(University Place, WA) One of our holiday traditions at ESN is going up to University Place and Curtis High School for the annual Curtis Winter Classic. Three days and 12 high level boys basketball games await us each year with exciting teams from both in the state of Washington and from other states and even other countries sometimes. Eight teams total will step into Ray Beard Gymnasium with all eight teams guaranteed three games.
This year, three states will be represented with six teams residing in Washington while once again a team from Colorado will make the long journey and a team from Utah will enter the tournament for the first time ever. Four games will be played on each Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in a traditional tournament format. The hosts are the defending champions as Curtis took down Eaglecrest out of Colorado in an epic championship game last year. Former champions O’Dea and Mount Spokane will both be in the tournament this season.
ESN will live stream all 12 games on the NFHS (subscription) Network. The cost is $11.99 for 30 days, it is not a pay-per-view just the one-time cost of $12. You can cancel at any time, no contract. Below we links to our broadcast schedule page with links direct to each game or a direct link to our landing page on the NFHS network where all the games are posted. If you already have an NFHS subscription you do not need another one, you are good to go.
Down below, we gave a quick breakdown of all eight teams that will play in this year’s tournament. Now let’s meet the teams!
Thursday 1st round matchups
Game 1: 4pm Tip-Off, Kentwood (WA) vs. Timberline (WA)
Kentwood Conquerors
Head Coach: Blake Solomon
The Kentwood Conquerors have developed a proud reputation that is personified through their head coach Blake Solomon. The “Conks” claimed fourth in State last season, and are shaping to be a contender once again. After a season opening loss against Auburn, Kentwood has gone on a tear. The Conquerors won their next four games with an average margin of victory of 27 points a game. Last Saturday, Kentwood faced a battle tested Franklin Pierce team that took them to the limit. It took a Mason St. Louis 3-pointer with three seconds left to send the game into overtime. In the overtime session, Kentwood outscored Franklin Pierce 7-3 for an incredible 64-60 overtime win. The Conks offense that night was led by St. Louis with 26 points with 4 more 3’s on the evening, Corey Tita’s 21 pts, and Brandon Tagle’s 10 points. Tagle not only stars as the guard for the “Conks”, but also was the starting quarterback for Kentwood. The Conquerors have all the pieces to make noise, but more importantly play for a title this weekend.
Timberline Blazers
Head Coach: Allen Thomas
The Timberline Blazers have embarked on a strong start to their 2024 campaign. Head Coach Allen Thomas enters his 13th season at the helm of the Timberline program. Offense is the staple of this Timberline side, averaging 78.8 points a game. Timberline’s season includes hard fought wins against Shorewood and River Ridge. Their 4-1 record matches the same standard of the team that qualified for regionals last season. When you watch Timberline, prepare for plenty of offense. It begins with their senior guard Kenyon Simmons, who averages 16.8 PPG. Simmons also supplies plenty of rebounds for Timberline, averaging 8 boards a game. Carmelo Roper serves as a compliment to Simmons, Roper averages 12.8 PPG and 8.4 boards. Josh Tichenor provides an eloquent shooting presence for the Blazers averaging 12.8 PPG. Timberline will score and score aplenty, their offense make for an entertaining contender in Curtis Winter Classic.
Game 2: 5:30pm Tip-Off, Mount Spokane (WA) vs Doherty (CO)
Mount Spokane Wildcats
Head Coach: David Wagenblast
After winning the 2021 Curtis Winter Classic and finishing third in the 2022 edition, the Mount Spokane Wildcats took a year off last year but will return to University Place this week. Reaching the semifinals in each of the last three 3A state tournaments, the Wildcats once again have a strong team put together by head coach David Wagenblast. Since taking over the program in 2015, Wagenblast has made the Wildcats a perennial contender and a tough out for anyone regardless of classification.
A whopping nine seniors graduated after last season but the Wildcats have seemingly reloaded quickly. With the 6’8 Jaden Ghoreishi and 6’5 Cade Strocsher joining the fray, Mount Spokane will still have plenty of size and strength across the floor. Nalu Vargas, Lucas Dickau, and Colt Kenison are the only returners from last year’s team that fell to eventual state champions Eastside Catholic by two in the semifinals before defeating O’Dea for the third-place trophy. After starting off the year at 1-2, the Wildcats have won back-to-back games over Ridgeline and Central Valley and will play Gonzaga Prep before making the trip to the west side.
Doherty Spartans
Head Coach: Gerald Brimble
After seeing fellow 6A school from Colorado in Eaglecrest reach the championship game of last year’s Curtis Winter Classic, the Doherty Spartans will look to represent the Centennial State in this year’s edition. After an 18-5 campaign last season saw the Spartans make their way into the 6A state tournament as the #11 seed, Doherty defeated George Washington before losing to eventual 6A state champions in Valor Chirstian to end their season.
While they did lose a couple of key players off of last year’s team in James Pulliam and Solomon Latimer, the cupboards were still full of talent that saw a ton of playing time last year as starters and members of the rotation. Elijah Mack is the big name to watch as his 22 points per game leads the team and is almost a nine point increase from last season. Add in his 7.5 rebounds per game and you have a superstar on your hands. Helping out the senior is a junior in Zander Muna who has stormed out to a strong start this season. Muna averages both three steals and three assists per game while scoring 13.5 points per game.
A couple of close, single digit losses have the Spartans off to an 0-2 start as they make their trip to Washington. They will take on Monroe on Wednesday before taking part in the tournament beginning Thursday to make it four games in four days. Doherty might need a third scorer to have a strong week but the Spartans have enough talent to make a big run in this year’s tournament.
Game 3: 7pm Tip-Off, West Valley (Yakima) (WA) vs Curtis (WA)
West Valley Rams
Head Coach: Tyson Whitfield
The West Valley Rams come into the Curtis Winter Classic with a record of 2-3. However, the Rams have lost to Gonzaga Prep and Davis, who are both undefeated, and Post Falls out of Idaho who’s above .500, and two of their three losses have come in overtime. West Valley’s three losses have also been by single digits so their 2-3 record is deceiving. Last year, West Valley was the 12 seed in the Opening Round where the Rams lost to Camas after having a 14-8 record. Landen Birley leads the Rams squad, the Idaho State commit also has his running mate, Parker Mills who’s also a great scorer. West Valley has scored 60 or more points in four of their five games, including a whopping 85 points in their season opener against Grandview.
Curtis Vikings
Head Coach: Tim Kelly
The defending Curtis Winter Classic champs come into the tournament with a 2-4 record before playing SPSL North foes Puyallup on Tuesday night. Curtis picked up a big SPSL North win against Sumner, 57-50, last Thursday. The two Curtis wins on the season have been against SPSL opponents, and the Vikings nearly beat Rogers (Puyallup) on the road but fell by three points. Curtis is led by football star Xavier Ahrens, who’s a strong post player, and Kametrius Babbs is an athletic scorer for Curtis. Both of the Curtis wins have come on their home floor, as the Vikings will look to use that advantage to go back-to-back at their home tournament.
Game 4: 8:30pm Tip-Off, Davis (UT) vs O’Dea (WA)
Davis Darts
Head Coach: Chad Sims
Chad Sims is in his 11th season at Davis and won a 6A State Title in 2021. Overall, Davis has 8 State Titles with 2 coming in the 2000’s(21’ and 02’). Last season the Darts went 17-8 and lost in the 6A quarterfinals. Davis lost a few players to graduation most notable is Zach Fisher who averaged 14.5 pts and 5.6 rebounds last season.
Leading scorer Coleman Atwater is back for his senior season. Last season Atwater averaged 14.9 points and 3 rebounds for the season. This year Atwater has stepped it up averaging 19 points and 4.5 rebounds.
The Darts are getting major contributions from 6 ‘1 junior JT Turley (13.8 ppg) and 6’ 3 sophomore Bode Sparrow (11.2 ppg and 3.5 apg) both seeing their roles extended after limited minutes last year.
The duo in the paint 6’5 Tradon Bessinger (5 ppg) and 6’6 Croyden Christian (8 ppg) both average 6 rebounds a game. The bench is deep for coach Sims with all 12 of players on the roster playing in every game this season.
This season Davis is 6-1 and looking for another deep run into the Utah 6A tournament. They would first like to take home some hardware from the Curtis Winter Classic.
O’Dea Fighting Irish
Head Coach: Jason Kerr
After beating defending champion Garfield in the quarterfinals last year at the Tacoma Dome the Irish stumbled in their next two games on the way to a 5th place finish.
Head coach Jason Kerr is now in his 10th year at O’Dea and looking to bring his 2nd state title home. O’Dea is a perennial 3A power with 6 titles and 12 title game appearances in their history.
The Irish have 6’7 senior Breylon Webb and 6’4 junior Brian Webster back from last year’s starters. Levi Orbino was fun to watch at the dome with his high energy and fearless attitude. With a relatively new team who will step up and be Webb’s partner in the paint?
6’9 sophomore Gene Woodard could be the answer but those are some big shoes to fill. Giulio Banchero the younger brother of NBA #1 overall Pick and O’Dea Grad Paolo Banchero might know something about filling “big shoes”. The 6’4 junior won a football title with the Irish now he is hoping the success translates to the hardwood.
The Irish are loaded with the talent to make a big splash in 3A this year. First they have to get through a tough Curtis Winter Classic.
