The WIAA Class 4A boys state basketball tournament begins Wednesday at the Tacoma Dome, where 15 games will be played in four days to decide this season’s champion. Here’s what to watch for in the 2026 bracket, which features 12 high school programs from around the state.

STATE REGIONALS RESULTS

Winner-to-quarterfinals, loser-to-first-round games

No. 1 Mount Si 80, No. 8 West Valley of Yakima 71

No. 2 Richland 79, No. 7 Emerald Ridge 56

No. 3 Lake Washington 72, No. 6 Puyallup 56

No. 5 Gonzaga Prep 45, No. 4 Glacier Peak 41

Winner-to-first-round, loser-out games

No. 9 Auburn 81, No. 16 Sunnyside 50

No. 10 Redmond 60, No. 15 Olympia 51

No. 11 Chiawana 76, No. 14 Sumner 64

No. 13 Woodinville 62, No. 12 Camas 53

TACOMA DOME SCHEDULE

Wednesday’s first round and Thursday’s quarterfinals

No. 6 Puyallup vs. No. 11 Chiawana, 3:45 p.m. Wednesday

Winner vs. No. 5 Gonzaga Prep, 3:45 p.m. Thursday

No. 7 Emerald Ridge vs. No. 10 Redmond, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday

Winner vs. No. 1 Mount Si, 5:30 p.m. Thursday

No. 4 Glacier Peak vs. No. 13 Woodinville, 7:15 p.m. Wednesday

Winner vs. No. 3 Lake Washington, 7:15 p.m. Thursday

No. 8 West Valley of Yakima vs. No. 9 Auburn, 9 p.m. Wednesday

Winner vs. No. 2 Richland, 9 p.m. Thursday

Friday’s semifinals

7:15 and 9 p.m.

Saturday’s championship and placing games

4th/6th place game: 9:30 a.m.

3rd/5th place game: 1 p.m.

Championship game: 3 p.m.

15 players to watch

G Austin Birley, West Valley of Yakima, soph.

F Mateo Cummings, Lake Washington, sr.

F Latt Ford, Mount Si, sr.

F Dylynn Groves, Gonzaga Prep, sr.

F Marcus Heide, Mount Si, sr.

G Brady Hennig, Mount Si, sr.

G Lance Horntvedt, Richland, sr.

G Jayden Hunt, Lake Washington, jr.

G Daniel Johnson, Auburn, sr.

F Jamaize McGriff, Emerald Ridge, sr.

C Parker Mills, West Valley of Yakima, sr.

G Reed Nagel, Glacier Peak, sr.

F Will Nasinec, Puyallup, sr.

G Landen Northrop, Richland, sr.

G Drake Penberthy, Woodinville, jr.

TEAM PREVIEWS

No. 1 Mount Si (22-4) — Wildcats are battle tested, with wins over 4A tournament peers Lake Washington (x3), Puyallup, West Valley of Yakima and 3A tournament-bound Bellevue. Back-to-back 4A KingCo MVP, 6-foot-6 shooting guard Brady Hennig (20.2 points per game), a Boise State commit, is a pure scorer, while 6-foot-6 forward Marcus Heide (8.2 ppg) and 6-foot-7 forward Latt Ford (12.7 ppg, 7 reb) highlight a long and dynamic front court. Ford recovered from an ACL injury last season and is back at full strength.

No. 2 Richland (26-0) — If anyone wants to knock off the Bombers, they’ll need to score. A lot. An offensive juggernaut, Richland has scored over 100 points in 10 games this season. 6-foot-5 guard Landen Northrop (25.7 ppg) and 6-foot-8 guard Lance Horntvedt (28 ppg) can both score from anywhere on the floor.

No. 3 Lake Washington (23-4) — Elite in their offensive execution, the Kangs’ screen game finds open looks for guard Jayden Hunt (18.6 ppg) and skilled big Mateo Cummings (16.7 ppg, 7.4 reb), who can knock down threes and beat defenders off the dribble. Hunter Phipps is another knockdown shooter.

No. 4 Glacier Peak (21-2) — Grizzlies aren’t quite as dynamic without TNT all-state guard Josiah Lee (now at Le Moyne College in New York) but are defensive minded and grind out results. Guard Reed Nagel is the player to watch.

No. 5 Gonzaga Prep (19-6) — Don’t be surprised if built-for-March defending 4A state champs make another run. This is another well-rounded, balanced group for Matty McIntyre. 6-foot-5 forward Dylynn Groves (14.6 ppg) is the team’s top scorer. Guards Jack Pierce (11.3 ppg) and Ryan Carney (10.5 ppg) are also averaging in double digits. 6-foot-4 forward Jackson Mott (6.8 ppg, 8.1 reb) also contributes.

No. 6 Puyallup (23-7) — Vikings lost in the regional round last year and advanced all the way to the 4A title game. Can Puyallup recreate the magic after falling to Lake Washington last weekend? It all starts with skilled 6-foot-7 forward Will Nasinec (17.7 ppg, 7 reb), who has touch around the rim and can shoot the three. Mason Sonntag (12.3 ppg, 5 reb) is the complementary piece in the front court. When guards Quamari Costello and Lawson Looker are knocking down jumpers, Viks are dangerous.

No. 7 Emerald Ridge (23-7) — Athletic 6-foot-7 forward Jamaize McGriff (13 ppg, 8 reb, 2 blk) plays above the rim and has turned into a high-level shooter, too. If guards Jordan Bennett (12 ppg) and Darius Alexander heat up at the same time, Jags have upset ability.

No. 8 West Valley of Yakima (19-3) — One of our favorite dark horse title candidates. Guard Austin Birley (21 pts, 7 reb, 6 ast) was the CBBN defensive player of the year and does a bit of everything for the Rams. 6-foot-6 center Parker Mills, a WSU football commit who averages a near double-double with 20 points and nine rebounds, is a load in the paint. Three others (Jett Bremerman, Parker Hill and Jrayden Whitfield) average double digits for the Rams, too.

No. 9 Auburn (23-4) — Trojans weren’t competitive in district loss to Puyallup. Will that serve as fuel for the fire? Montana State commit Daniel Johnson (21 ppg, 6.3 reb) thrives in big games. Guard Miles Henry (12 ppg) and forward Isaiah Englund (15 ppg) keep Auburn’s energy high.

No. 10 Redmond (20-8) — Mustangs haven’t cracked the code against Mount Si and Lake Washington this season, but do have a win over Woodinville on their resume. Low scoring, grind-it-out games are the upset recipe.

No. 11 Chiawana (22-4) — Senior forwards Gage Williams (11.9 ppg) and Benji Larios (11.6 ppg) lead a balanced roster. Riverhawks dropped games to Richland (x2) and Gonzaga Prep, but have a win over West Valley on their resume.

No. 13 Woodinville (19-7) — Three straight trips to state for Mike Kelly’s group. Guard Luke Unruh (12 ppg) is the facilitator; he averages six assists per game and set the school’s single-season assist record with 143 and counting. 6-foot-6 junior guard Drake Penberthy (15.5 ppg, 7 reb) is the focal point on offense.

TNT Championship Pick

No. 2 Richland 74, No. 1 Mount Si 70