olympia returns all but three varsity players. Beach has some serious firepower, and as a new group, should have found their groove by this point in the season. This is one of the more intriguing late-season matchups in the entire state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4>Feb 4 Lynden Christian @ Lynden 7:15 PM</h4> <!-- /wp:heading -->