4A Tournament: Unsung Heroes (Pt 1)

It takes some special players and special moments to win a state title. As we get closer to the start of the 4A tournament, let's get familiar with some names who play key roles on their teams and have the potential to step up over the course of the tournament and come through in pivotal moments.    Hill has had his moments over the season where he has stepped up to be the leading or second-leading scorer of a game. That ability to find a groove from three, manufacture buckets in transition, and hunt for opportunities to create turnovers makes him a player to watch who could come up big for the Rams.     The Wildcats have some big names on the squad who can create highlight plays, shoot from way behind the arc, and finish above the rim, but Moscrip is a guy who often takes on key defensive matchups and should be their stopper this postseason. He's physical, works well off the ball to get through screens, and will be a key player for a team with a lot of offensive talent.     Heide is another Wildcat who operates in a smaller role but has that game-changing ability to dominate one aspect of the game and create a distinct advantage for his team. His play around the rim forces defenses to be in sync, whether it's pick and rolls, or helping the helper, his presence for dump-offs and alley-oops can score his team some important, easy buckets.     Mosley has really stepped up to add some depth to Emerald Ridge's bench, and it was pretty evident how locked in he is with his teammates in their district tournament. Mosley got bucket after bucket, simply being in the right spot, doing his job, finding lanes to fill in transition, and moving without the ball in the halfcourt. And his teammates are looking for him and trust him to hit open shots.     It's only fair that Horntvedt and Northrop get a lot of the praise and attention when talking about the Richland Bombers, but Woodard also plays a key role as that consistent third scoring option, and relied upon ballhandler who can make smart, quick decisions. He's been dialed in from 3-point range this season (42%), and he'll need to keep that up this tournament when teams try to key in on stopping Horntvedt and Northrop.     Costello showed up in a big way in Puyallup's win over Auburn in Districts. And even though he's just a sophomore, he showed no fear attacking Auburn's defense, and played with energy and speed on both ends of the floor. He's a kid who can knock down shots from outside, has the guts to take shots when the clock runs low, and brings a lot of toughness to the court. He'll be a guy to watch who could make a play here and there that swings momentum or steals a possession and helps push Puyallup over the top in a tight game.     Another key guard for the Vikings is Looker. He's another quick, aggressive player who can help their defense and team set the tone and pace for a game. He's got the quick hands to get pokes on the ball, has the quick feet to take chances up in passing lanes, and the ability to recover quickly, and is critical to helping set things up in the halfcourt. They'll need both guards to be on their game to make a deep run this March.

It takes some special players and special moments to win a state title. As we get closer to the start of the 4A tournament, let's get familiar with some names who play key roles on their teams and have the potential to step up over the course of the tournament and come through in pivotal moments.