RENTON – Less than 24 hours after beating the Class 3A’s No. 2-ranked team in a down-to-the wire finish to earn a trip to the Tacoma Dome for the first time since 2004, Timberline boys basketball coach Allen Thomas’ was still receiving congratulatory handshakes.
But as Thomas quickly noted during Sunday’s state baskeball draws at the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association’s headquarters, the win over Mercer Island in saturday in the 3A regional was great, but it’s back to business for the Blazers, who are one of the final eight teams left in the Class 3A boys tournament, which starts Thursday at the Tacoma Dome.
“We have to get back to reality really quick,” Thomas said.
It was at the WIAA office where the Blazers (16-9) learned their state quarterfinal opponent Thursday – Franklin out of the Metro League at 3:45 p.m. Timberline, which will be the home team, was the first of the eight team names drawn.
Thomas said the Blazers and Quakers (17-9) matchup well in teams that feature both speed and a great deal of athleticism, led by senior 6-foot-4 wing Patrick Ball (17 ppg, 9 rpg).
“They’re tough,” Thomas said. “They get up and down and attack the basket. Franklin is the real-deal.”
Timberline is on the same side of the bracket as Rainier Beach and Seattle Prep, which tip-off at 5:30 p.m. following the Timberline-Franklin game.
On the lower half of the 3A boys bracket is 3A Narrows League-rival Lincoln against Mountlake Terrace and University (Spokane) versus Lakeside of Seattle.
Speed was the first word River Ridge girls coach Jackie Robinson used to describe Burlington-Edison (20-3), as the two teams meet in Thursday’s 7:15 p.m. 2A girls state quarterfinal at the Yakima Valley SunDome.
“We play similar styles,” Robinson said.
A win by the Hawks (19-5) could mean they face top-ranked Mark Morris in Friday’s semifinal, a team the Hawks lost to 60-48 in the 2A District IV semifinals after River Ridge built an 18-point second-half lead.
Both the 2A Evergreen Conference teams are on opposite sides of the bracket. W.F. West (20-4) faces Cedarcrest (22-3) at 5:30 p.m.
