3A Tournament Preview: Regional Round Matchups

While the opening round of elimination games kicks off tomorrow night and continues into the second round this weekend, we've also got some important regional round matchups lined up for both Friday and Saturday. We've seen some pretty big upsets in this round over the past few years that can have big implications when it's win or go home. Take a look at the 3A regional round matchups and make your picks on who will move straight through to the quarterfinals, and who will have to fight to survive in the round of 12.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">8 Bellevue vs 1 Rainier Beach @ Bellevue College, Friday 8:00 PM <a href="https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/rainier-beach-high-school-seattle-wa/gam4cd9d776f8">NFHS Link</a></h3>   Bellevue (19-7), RPI #4   Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='2021612' first='Jackson' last='Skaggs'], [player_tooltip player_id='1863256' first='Nick' last='Norrah'], [player_tooltip player_id='2827878' first='Tayten' last='Jones']   Common Opponents: Renton (W, 74-65), O'Dea (L, 65-57), Eastside Catholic (L, 71-46), Roosevelt (W, 64-51)   Rainier Beach (20-0), RPI #1   Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='1702934' first='Tyran' last='Stokes'], [player_tooltip player_id='2767475' first='Jayen' last='“JJ” Crawford'], [player_tooltip player_id='2140846' first='Micah' last='Ili-Meneese'], [player_tooltip player_id='2140802' first='Achilles' last='Reyna'], [player_tooltip player_id='2393367' first='Kametrius' last='Babbs']   Common Opponents: Renton (W, 81-60), O'Dea (W, 78-67; W, 78-76; W, 62-49; W, 56-47), Eastside Catholic (W, 85-74; W, 92-69; W, 80-68), Roosevelt (W, 103-63; W, 103-67),   Preview   Beach has been the perennial number one team in the state all year, and they run a deep bench, giving them plenty of options and looks to go to. Stokes has been as advertised, filling the stat sheet and causing problems for opposing teams on a nightly basis. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2140846' first='Micah' last='Ili-Meneese'] has been a constant presence all year with his high-level defense and knack for finding gaps on the offensive end. They have size and athleticism up front with Reyna, [player_tooltip player_id='2935311' first='Louis' last='Harris'], Babbs, [player_tooltip player_id='2173099' first='Marques' last='Ili-Meneese'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2388404' first='Wesley' last='Armstrong'], as well as two highly capable point guards in [player_tooltip player_id='2627284' first='Knowledge' last='Wright'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2194341' first='KJ' last='Hightower']. On top of all that, we should see the return of freshman sensation [player_tooltip player_id='2767475' first='Jayen' last='“JJ” Crawford'].   Bellevue will lean a lot on the playmaking and shot-creation from Skaggs and Norrah, and they'll need some perimeter shooters to be on their game ([player_tooltip player_id='2140844' first='Max' last='Harrity'], [player_tooltip player_id='3337162' first='Linkin' last='King'], [player_tooltip player_id='3334498' first='Will' last='Oeltjen']), as well as the hustle and slashing from [player_tooltip player_id='2827878' first='Tayten' last='Jones'].   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">7 Lincoln vs 2 O'Dea @ Bellevue College, Saturday 8:00 PM <a href="https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/odea-high-school-seattle-wa/gam2e5b74eee3">NFHS Link</a></h3>   Lincoln (16-3), RPI #5   Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='2625619' first='Davion' last='Shareef-Dulaney'], [player_tooltip player_id='2751636' first='Justus' last='Holt'], [player_tooltip player_id='2827907' first='Kasey' last='Williams'], [player_tooltip player_id='2384290' first='Oshea' last='Lamar']   Common Opponents: Timberline (W, 79-50)   O'Dea (18-4), RPI #3   Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='1685492' first='Brian' last='Webster'], [player_tooltip player_id='2726719' first='Josiah' last='Bowman'], [player_tooltip player_id='2021610' first='Peyton' last='Brooks'], [player_tooltip player_id='2021597' first='Levi' last='Orbino']   Common Opponents: Timberline (W, 92-56)   Preview   Lincoln showed their firepower in a district championship win this weekend, and will need to keep that momentum going in order to take down O'Dea Saturday night. [player_tooltip player_id='2625619' first='Davion' last='Shareef-Dulaney'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1685492' first='Brian' last='Webster'] should make for an exciting game with their shot-making and electric offensive skills, while sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2751636' first='Justus' last='Holt'] will need to contend with rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='2726719' first='Josiah' last='Bowman'] inside.   O'Dea has the depth advantage, with a plethora of capable guards to go along with big man [player_tooltip player_id='2384357' first='Gene' last='Woodard III'] protecting the rim. But Lincoln's [player_tooltip player_id='2384290' first='Oshea' last='Lamar'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2827907' first='Kasey' last='Williams'] have stepped up in a big way this season, and the Abes will come ready to play.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">6 Prairie vs 3 Mt Spokane @ West Valley-Spokane HS, Saturday 12:00 PM <a href="https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/mount-spokane-high-school-mead-wa/gamf44db98145">NFHS Link</a></h3>   Prairie (18-4), RPI #7   Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='1863246' first='Carson' last='Morningstar'], [player_tooltip player_id='2039431' first='Malachi' last='Patton'], [player_tooltip player_id='2827898' first='Ben' last='Nkansah']   Common Opponents: Camas (W, 60-58)   Mt. Spokane (17-6), RPI #8   Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='2827873' first='Rock' last='Franklin'], [player_tooltip player_id='2847364' first='Tysen' last='Lewis'], [player_tooltip player_id='2380116' first='Jaden' last='Ghoreishi'], [player_tooltip player_id='3337157' first='Jaceten' last='Reijonen']   Common Opponents: Camas (W, 77-68)   Preview   This matchup could feature two of the prominent big men in the state, with [player_tooltip player_id='1863246' first='Carson' last='Morningstar'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2380116' first='Jaden' last='Ghoreishi']. It is unclear when the Mt. Spokane big man will return, but it's possible he comes back for their games in Tacoma. Even without Ghoreishi, the Wildcats have been finding ways to win as of late, relying on the playmaking of senior [player_tooltip player_id='2827873' first='Rock' last='Franklin'] and the emergence of sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='2847364' first='Tysen' last='Lewis'].   [player_tooltip player_id='3337157' first='Jaceten' last='Reijonen'] is another guard who can get going offensively, but Prairie also has some guards who can go, including GSHL First-Team All-League selection [player_tooltip player_id='2039431' first='Malachi' last='Patton'] and Defensive Player of the Year [player_tooltip player_id='2827898' first='Ben' last='Nkansah']. Patton is their main shot-creator and has been effective scoring from all levels this winter. But Prairie will feed league MVP [player_tooltip player_id='1863246' first='Carson' last='Morningstar'] as much as they can, and Ghroeishi's presence would mean a lot for Mt. Spokane slowing down Morningstar inside.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">5 Bellarmine vs 4 Eastside Catholic @ Issaquah HS, Friday 8:00 PM <a href="https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/eastside-catholic-high-school-sammamish-wa/gam779346c7de">NFHS Link</a></h3>   Bellarmine (21-3), RPI #2   Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='2827909' first='Ben' last='Heisel'], [player_tooltip player_id='2140855' first='Ronnie' last='Wiggins'], [player_tooltip player_id='2878363' first='Luke' last='Heisel']   Common Opponents: N/A   Eastside Catholic (17-7), RPI #10   Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='1685489' first='Yeabsera' last='Aklog'], [player_tooltip player_id='2627281' first='Tytan' last='McNeal'], [player_tooltip player_id='2627277' first='Steven' last='Sun']   Common Opponents: N/A   Preview   Bellarmine rattled off 21 wins in a row before losing to Auburn Mountainview last week. A big part of that sustained success was junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2140834' first='Kade' last='Price'], who the Lions will be without for the remainder of the season. PSL Narrows Defensive Player of the Year [player_tooltip player_id='2140855' first='Ronnie' last='Wiggins'] will be counted on to take on more responsibility in the offense, as well as senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2827909' first='Ben' last='Heisel'], who has the ability to create both inside and out. The Lions have been meticulous on both sides of the ball thanks to their stout team defense and the passing/movement of their posts, but the Crusaders have one of the most dominant big men in the state in [player_tooltip player_id='1685489' first='Yeabsera' last='Aklog'], along with some explosive athletes at each position.   Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2627281' first='Tytan' last='McNeal'] plays beyond his years with a college-ready physique, and freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2935312' first='Anthony' last='Williams'] is fearless attacking the rim with his eye-popping athleticism. Then you factor in the sharpshooting [player_tooltip player_id='2627277' first='Steven' last='Sun'], ultra-quick [player_tooltip player_id='1863249' first='Dash' last='Lamebull-Ingram'], and the quickness they bring off the bench, and we should be in store for a pretty fascinating game this Friday.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-crowdsignal wp-block-embed-crowdsignal"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://poll.fm/16672222 </div></figure>

While the opening round of elimination games kicks off tomorrow night and continues into the second round this weekend, we've also got some important regional round matchups lined up for both Friday and Saturday. We've seen some pretty big upsets in this round over the past few years that can have big implications when it's win or go home. Take a look at the 3A regional round matchups and make your picks on who will move straight through to the quarterfinals, and who will have to fight to survive in the round of 12.