4A boys basketball team capsules

The favorites

Franklin Quakers

Location: Seattle.

Record: 21-2 (KingCo Mountain Division and Sea-King District champions).

Head coach: Jason Kerr (fourth year).

Key players: G Aaron Brooks, 6-0, Sr., 23.5 ppg, 7.5 apg; F Kellen Williams, 6-5, Sr., 19.8 ppg, 13 rpg; G Ricky Washington, 5-11, Sr., 10.5 ppg; F John Rogers, 6-5, Jr., 9.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg; G Lyndale Burleson, 6-3, Jr., 9.5 ppg, 5 apg.

Inside look: Top-ranked Quakers have won 16 straight. Franklin has qualified for state 10 times in past 12 years, last winning it all in 1995. Brooks is a McDonald's All-American, one of only five Washington players to earn that honor, and will play next year at Oregon. Burleson is a national-caliber recruit. Quakers average 80.9 points and have scored 90 or more seven times.

Outlook: Quakers must be ready to play, as they've drawn dreaded "Egg McMuffin" game at 9 a.m. Avoid upset and they could be on their way to title showdown with No. 2 Mead, though a tough semifinal round looms.

Mead Panthers

Location: Spokane.

Record: 25-0 (first in Greater Spokane League, GSL tournament and East Regional).

Head coach: Glenn Williams (fifth year).

Key players: F Adam Morrison, 6-7, Sr., 29.1 ppg, 8 rpg; G Bryan Williams, 6-1, Sr., 11.9 ppg, 6 apg; G Eric Fink, 6-2, Sr., 9.1 ppg; F Justin Dobson, 6-4, Sr., 7.5 ppg.

Inside look: Second-ranked Panthers are only unbeaten team remaining, but program hasn't won a state-tournament game since 1989. Morrison, a diabetic, is GSL's all-time leading scorer and has committed to Gonzaga. Point guard Williams is the coach's son and a first-team, all-GSL player.

Outlook: Favorable draw kept Panthers in opposite half-bracket of Franklin and South Kitsap, the team that eliminated them last year.

The contenders

Central Valley Bears

Location: Veradale (suburban Spokane).

Record: 19-6 (second in Greater Spokane League, GSL tournament and East Regional).

Head coach: Rick Sloan (seventh year).

Key players: F Derek Taylor, 6-5, Sr., 17.4 ppg; G Ryan Heacock, 6-1, Sr., 10.4 ppg; F C.J. Nagel, 6-5, Sr., 10 ppg; G Justin Bright, 5-10, Sr., 9.5 ppg.

Inside look: Three losses were to unbeaten Mead and another came against top-ranked Franklin. Program is back at state tournament for first time since 1999. Top eight players are seniors.

Outlook: Tough first-round draw against South Kitsap. That could be best Day 1 matchup. Bears would like nothing more than Mead-Central Valley IV on Saturday night, but likely would have to go through Kentwood and Franklin to make it happen.

Kentwood Conquerors

Location: Covington.

Record: 23-2 (South Puget Sound League North Division and West Central District champions).

Head coach: Dean Montzingo (second year).

Inside look: Kentwood has won 11 straight games. Rodney Stuckey can play with the best of them and was MVP of district tournament. Mgebroff will play next year at Lehigh. Only losses were to Auburn and Kent-Meridian. Conquerors are playing for fallen senior teammate Ben Dimeo, who died in a car accident Feb. 21.

Outlook: Conquerors should get past Mount Vernon, but could be in for a tough game in quarterfinals. Team has played well of late, beating Lincoln for district championship.

Lincoln Abes

Location: Tacoma.

Record: 17-10 (third in Narrows League Bay Division, fifth in Narrows League, second in West Central District).

Head coach: Tim Kelly (10th year).

Key players: F Ben Shelton, 6-5, Sr., 14.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 4 apg; F Amos Saffold, 6-4, Sr., 10.6 ppg, 6.7 rpg; G Andre Thompson, 6-3, Sr., 9.5 ppg; F Jason Shepard, 6-6, Sr., 8 ppg.

Inside look: Two-time defending state champions have won 10 straight games at state. They have qualified six times in past seven years under Kelly. Four starters played on both state-title teams.

Outlook: Given their experience and recent track record at Tacoma Dome, don't count Abes out. If they get past Eastlake, they'll likely see Mead in quarterfinals.

Location: Snohomish.

Record: 20-2 (first in WesCo North Division, first in Northwest District).

Head coach: Len Bone (seventh year).

Key players: P Jon Brockman, 6-7, So., 19.8 ppg; F Paul Brockman, 6-5, Jr., 18.2 ppg; P Eric Mock, 6-5, Sr., 9.9 ppg; G Garrett Heinemann, 6-2, Sr., 7.4 ppg; G Nate Parker, 6-0, Sr., 5.1 ppg.

Inside look: Brockman brothers give Panthers powerful one-two punch. Program went to state last year for first time since 1987, finishing seventh. Snohomish's only losses have been to Mount Vernon and Bellingham.

Outlook: It wouldn't be a surprise to see Snohomish in semifinals, but Panthers likely will have to get by Mead to reach championship game.

South Kitsap Wolves

Location: Port Orchard.

Record: 23-2 (first in Narrows League Bridge Division, first in Narrows League, fifth in West Central District).

Head coach: John Callaghan (fifth year).

Key players: F Jacob Beitinger, 6-8, Jr., 14 ppg, 9 rpg; G Nate Seitz, 6-4, Sr., 11 ppg; F Adam Bennett, 6-7, Jr., 10 ppg, 6 rpg; G Brian Cox, 6-0, Sr., 9 ppg, 7 apg; G Trivone Curry, 6-2, Sr., 7 ppg, 4 apg, 3 spg.

Inside look: Wolves won school's first boys basketball state trophy since 1950 last year, placing eighth. They had to scramble to qualify this year after being upset by Kent-Meridian in first round of district tournament. Their only other loss was to Gig Harbor.

Outlook: Wolves have difficult first-round game against Central Valley and road doesn't get any easier. If Beitinger gets hot, as he did last year, Wolves could make a run.

Might surprise

Bethel Braves

Location: Graham.

Record: 21-4 (first in South Puget Sound League South Division, sixth in West Central District).

Head coach: Pat Mullen (seventh year).

Key players: G Jordan Sutton, 5-10, So., 10 ppg, 4 apg; G Jamil Turner, 6-0, So., 10 ppg; C Brandon Moore, 6-7, 8 ppg, 6 rpg, 3 bpg; F Johnny DuRocher, 6-5, Sr., 8 ppg, 6 rpg, 3 apg.

Inside look: Braves are making fifth straight state appearance under Mullen. DuRocher and Gienger will play football in college, DuRocher as a quarterback at Oregon and Gienger as a linebacker at Central Washington. Young team has three sophomore starters.

Outlook: Three of Bethel's four losses have come against teams in tournament. But first-round matchup with top-ranked Franklin will be difficult to survive, especially with a young, inexperienced backcourt.

Pasco Bulldogs

Location: Pasco.

Record: 20-5 (Big Nine and district champs, third in East Regional).

Head coach: Chad Herron (second year).

Inside look: Bulldogs making first state appearance since 1996. All five starters have double-figure scoring averages. Groce is Big Nine MVP. Clyde played quarterback for Connell's Class 2A state-championship football team last fall, but transferred to Pasco in late December. Bulldogs are tough and physical.

Outlook: Pasco must overcome first-time state jitters. If Bulldogs get past first-round opponent Rogers, their reward likely will be top-ranked Franklin.

Prairie Falcons

Location: Brush Prairie.

Record: 20-6 (Greater St. Helens League and Southwest District champions, third in West Central District).

Head coach: Kyle Brooks (third year).

Key players: F Patrick Oury, 6-5, Sr., 19 ppg, 7 rpg; F John McKee, 6-5, Jr., 14 ppg, 7 rpg; G Chase Wilson, 5-11, Sr., 11 ppg, 7.5 apg, 4 spg.

Inside look: Prairie is making its fourth trip to state in past seven years. Brooks was GSHL Coach of Year. Team has four players averaging in double figures.

Outlook: Prairie has good size, which could prove valuable in quarter-bracket that also includes Snohomish.

Longshots

Eastlake Wolves

Location: Sammamish.

Record: 17-7 (first in KingCo Lake Division, second in Sea-King District).

Head coach: Rich Belcher (fifth year).

Key players: G Nick Livi, 6-0, Jr., 19.1 ppg, 4.1 apg; G Jason Williams, 5-9, Sr., 15.5 ppg; F Ryan Shane, 6-5, Sr., 12.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg; F Jason Duty, 6-7, Sr., 10.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg; G Pat O'Leary, 6-3, Sr., 6.5 ppg, 6.2 apg.

Inside look: Wolves survived tough district to claim third state berth in five years under Belcher. Livi and Williams are one of state's better guard tandems. O'Leary is only player with state-tournament experience.

Outlook: Eastlake has four-game, state-tournament losing streak dating to 1999. But if Wolves get past Lincoln, they likely will face Mead in quarterfinals.

Federal Way Eagles

Location: Federal Way.

Record: 17-9 (third in South Puget Sound League South Division, seventh in West Central District).

Head coach: Jerome Collins (19th year).

Key players: C Nate Sanchez, 6-7, Sr., 19 ppg, 10 rpg; PG Myron Hennings, 6-4, Sr., 18 ppg; W Darius Alo, 6-3, Jr., 8 ppg; PG/W Andre Piper-Jordan, 6-0, Sr., 8 ppg.

Inside look: Eagles are back at state for second year in a row. Sanchez and Hennings are college prospects, but have yet to commit. Piper-Jordan signed to play football at Eastern Washington.

Outlook: Federal Way edged Gig Harbor to claim district's last state berth. A win over Mead would be biggest upset of opening day.

Mountlake Terrace Hawks

Location: Mountlake Terrace.

Record: 16-8 (third in WesCo South Division, third in Northwest District).

Head coach: Nalin Sood (third year).

Key players: P Ryan Strieby, 6-6, Sr., 16 ppg, 10 rpg; G Sean Gearin, 6-2, Sr., 12 ppg, 4 rpg; G Luke Hammond, 6-0, So., 11 ppg, 4 apg; G Mike Boxley, 6-4, So., 6 ppg, 5 rpg, 3 apg; F Justin Christianson, 6-2, Sr., 5 ppg, 7 rpg.

Inside look: Hawks back at state for the first time since 2000. Strieby was all-WesCo South first-team selection. Sood is only third head coach in school's 43-year history. Terrace, which starts two sophomores, had to win three loser-out games to qualify.

Outlook: On paper, Hawks don't appear to have firepower necessary to challenge for title. Senior leadership and tough defense are strengths.

Location: Mount Vernon.

Record: 15-8 (second in WesCo North Division, second in Northwest District).

Head coach: Torey Swanson (second year).

Key players: G Kyle Kendrick, 6-3, Sr., 14.5 ppg, 5 rpg; F Chris Williams, 6-1, Sr., 12.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg; F Shane Gibbons, 6-4, Jr., 10.2 ppg, 7.5 rpg; G Lucas Scott, 5-8, Sr., 9.5 ppg; G Jake Moore, 5-10, So., 8.5 ppg, 4 apg, 2.5 spg.

Inside look: Bulldogs won 3A title in 2001. Great basketball tradition. Team has talented outside shooters and plays tough defense. Tallest starter is 6-4. Kendrick is one of the state's best athletes and will play baseball at WSU next year. Bulldogs started 3-4 before hitting their stride.

Outlook: Mount Vernon will need to play one of its better games to get past Kentwood. Bulldogs drew perhaps toughest quarter-bracket of tournament.

Rogers Rams

Location: Puyallup.

Record: 15-10 (second in South Puget Sound League South Division, fourth in West Central District).

Head coach: Rod Iverson (15th year).

Key players: G Chase Van Cleave, 6-1, Jr., 13.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg; G Jesse Futch, 6-2, Sr., 13.1 ppg; F Kris Gallagher, 6-3, Jr., 7.9 ppg, 5.7 rpg; P Zach Atkinson, 6-3, Sr., 7 ppg, 4.9 rpg.

Inside look: Rams are making second state appearance in past three years. Futch and Van Cleave are consistent backcourt scoring combination. Team has no starter taller than 6-3; tallest player off bench is 6-5.

Outlook: Rogers lost last two district-tournament games, to Kentwood and Prairie. Rams might have tough time stopping slide against Pasco.

Walla Walla Blue Devils

Location: Walla Walla.

Record: 18-8 (third in Big Nine, fourth in district, fourth in East Regional).

Head coach: Jim Thacker (28th year).

Key players: G Pierce Johnson, 6-1, Sr., 10.5 ppg; G Bryce Pendleton, 5-11, Jr., 10 ppg; P Craig Mettler, 6-4, Jr., 9.5 ppg, 7 rpg; G Travis Poulson, 5-9, Sr., 8 ppg; P Casey Waddell, 6-4, Sr., 7.5 ppg, 6 rpg.

Inside look: The last time Blue Devils made state, in 1999, they won it all. Mettler is big-time college football prospect who can play inside and outside. Pendleton transferred from Sequim, where older brother Chris led Wolves to eighth place in 2001.

Outlook: Walla Walla will depend on structured, halfcourt game to see it through. But first-round meeting with Snohomish is difficult test.