This Week’s Games to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We are getting back to this weekly series giving you some of the top games to watch across the state. I'll highlight five games every week, letting you know the implications and storylines behind the game as well as four impact players to watch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Jan. 13</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"textAlign":"left","level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-left"><strong>Rainier Beach (8-1) @ Eastside Catholic (9-5) 7:30 PM</strong> <a href="https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/eastside-catholic-high-school-sammamish-wa/gam78027b4a0c">NFHS Link</a></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two of the top teams in the Metro Mountain face off for the first time this season. Beach has rattled off eight consecutive wins since losing their opener to Annie Wright, and have done so by some wide margins (their closest game a 10-point win vs Garfield). Meanwhile, Eastside Catholic already has two league losses as they continue their attempt to defend last year's state championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Four Players to Watch:</strong> </em>[player_tooltip player_id='1685489' first='Yeabsera' last='Aklog'], [player_tooltip player_id='1251215' first='Alex' last='Elston'], [player_tooltip player_id='1451033' first='Jaylen' last='Petty'], [player_tooltip player_id='1850299' first='Kaden' last='Powers']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seattle Prep (8-4) @ West Seattle (5-5) 7:30 PM <a href="https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/west-seattle-high-school-seattle-wa/gam02fc0a6cef">NFHS Link</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Garfield (6-2) @ O'Dea (6-3) 7:30 PM <a href="https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/odea-high-school-seattle-wa/gam2a5c949110">NFHS Link</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Jan. 14</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Puyallup (11-2) @ Olympia (11-1) 7:00 PM</strong> <a href="https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/olympia-high-school-olympia-wa/gam69941746df">NFHS Link</a></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These SPSL rivals are undefeated in league play so far with Puyallup atop the North division and Olympia leading the South. They popped up side by side in the latest RPI Rankings at #8 (Olympia) and #9 (Puyallup). Neither team has lost in-state this season but something has got to give in this primetime matchup.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><em><strong>Four Players to Watch:</strong> </em></em>[player_tooltip player_id='1485541' first='Matt' last='Lindblom'], [player_tooltip player_id='2140805' first='Brian' last='Stevenson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1696693' first='Drew' last='Jones'], [player_tooltip player_id='1685506' first='Will' last='Nasinec']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kennedy (7-5) @ Stadium (5-5) 7:00 PM <a href="https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/stadium-high-school-tacoma-wa/gam661a7c5fb5">NFHS Link</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Skyview (9-3) @ Camas (7-1) 7:00 PM <a href="https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/camas-high-school-camas-wa/gam587a455fd4">NFHS Link</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Auburn (13-0) @ Kentwood (10-3) 7:00 PM <a href="https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/kentwood-high-school-covington-wa/gamfe9b301e08">NFHS Link</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Sequim (11-0) @ Bremerton (6-3) 7:00 PM</strong></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both Olympic League teams have had somewhat surprising starts to the season. Sequim sits at #2 in the RPI Rankings and is the only other undefeated team besides top-ranked Lynden. Bremerton came into the year with high hopes but hit a 3-game skid after starting 4-0. They are back on track, winning their last two games, but have yet to claim a signature victory this season with losses to Bainbridge, West Valley (Yakima), and Grandview.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><em><strong>Four Players to Watch:</strong></em> </em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2726766' first='Solomon' last='Sheppard']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2729711' first='Jericho' last='Julmist']</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='2375385' first='Jalen' last='Davis'], [player_tooltip player_id='2625759' first='Enoch' last='Taylor']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Freeman (8-2) @ West Valley (Spokane) (10-1) 7:00 PM <a href="https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/west-valley-high-school-spokane-wa/gam98a45664f7">NFHS Link</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bellevue (9-2) @ Issaquah (8-6) 7:15 PM <a href="https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/issaquah-high-school-issaquah-wa/gamd14f2ddb24">NFHS Link</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mount Si (9-2) @ Redmond (10-2) 7:15 PM <a href="https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/redmond-high-school-redmond-wa/gam16c1b3ce3b">NFHS Link</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Inglemoor (7-5) @ Foster (8-4) 7:15 PM <a href="https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/foster-high-school-tukwila-wa/gam420527b49f">NFHS Link</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Overlake (7-3) @ King's (6-3) 7:15 PM</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Zillah (8-3) @ Cashmere (9-2) 7:15 PM <a href="https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/cashmere-high-school-cashmere-wa/gama23d2e517d">NFHS Link</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Jan. 15</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>R A Long (10-1) @ Mark Morris (12-1) 7:00 PM</strong></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These two just keep coming back year after year, but this year they have Columbia River in the mix too, which makes these head-to-head matchups even more critical. The winner of this game will have bragging rights until the final regular season game when they faceoff again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><em><strong>Four Players to Watch:</strong></em> </em>[player_tooltip player_id='2300050' first='Josh' last='Crane'], [player_tooltip player_id='2307318' first='Rhet' last='Young'], [player_tooltip player_id='2717103' first='Dalton' last='Stevens'], <strong>Carson Bogner</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bear Creek (9-3) @ Bellevue Christian (8-2) 7:00 PM <a href="https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/bellevue-christian-high-school-clyde-hill-wa/gam5ccd456946">NFHS Link</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Jan. 16</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lake Stevens (4-8) @ Anacortes (7-2) 7:15 PM</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Jan. 17</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Glacier Peak (11-1) @ Arlington (9-3) 6:30 PM <a href="https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/arlington-high-school-arlington-wa/gam72c19ab6e1">NFHS Link</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Union (9-3) @ Skyview (9-3) 7:00 PM</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mead (8-2) @ Gonzaga Prep (11-2) 7:00 PM <a href="https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/gonzaga-preparatory-school-spokane-wa/gam7b442fe934">NFHS Link</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Auburn Mountainview (13-0) @ Todd Beamer (9-5) 7:00 PM</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prairie (6-5) @ Mountain View (9-4) 7:00 PM <a href="https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/mountain-view-high-school-vancouver-wa/gamda9ac05182">NFHS Link</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bellevue Christian (8-2) @ Cascade Christian (7-3) 7:00 PM <a href="https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/cascade-christian-high-school-puyallup-wa/gamdc79c66dd1">NFHS Link</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lynden (11-0) @ Burlington-Edison (8-4) 7:15 PM <a href="https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/lynden-high-school-lynden-wa/gam77ae020018">NFHS Link</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bear Creek (9-3) @ Overlake (7-3) 7:15 PM <a href="https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/the-overlake-school-redmond-wa/gamc05ec0119a">NFHS Link</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Royal (11-0) @ Zillah (8-3) 7:15 PM <a href="https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/zillah-high-school-zillah-wa/gambf7634bc9f">NFHS Link</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Okanogan (10-2) @ Lake Roosevelt (10-1) 7:30 PM <a href="https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/lake-roosevelt-high-school-coulee-wa/game705d50160">NFHS Link</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Columbia (Burbank) (12-1) @ Tri-Cities Prep (10-2) 7:30 PM <a href="https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/tricities-prep-pasco-wa/gam1b1772d9aa">NFHS Link</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Silas (8-5) @ Lakes (9-4) 7:30 PM</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bellevue (9-2) @ Mount Si (9-2) 8:00 PM <a href="https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/mount-si-high-school-snoqualmie-wa/gam01d1f05417">NFHS Link</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Jan. 18</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Toldeo (10-2) @ Adna (11-2) 4:00 PM <a href="https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/adna-high-school-adna-wa/gam4d400adc98">NFHS Link</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Freeman (8-2) @ Lake Roosevelt (10-1) 4:30 PM <a href="https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/lake-roosevelt-high-school-coulee-wa/gam21c5a8d00d">NFHS Link</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Chelan (10-1) @ Royal (11-0) 5:15 PM</strong></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 10-1 Chelan Mountain Goats are flying high right now with their only loss this season coming to 2A Anacortes. However, the Royals are one of the hottest teams in 1A right now. They are 11-0 and have only won one game by less than 15 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><em><strong>Four Players to Watch:</strong></em> </em>[player_tooltip player_id='2021625' first='Luca' last='Faletto'], [player_tooltip player_id='2140862' first='Tev' last='Uttech'], [player_tooltip player_id='2375339' first='Grant' last='Wardenaar'], [player_tooltip player_id='2375370' first='Ezra' last='Jenks']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Garfield (6-2) @ Eastside Catholic (9-5) 5:30 PM</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ballard (8-4) @ Franklin (7-3) 5:30 PM <a href="https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/franklin-high-school-seattle-wa/gamfac4884c69">NFHS Link</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tri-Cities Prep (10-2) @ Mabton (10-4) 7:00 PM <a href="https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/mabton-juniorsenior-high-school-mabton-wa/gama03fdc32c0">NFHS Link</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->