3/14/2025
Over the past week, ESN broadcasted 180 Games of the WIAA State Basketball Tournament from all three locations (Tacoma, Yakima, and Spokane). But which games stood above the rest? Here we look at the top ten games across State Tournament weekend. The broadcasts for all 180 games can be found through a subscription on the NFHS Network.
Before we begin the list, here are our honorable mentions.
Honorable Mentions:
4A Boy’s Round of 12 #8 Puyallup 64 #9 Davis 60
4A Boy’s Quarterfinal #3 Glacier Peak 44 #5 Camas 42 (OT)
4A Boy’s Quarterfinal #6 West Valley (Yak) 73 #4 Richland 70
3A Boy’s Semifinal #5 Edmonds-Woodway 41 #2 Mount Spokane 34
2A Boy’s Quarterfinal #2 R.A. Long 50 #8 Mark Morris 48
1A Boy’s Quarterfinal #4 Zillah 61 #6 Seton Catholic 59
4A Girl’s Quarterfinal #13 Glacier Peak 64 #3 Chiawana 62
3A Girl’s Round of 12 #19 Garfield 51 #3 White River 47
3A Girl’s Semifinal #6 Lakeside (Sea) 42 #2 North Thurston 40
2A Girl’s 3rd Place Game #3 Deer Park 52 #6 Prosser 50
Here is our top ten.
#10 3A Boy’s Quarterfinal Mount Spokane 52 Bellarmine 48 (OT)
The State tournament had plenty of examples of winning ugly. This was highlighted in this tension filled quarterfinal. In the end, Jaden Ghoreishi carried Mount Spokane through overtime to their fourth straight semifinal. Ghoreishi nearly ended the game on this shot.
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#9 4A Girls 4th Place Game #4 Woodinville 55 #13 Glacier Peak 54
It would take a lot to put a consolation game on our list, but this game sure fit the billing. Glacier Peak the 13th seed in the tournament led by superstar Brynna Pukis, faced a familiar Woodinville team that had trounced them in all their previous meetings. Woodinville trailed at one point by 20, and began the second half with all five starters quickly drawing four fouls early. In the closing seconds, Woodinville’s Sienna Bieler scored at the horn to pull off the stunner.
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#8 2B Girl’s Round of 12 #9 Mabton 64 #1 Rainier 59
It is not often the top seed is eliminated before the quarterfinals, but Mabton made the most of their chance and recorded an upset of Rainier sealing the game in the closing seconds.
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#7 2B Boy’s Quarterfinal Freeman 54 Northwest Christian 46 (OT)
Colton Wells ties the game to send the quarterfinal into overtime.
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#6 4A Boy’s Quarterfinals #1 Gonzaga Prep 53 #2 Auburn 50 (OT)
It is always a treat to see #1 vs #2 in the State Tournament. This matchup did not disappoint. The overtime pace below is emblematic of the tension from the game.
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#5 1A Boy’s Round of 12 #5 King’s 69 #12 Bellevue Christian 67 (OT)
King’s and Bellevue Christian battled on Saturday night to crown a girl’s 1A Champion, on Wednesday the two schools clashed for one of the most intense games of the weekend. Bellevue Christian jumped out to a 34-24 lead in the first half. King’s ferociously rallied to take a 54-44 lead in the fourth quarter. Drake Penberthy capped Bellevue Christian’s comeback with a dramatic three pointer to close out regulation and force overtime. Andrew Gerbing at the end of overtime, punctuated a wild game in the final seconds of overtime.
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#4 3A Girl’s Semifinal #1 Central Valley 51 #19 Garfield 49
Central Valley came into the semifinals undefeated. Garfield however came in winners of the last four 3A Championships. It was only poetic the game would come down to the dying seconds.
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#3 2B Girl’s State Championship #8 Northwest Christian Colbert 73 #2 Adna 66 (OT)
With the season on the line, Kaitlyn Waters’ floater sends the 2B Girl’s Championship into overtime. A seesaw battle that only a championship game could offer saw Northwest Christian rally with an incredible title for the 8th seed in the tournament.
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#2 1A Girl’s Semifinal #4 King’s 45 #1 Lynden Christian 44
Kaleo Anderson is without question one of the best players in the State. There’s the old adage, big time players make big time plays. That sentiment could not be more true for King’s superstar. With the season on the line, Anderson did not miss.
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#1 4A Boy’s State Championship #1 Gonzaga Prep 57 #8 Puyallup 55
It is only fitting this barnburner is the best game of State weekend. Gonzaga Prep led for nearly the entire game. Puyallup never trailing by more than seven. The eighth seeded Vikings rallied to tie the game in the final minute. It took this shot from Brogan Howell to put Gonzaga Prep in front in what was the eventual winning shot.
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