Tumwater center of local hoops universe as state playoffs begin with regionals

Tumwater High School will figure in all but one of eight local teams’ state regional games this weekend as both the T-Bird boys and girls participate and five other squads play their games in Tumwater’s gym.

4A BOYS: OLYMPIA MEETS EASTMONT IN DO-OR-DIE GAME

Olympia’s boys (19-6) reached state as the seventh-place finisher in the West Central/Southwest bi-district after finishing as the 4A South Puget Sound League runner-up. The Bears, seeded No. 10 in state will meet No. 15 Eastmont at nearby Tumwater on Saturday at 4 p.m.

The loser is out, the winner will play either No. 7 Auburn or No. 2 Glacier Peak at the Tacoma Dome on March 4 at 5:30 p.m.

The Bears, of course, are built around 6-foot-10 junior University of Washington commit Jackson Grant, who averaged 16.8 points per game, along with the senior guard combo of Kai Johnson, Oly’s leading scorer at 17.6 ppg, and Ethan Gahm, who scores 10.2 ppg.

Eastmont brings a 14-7 record into state after finishing runner-up in the Columbia Basin Big Nine league.

3A GIRLS: CAPITAL WILL RUN IT BACK, MEETS WILSON AGAIN

After any reasonably close game, the loser hopes for a rematch, wanting to prove the outcome should have been different. Saturday night at 8 p.m. at Tumwater, the No. 12 Capital girls (18-6) will get their chance, taking on No. 13 Wilson (17-7).

When the teams met on Saturday for fifth place in the WCD/SW Bi-District tournament, Wilson, third place finisher in the Pierce County League, downed the South Sound Conference champs, 50-46.

The loser of Saturday’s game is eliminated, the winner will play either No. 4 Mt. Spokane or No. 5 Shorecrest at the Tacoma Dome on March 4 at 7:15 p.m.

2A BOYS: BOTH TUMWATER DISTRICT TEAMS IN THE FIELD

Sent away from the plethora of games in their own gym by a WIAA rule requiring neutral sites, the No. 6 Tumwater boys (19-4 and District 4 champions) will meet No. 3 North Kitsap (20-3 after winning the Olympic League championship) at Mt. Tahoma on Saturday at 4 p.m.

Kaden Lewis led the T-Birds will 11 points and Damon Gaither added 10 as they blew away a Cinderella-wannabe Woodland squad (13-12) in the District final. The 6-foot-7 Gaither has been the T-Birds season-long scoring leader with 13.8 ppg while Peyton Peterson is next at 11.5.

The loser between Tumwater and North Kitsap will play either No. 14 Renton or No. 11 Selah at the Yakima Valley SunDome at 3:45 on March 4. The winner will have a bye until the quarterfinals on March 5 at 7:15.

Meanwhile, No. 9 Black Hills (18-6) gets to play in its hometown, greeting No. 16 Woodland at Tumwater on Saturday at 6 p.m.

Woodland is led by guards and co-captains Isaiah Flanagan (14.9 ppg) and Trey Hanson (7.9 ppg). Senior guards Zach Crumley (12.5 ppg) and Avery Armin (9.8 ppg) join junior post Justin Hicks (11.5) at the front of a balanced Wolves’ attack.

The winner goes on to meet the loser between No. 8 Mountlake Terrace and No. 1 Lynden on March 4 at 9 p.m. at the SunDome.

2A GIRLS: THREE EVCO SCHOOLS REACH REGIONAL FIELD

With No. 3 Tumwater (22-2 and third place finisher in District 4) leading the way, a trio of Evergreen Conference schools reached the 2A girls regional.

The T-Birds will join their boys team at Mt. Tahoma, where they will play No. 6 Port Angeles ( 19-4 and District 3 champion) at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Five-foot-10 forward Jaida Wood (12.5 ppg) leads the Roughriders – who defeated perennial EvCo power and fellow state participant W.F. West early this season – while Emilia Long (12.3 ppg) and Eva Burke (10.8) also average double figures.

Natalie Sumrok (16.3 ppg) and Aubrey Amedala (15.8). both sophomores, lead the T-Birds in scoring.

The winner will head straight to the quarterfinals at the SunDome on March 5 at 12:15 while the loser plays either #11 Clarkston or #14 Franklin Pierce on March 4 at 9 a.m.

No. 7 W.F. West (17-6 and District 4 runners-up) travels to Yakima to meet undefeated Ellensburg, seeded second at 22-0 at Davis at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Drea Brumfield led the Bearcats with 13 points in their 38-35 loss to Black Hills in the District 4 championship game. That total was right at Brumfield’s average while seniors Annika Waring (11.0 ppg) and Taya McCallum (9.8 ppg) also provide scoring punch.

The winner clinches a spot in a 2 p.m. March 5 quarterfinal at the SunDome while the loser meets either No. 15 Liberty or No. 10 Fife on March 4 at 10:30 a.m.

Meanwhhile, District 4 champion and No. 9 Black Hills (18-5) plays No. 16 North Kitsap (13-11) at Tumwater on Friday at 8 p.m.

The winner moves on to a March 4 contest at the SunDome between either No. 1 Lynden or No. 8 West Valley of Spokane at 2 p.m. The loser is out.

Mia Flores led the Wolves with 13 points and Jordyn Bender added 10 in the District win over W.F. West.

1A GIRLS: EASIER FIRST ROUND TRAVEL FOR ELMA THIS SEASON

No. 12 Elma (16-6) has a much easier trip to open the state tournament than it did a year ago when the Eagles had to travel 206 miles in iffy weather, only to have to play Cashmere and lauded Louisville commit Hailey Van Lith.

This time, Elma shaves three hours off its travel time when it meets No. 13 Deer Park (18-6) at Tumwater at noon on Saturday.

The winner will go to the SunDome to meet either No. 4 Freeman or No. 5 LaSalle on March 4 at 7:15 p.m. The loser is eliminated.

Senior post Jayln Sackrider leads Elma with 17.1 ppg while senior guard Kali Rambo adds 12.3 and senior forward Quin Mikel 8.6 ppg.