Day 1 at the Dome: 3A Preview and Players to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The regional round is over and the field has been cut down to 12 teams. For day one at the T-Dome we have eight teams vying for the chance to move on to the next round and get one step closer to the ultimate prize. Here's a quick rundown of the eight teams playing it out on Wednesday and who my picks are to advance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3>3:45 PM - 14 North Thurston (18-8) vs 6 Mountlake Terrace (18-6)</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>How did we get here?</em> </strong>North Thurston comes off a dominating regionals win over West Seattle, while Mountlake Terrace took Eastside Catholic down to the wire losing by two. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Players to watch</strong></em> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>North Thurston </em>- [player_tooltip player_id='1463068' first='Ray' last='Adams'], [player_tooltip player_id='1560532' first='Thad' last='Tenkley'], <strong>Ahren Bee-Richards</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='1580060' first='Jackson' last='Lusk']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Mountlake Terrace </em>- [player_tooltip player_id='1450563' first='Jaxon' last='Dubiel'], [player_tooltip player_id='1450489' first='Zaveon' last='Jones'], <strong>Chris Meegan</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='1485655' first='Svayjeet' last='Singh'], [player_tooltip player_id='1588000' first='Rayshaun' last='Connor'], <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1977206' first='Logan' last='Tews']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Prediction</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The North Thurston Rams have made a huge improvement from a year ago and [player_tooltip player_id='1463068' first='Ray' last='Adams'] has been an excellent source of playmaking inside but the Mountlake Terrace Hawks were the 3A District 1 champions and play a grueling style of ball that places an emphasis on defense. While I like North Thurston's playmaking forwards, I see Mountlake Terrace stealing this one with their up-and-down style of play, but mainly behind the interior physicality of [player_tooltip player_id='1450489' first='Zaveon' last='Jones'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1485655' first='Svayjeet' last='Singh'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mountlake Terrace 50 North Thurston 42</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3>5:30 PM - 10 Bellevue (22-4) vs 7 Timberline (18-6)</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>How did we get here?</strong></em> Bellevue looks to keep it rolling after a big win over Auburn Mountainview, but Timberline will have something to say about that and look to regroup after falling to Garfield in a seeding round blowout.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Players to watch</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Bellevue </em>- [player_tooltip player_id='1617873' first='Brady' last='Kageyama'], [player_tooltip player_id='923133' first='Alex' last='Yu'], [player_tooltip player_id='1615160' first='Kenyan' last='Jackman-Thomas'], [player_tooltip player_id='1485587' first='Bryce' last='Smith'], <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1837709' first='Hogan' last='Hansen']</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='923110' first='Andrew' last='Gooding'], <strong>Nic Norrah</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Timberline </em>- [player_tooltip player_id='1270609' first='Brooklyn' last='Hicks'], [player_tooltip player_id='1463069' first='Darrell' last='Gipson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1821326' first='Alex' last='Trichenor'], [player_tooltip player_id='1485586' first='Kenyon' last='Simmons']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Prediction</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While it is pretty evident [player_tooltip player_id='1270609' first='Brooklyn' last='Hicks'] will put up big numbers regardless of the final outcome, this one should come down to how Timberline plays on the defensive end. Bellevue has a deep team and a well-rounded attack with guards, wings, and forwards who can attack you from all over the court. Timberline has been a team that can get out and run but I am going with the Wolverines in this one as I think they take care of the ball and control the pace.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bellevue 67 Timberline 61</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3>7:15 PM - 12 Arlington (19-5) vs 4 Auburn (18-6)</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>How did we get here?</strong></em> The upstart Eagles have a tough test facing the defending champion Auburn Trojans. The Trojans were narrowly defeated by O'Dea last round, while Arlington took control against Walla Walla en route to a comfortable win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Players to watch</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Arlington </em>- [player_tooltip player_id='1451025' first='Leyton' last='Martin'], [player_tooltip player_id='1440561' first='David' last='Zachman'], <strong>Jake Willis</strong>, <strong>Ty Rusko</strong>, <strong>Silas Miller</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Auburn </em>- [player_tooltip player_id='1086779' first='Semaj' last='Brown'], [player_tooltip player_id='1451033' first='Jaylen' last='Petty'], [player_tooltip player_id='1416286' first='Tyrell' last='Nichols'], [player_tooltip player_id='1450496' first='Luvens' last='Valcin']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Prediction</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's been an eye-opening season for everyone following Arlington. They have one of the top young point guards in the state in [player_tooltip player_id='1451025' first='Leyton' last='Martin'], and have already surpassed last season's finish. Now they get their biggest test yet, matching up with the defending champion Trojans and another highly touted sophomore guard in 3A NPSL MVP [player_tooltip player_id='1451033' first='Jaylen' last='Petty']. This game should be physical and full of defense but I believe Auburn has the depth to stifle Arlington's attack and force tough shots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Auburn 70 Arlington 55</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3>9:00 PM - 16 Shorecrest (18-6) vs 8 Rainier Beach (14-8)</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>How did we get here?</strong></em> In the biggest round one upset, Shorecrest outlasted Gig Harbor and now get to face the Vikings of Rainier Beach who took the top-seeded Mt. Spokane Wildcats down to the wire before falling by three.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Players to watch</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Shorecrest </em>- [player_tooltip player_id='1416316' first='Parker' last='Baumann'], [player_tooltip player_id='1560528' first='Keaine' last='Silimon'], [player_tooltip player_id='1450955' first='Anthony' last='Najera'], [player_tooltip player_id='1696694' first='Disma' last='Kagarabi'], <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1863198' first='Brayden' last='Fischer']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Rainier Beach </em>- [player_tooltip player_id='1685490' first='Patrice' last='Mpouli'], [player_tooltip player_id='923111' first='Miles' last='Gurske'], [player_tooltip player_id='1112472' first='Ryan' last='Mpouli'], [player_tooltip player_id='1821231' first='Victor' last='Raymond'], <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1850299' first='Kaden' last='Powers']</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='1612215' first='Darius' last='Wilcher']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Prediction</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This could be the closest 3A game on day one at the Tacoma Dome. There are good matchups across the board in this one with two fairly deep teams who are familiar with grinding out games. It could come down to which crunch-time players can come through late in the game, [player_tooltip player_id='1416316' first='Parker' last='Baumann'] most likely getting the clutch shots for Shorecrest, and [player_tooltip player_id='923111' first='Miles' last='Gurske'] probably handling the late-game offense for Beach. This should be a tight one but I think Rainier Beach has just a few more playmakers who can swing an extra possession or two their way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rainier Beach 59 Shorecrest 54</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->