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

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.

3:45 PM – 14 North Thurston (18-8) vs 6 Mountlake Terrace (18-6)

How did we get here? North Thurston comes off a dominating regionals win over West Seattle, while Mountlake Terrace took Eastside Catholic down to the wire losing by two.

Players to watch

North Thurston – Ray Adams Ray Adams 6'7" | SF North Thurston | 2024 State WA , Thad Tenkley Thad Tenkley 6'5" | SF North Thurston | 2023 State WA , Ahren Bee-Richards, Jackson Lusk Jackson Lusk 6'2" | SG North Thurston | 2023 WA

Mountlake Terrace – Jaxon Dubiel Jaxon Dubiel 6'3" | CG Mountlake Terrace | 2024 State WA , Zaveon Jones Zaveon Jones 6'2" | SF Mountlake Terrace | 2024 State WA , Chris Meegan, Svayjeet Singh Svayjeet Singh 6'3" | SF Mountlake Terrace | 2025 State WA , Rayshaun Connor Rayshaun Connor 5'8" Mountlaketerrace | 2025 WA , Logan Tews

Prediction

The North Thurston Rams have made a huge improvement from a year ago and Ray Adams Ray Adams 6'7" | SF North Thurston | 2024 State WA 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 Zaveon Jones Zaveon Jones 6'2" | SF Mountlake Terrace | 2024 State WA and Svayjeet Singh Svayjeet Singh 6'3" | SF Mountlake Terrace | 2025 State WA .

Mountlake Terrace 50 North Thurston 42

5:30 PM – 10 Bellevue (22-4) vs 7 Timberline (18-6)

How did we get here? 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.

Players to watch

Bellevue – Brady Kageyama Brady Kageyama 5'11" Bellevue Senior | 2023 WA , Alex Yu Alex Yu 6'3" | CG Bellevue | 2023 State WA , Kenyan Jackman-Thomas Kenyan Jackman-Thomas 6'5" | SF Bellevue | 2024 AZ , Bryce Smith Bryce Smith 6'1" | PG Bellevue | 2025 State WA , Hogan Hansen, Andrew Gooding Andrew Gooding 6'3" | SG Bellevue | 2023 WA , Nic Norrah

Timberline – Brooklyn Hicks Brooklyn Hicks 6'3" | CG Timberline | 2023 State #168 Nation WA , Darrell Gipson Darrell Gipson 6'4" | SF Timberline | 2024 State WA , Alex Tichenor Alex Tichenor 6'0" | PG Timberline | 2023 WA , Kenyon Simmons Kenyon Simmons 6'3" | SG Timberline | 2025 State WA

Prediction

While it is pretty evident Brooklyn Hicks Brooklyn Hicks 6'3" | CG Timberline | 2023 State #168 Nation WA 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.

Bellevue 67 Timberline 61

7:15 PM – 12 Arlington (19-5) vs 4 Auburn (18-6)

How did we get here? 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.

Players to watch

Arlington – Leyton Martin Leyton Martin 6'0" | PG Arlington | 2025 State WA , David Zachman David Zachman 6'5" | SF Arlington | 2023 State WA , Jake Willis, Ty Rusko, Silas Miller

Auburn – Semaj Brown Semaj Brown 6'5" | SG Auburn | 2023 State WA , Jaylen Petty Jaylen Petty 5'9" | PG Auburn | 2025 State WA , Tyrell Nichols Tyrell Nichols 6'2" | CG Auburn | 2023 State WA , Luvens Valcin Luvens Valcin 6'2" | SG Auburn | 2024 State WA

Prediction

It’s been an eye-opening season for everyone following Arlington. They have one of the top young point guards in the state in Leyton Martin Leyton Martin 6'0" | PG Arlington | 2025 State WA , 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 Jaylen Petty Jaylen Petty 5'9" | PG Auburn | 2025 State WA . 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.

Auburn 70 Arlington 55

9:00 PM – 16 Shorecrest (18-6) vs 8 Rainier Beach (14-8)

How did we get here? 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.

Players to watch

Shorecrest – Parker Baumann Parker Baumann 6'5" | CG Shorecrest | 2023 State WA , Keaine Silimon Keaine Silimon 6'1" | PG Shorecrest | 2023 State WA , Anthony Najera Anthony Najera 6'0" | PG Everett | 2024 State WA , Disma Kagarabi Disma Kagarabi 6'7" | SF Shorecrest | 2025 State WA , Brayden Fischer

Rainier Beach – Patrice Mpouli Patrice Mpouli 6'2" | CG Hamilton | 2026 AZ , Miles Gurske Miles Gurske 6'0" | PG Rainier Beach | 2023 State WA , Ryan Mpouli Ryan Mpouli 6'4" | SG Rainier Beach | 2024 State WA , Victor Raymond Victor Raymond 6'7" | SF Rainier Beach | 2023 State WA , Kaden Powers, Darius Wilcher Darius Wilcher 6'3" | SG Rainier Beach | 2024 State WA

Prediction

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, Parker Baumann Parker Baumann 6'5" | CG Shorecrest | 2023 State WA most likely getting the clutch shots for Shorecrest, and Miles Gurske Miles Gurske 6'0" | PG Rainier Beach | 2023 State WA 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.

Rainier Beach 59 Shorecrest 54