4A Tournament Preview: Regional Round Matchups

The 4A tournament finally begins Friday night with the lower seeds competing to stay alive and move on to the round of 12. Saturday will feature mainly these top-8 seeds squaring off. We'll get to see how accurate the seeding committee was, and some of the top contenders for the state title get to work. Let's take a look at the games ahead on Saturday.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">8 West Valley vs 1 Mount Si @ Issaquah HS 4:00 PM <a href="https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/wiaa-wa/gama203f468a5">NFHS Link</a></h3>   West Valley (19-2), RPI #6   Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='2473468' first='Austin' last='Birley'], [player_tooltip player_id='1587955' first='Parker' last='Mills'], [player_tooltip player_id='2627288' first='Jett' last='Bremerman']   Common Opponents: Eisenhower (W, 86-54; W, 85-35), Bellevue (W, 100-73)   Mount Si (20-1), RPI #1   Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='2021624' first='Brady' last='Hennig'], [player_tooltip player_id='1685491' first='Lattimore' last='Ford'], [player_tooltip player_id='2827881' first='Hudson' last='Moscrip'], [player_tooltip player_id='2626178' first='Liam' last='Heide']   Common Opponents: Eisenhower (W, 80-62), Bellevue (W, 65-59)   Preview   This matchup features two teams with the fewest combined losses in any matchup across all six Washington State classifications taking place this weekend. Mount Si comes in as the top seed, as well as the biggest team in the tournament, with an average height of nearly 6-foot-5. They have had lineups out there with four guys over 6-foot-7, and two of those guys are top-ten players in this senior class, [player_tooltip player_id='2021624' first='Brady' last='Hennig'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1685491' first='Lattimore' last='Ford']. They are a balanced, deep team that can throw a lot of different lineups out there, and they're going to give this younger West Valley team all they can handle.   The Rams also have some legit talent with post presence with Wazzu football commit, [player_tooltip player_id='1587955' first='Parker' last='Mills'], and one of the top sophomores in the state, [player_tooltip player_id='2473468' first='Austin' last='Birley']. Birley is a 6-foot-5 point guard who just makes things look easy out there, and he's surrounded by shooters that really complement Mills inside and keep defenses from collapsing too much. This team moves the ball well and can shoot the leather off of it.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">7 Emerald Ridge vs 2 Richland @ Richland HS 8:00 PM <a href="https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/wiaa-wa/gamc528f62087">NFHS Link</a></h3>   Emerald Ridge (23-4), RPI #11   Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='1863251' first='Jamaize' last='McGriff'], [player_tooltip player_id='1863250' first='Jordan' last='Bennett'], [player_tooltip player_id='1685502' first='Darius' last='Alexander'], [player_tooltip player_id='2307291' first='Mychal' last='Turner']   Common Opponents: N/A   Richland (24-0), RPI #4   Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='1685503' first='Landen' last='Northrop'], [player_tooltip player_id='2375347' first='Lance' last='Horntvedt'], [player_tooltip player_id='2739561' first='Jackson' last='Woodard']   Common Opponents: N/A   Preview   A lot of people felt Richland should have earned the top seed in the tournament. They are the only remaining undefeated 4A team and boast two of the top seniors in the state. Northrop and Horntvedt have combined for a staggering 53.4 PPG while each player shoots over 55% on the year. While those two will be tough to stop, there's another guy at Richland teams will have to pay attention to, and it's junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2739561' first='Jackson' last='Woodard']. He's up to 16.4 PPG while providing steady ballhandling and astute court awareness.   Emerald Ridge has the guys to compete. They have four standout seniors, [player_tooltip player_id='1863251' first='Jamaize' last='McGriff'], [player_tooltip player_id='1863250' first='Jordan' last='Bennett'], [player_tooltip player_id='1685502' first='Darius' last='Alexander'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2307291' first='Mychal' last='Turner'], who each have the ability to put the ball in the hoop. McGriff's size and athleticism will be key for them around the rim, and specifically, matching up with [player_tooltip player_id='2375347' first='Lance' last='Horntvedt'] to keep the big 6-foot-8 guard from dominating the paint. I have a feeling this will be an up-and-down game with a lot of shots going up.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">6 Puyallup vs 3 Lake Washington @ Bellevue College 4:00 PM <a href="https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/wiaa-wa/gama8d9c998ed">NFHS Link</a></h3>   Puyallup (21-6), RPI #8   Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='1685506' first='Will' last='Nasinec'], [player_tooltip player_id='2375350' first='Lawson' last='Looker'], [player_tooltip player_id='1863244' first='Mason' last='Sonntag']   Common Opponents: Glacier Peak (L, 64-55), Mount Si (L, 60-50)   Lake Washington (22-4), RPI #2   Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='2144895' first='Jayden' last='Hunt'], [player_tooltip player_id='1685495' first='Mateo' last='Cummings'], [player_tooltip player_id='3337166' first='Hunter' last='Phipps']   Common Opponents: Glacier Peak (W, 60-59), Mount Si (L, 67-63; L, 67-58; L, 70-63)   Preview   Puyallup is on a roll. Winners of eight straight, they've been racking up wins against some solid competition, including Bonney Lake, Emerald Ridge (twice), Kennedy Catholic, Kentridge, and Auburn. A big part of that run has been senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1685506' first='Will' last='Nasinec'], who just recently picked up an SPU offer. The 6-foot-7 senior has been just about unstoppable, and the rest of the squad has been filling their roles at high levels. Guards [player_tooltip player_id='2375350' first='Lawson' last='Looker'] and Quamari Costello have been making timely shots while bringing the energy on the defensive end, [player_tooltip player_id='1863244' first='Mason' last='Sonntag'] has been cleaning up on the glass and making plays by the rim, and seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2457266' first='Bennett' last='Hedman'] and Porter Richardson have made timely plays.   Meanwhile, Lake Washington has lined up and put down just about every team they have faced this year outside of Mount Si. Mount Si accounts for three of the Kangs' four losses, and if they're ever going to get revenge, they'll have to get through one of the hottest teams in the 4A. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2144895' first='Jayden' last='Hunt'] is the Kangs' ironman, providing steady production at an efficient rate and opening up a lot of space for his teammates just by being out there. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='3337166' first='Hunter' last='Phipps'] has been making key plays, including the game-winning shot to hand Glacier Peak their first loss of the year. And the Kangs have size that operates in different spots. [player_tooltip player_id='1685495' first='Mateo' last='Cummings'] is a tall shot-maker and rim-defender, and [player_tooltip player_id='3337168' first='Julien' last='Deblieck'] gives them a more traditional post player. This will be a game that comes down to execution, and probably the last couple of possessions.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">5 Gonzaga Prep vs 4 Glacier Peak @ North Creek HS 2:00 PM </h3>   Gonzaga Prep (18-6), RPI #5   Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='2827868' first='Ryan' last='Carney'], [player_tooltip player_id='1685504' first='Dylynn' last='Groves'], [player_tooltip player_id='2827870' first='Jackson' last='Mott']   Common Opponents: Mt Spokane (L, 61-46; W, 37-29)   Glacier Peak (21-1), RPI #3   Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='1927274' first='Reed' last='Nagel'], [player_tooltip player_id='1936885' first='Edison' last='Kan'], [player_tooltip player_id='2375333' first='Zach' last='Albright']   Common Opponents: Mt Spokane (W, 64-54)   Preview   Gonzaga Prep had a 12-game win streak going before falling to Richland last week. Even with the loss, they have come the closest of any in-state team to taking down the undefeated Bombers. It shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who saw their run last year, and this year's team generally operates on the same principles: defense, rebounding, and timely shots. They have plenty of size to throw at Glacier Peak post [player_tooltip player_id='2375333' first='Zach' last='Albright'], and they've got the size to contend with [player_tooltip player_id='1936885' first='Edison' last='Kan']'s and [player_tooltip player_id='1927274' first='Reed' last='Nagel']'s perimeter scoring ability. And while the Grizzlies have some good defensive depth, they really rely on Kan and Nagel to spur their offense. They've proven their ability to win against top competition with a potent non-league schedule, but this should be a grind for both squads on Saturday afternoon.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-crowdsignal wp-block-embed-crowdsignal"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://poll.fm/16681364 </div></figure>

The 4A tournament finally begins Friday night with the lower seeds competing to stay alive and move on to the round of 12. Saturday will feature mainly these top-8 seeds squaring off. We'll get to see how accurate the seeding committee was, and some of the top contenders for the state title get to work. Let's take a look at the games ahead on Saturday.