3A Tournament Power Rankings (#9-16)

Check out the second half of this 3A Power Rankings as we head into the second round of games. The tournament has been whittled down to 16 teams, with eight of them fighting for the chance to just get to the Dome. Here are spots 9-16 in this 3A tournament power rankings.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">9. Mount Spokane 17-7 (7-2) RPI #11</h3>   District 6 Champions, #2 Seed   Next Game: Seattle Prep   Mount Spokane, as usual, comes into the tournament with a talented group, and a group many of the westside teams haven't seen yet. They've played just three teams outside of their district this season; all of them are 4A State-bound squads, and two are from Yakima. The Wildcats are led by 6-foot-8 forward [player_tooltip player_id='2380116' first='Jaden' last='Ghoreishi']. He's been one of the biggest improvers from a year ago and is a multi-dimensional threat who has a knockdown outside shot to pair with some solid post play. He's also a big rim defender that teams have to plan for. Point Guard [player_tooltip player_id='1450998' first='Lucas' last='Dickau'] provides the pace in the backcourt, and fellow guard [player_tooltip player_id='1450997' first='Nalu' last='Vargas'] is another sharpshooter to look out for. They are a tough squad that has been battle-tested throughout the year and should come into the tournament ready to play.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">10. Shorecrest 21-3 (10-2) RPI #4</h3>   District 1 Qualifier, #12 Seed   Next Game: Liberty   The Scots are a balanced squad that brings a little bit of everything to the table in terms of individual player skills. Big man [player_tooltip player_id='2140818' first='Jack' last='Thompson'] is a lumbering 6-foot-10 post who continues to flash big potential. Wing [player_tooltip player_id='1696694' first='Junior' last='Kagarabi'] is a 6-foot-5 athlete who can find the rhythm behind the arc, and they have another 6-foot-5 athlete in [player_tooltip player_id='2817028' first='Devan' last='Jones'] who has been a big factor on the glass. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2204420' first='Porter' last='Swanson'] is a classic point guard who can whip the ball around and get his teammates the rock where they like it. And then there is junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1863198' first='Brayden' last='Fischer']. Fischer averaged over 20 ppg throughout the regular season and shoots the rock from each level at a high clip. They made a valiant comeback against Monroe in their District Semifinals but came up just short, and they've won over Edmonds-Woodway and Arlington this season, proving they are not a team to be overlooked.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">11. Eastside Catholic 13-14 (7-7) RPI #25</h3>   District 2 Qualifier, #9 Seed   Next Game: Prairie   The defending 3A champions enter this tournament as the lone team below .500 on the year. However, they are 3-0 outside the Metro (in-state), and played five games out of state, going 2-3. They have wins over Garfield and Seattle Prep and played Rainier Beach to their second-closest game of the year, a three-point loss for the Crusaders. [player_tooltip player_id='1685489' first='Yeabsera' last='Aklog'] showed everyone how dominant he can be at last year's tournament, and there is no reason to think he can't repeat that this March. Young forwards [player_tooltip player_id='2569402' first='Achilles' last='Reyna'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2627281' first='Tytan' last='McNeal'] are not only all-tournament names but are two of the most talented forwards entering the tournament. They have the guards to make a run ([player_tooltip player_id='1251215' first='Alex' last='Elston'], [player_tooltip player_id='1863249' first='Dash' last='Lamebull-Ingram'], [player_tooltip player_id='1485657' first='Tate' last='Dawson']), and the Crusaders have the players to beat any team in this field.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">12. Bellarmine 22-7 (15-2) RPI #10</h3>   District 3/4 Qualifier, #8 Seed   Next Game: Rainier Beach   Bellarmine is a team that gets a real challenge in their first game of the tournament, facing the favorites, Rainier Beach. The Lions didn't face too many non-league foes this season but did play Annie Wright early on (L, 50-46) and played Lincoln four times throughout the year, going 1-3 with an average margin of just 1.75 points. Their young guard tandem of [player_tooltip player_id='2140855' first='Ronnie' last='Wiggins'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2140834' first='Kade' last='Price'] has been playing beyond their years on both ends of the floor, and they have some gritty role players who can rebound, shoot, and defend. The Lions' defense is a key factor for them, allowing just 49.4 ppg on the year, and they have been in a ton of close games, 10 decided by five points or less.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">13. Liberty (Renton) 16-8 (7-4) RPI #13</h3>   District 2 Qualifier, #13   Next Game: Shorecrest   The Patriots have one of the top scorers in the state in [player_tooltip player_id='1863195' first='Jackson' last='Whitaker'], who can get it from just about any spot on the floor and has made some incredible shots throughout the year. They started out hot, winning 14 of their first 15 in-state games before dropping three straight games. They are now just 3-6 in their last nine games and have struggled against the remaining 16 3A squads (0-5). But this team has shooters across the board, and what they lack in size, they make up for with high IQ hoops and a team who really knows how to move the ball and push the pace. [player_tooltip player_id='2140863' first='Tyson' last='Burley'], [player_tooltip player_id='2173020' first='Max' last='Vermeulen'], [player_tooltip player_id='1631564' first='Hansen' last='Fan'], Elijah Nordland, and [player_tooltip player_id='2307309' first='Oden' last='Hatcher'] all play key roles for them, but big man [player_tooltip player_id='2300091' first='Isaac' last='Roberts'] (6-foot-5) could be one of the most important guys heading into their next game as they'll have to deal with 6-foot-10 [player_tooltip player_id='2140818' first='Jack' last='Thompson'].   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">14. Federal Way 19-4 (13-1) RPI #9</h3>   District 3/4 Qualifier, #14 Seed   Next Game: Auburn Mountainview   Federal Way is one of the more interesting teams in this field. On paper, they have the size, length, shooting, and guard play to give teams headaches, but they also only have two really impressive wins this season (Auburn Mountainview by one and Prairie by 11). They also played 4A Davis close (L, 50-46) and played Lincoln tough in districts (L, 57-56). Guard [player_tooltip player_id='1485660' first='Brayden' last='McVey'] has emerged as a leader for them who plays with strength and can get downhill and draw contact. Garfield transfer [player_tooltip player_id='1485654' first='Marcel' last='Jones'] is a guy who has been in these big games and can shoot the rock. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2835603' first='Eric' last='Turner'] is a lengthy guard who can shoot it too, and senior guards [player_tooltip player_id='1485662' first='Jacob' last='Hurskin'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2300084' first='Geron' last='White'] also provide some length and defense while 6-foot-6 [player_tooltip player_id='1850311' first='Saxon' last='Niles'] holds down the inside. They get a familiar face in their next game and a chance to keep their tournament rolling against Auburn Mountainview who they split the season series with.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">15. Prairie 16-8 (6-2) RPI #22</h3>   District 3/4 Qualifier, GSHL 3A champs, #17 Seed   Next Game: Eastside Catholic   Prairie got out of the opening round in a nail-biter against Central Valley and now get the honor of being the defending champions' first opponent. This will pose a great matchup between the Falcons' big man [player_tooltip player_id='1863246' first='Carson' last='Morningstar'] and D-I recruit [player_tooltip player_id='1685489' first='Yeabsera' last='Aklog']. They also have some firepower in the backcourt with [player_tooltip player_id='2039431' first='Malachi' last='Patton'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2486699' first='Jamir' last='Jones'], but Prairies' attack really comes down to how they can play through the big man. If they are to make any noise in this tournament, they'll have to find out how to navigate against Eastside Catholic's plethora of size up front or count on their young guards to get hot from outside.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">16. Gig Harbor 16-11 (9-7) RPI #27</h3>   District 3/4 Qualifier, #15 Seed   Next Game: Monroe   The Tides are another team boasting a talented post as their go-to guy. [player_tooltip player_id='1601813' first='Michael' last='Masini'] has been posting big numbers throughout the year, flirting with 20-20 games several times and showing a proclivity for working his way to the foul line where he is a high-percentage shooter. They primarily try to get him the rock around the paint or in screen and rolls, but he's a guy who, at 6-foot-8, can still take advantage of a lane and drive in to the hoop. Guards [player_tooltip player_id='1984467' first='Cole' last='Browne'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2827911' first='Ty' last='Buchanan'] are going to be their main slashers/creators, and they will have a big task ahead of them with the way Monroe has been playing defense over the last few games.

Check out the second half of this 3A Power Rankings as we head into the second round of games. The tournament has been whittled down to 16 teams, with eight of them fighting for the chance to just get to the Dome. Here are spots 9-16 in this 3A tournament power rankings.