Boys favorites

Davis Pirates

Location: Yakima

Record: 20-2

Coach: Eli Juarez

Key players: David Trimble, 6-2, Sr., 15 ppg; Devonte Luckett, 6-2, Sr., 12 ppg; Ray Navarro, 5-11, Sr., 10 ppg.

Inside look: The state's top-ranked team brings a large portion of the core group that placed fifth in 2011 back to Tacoma.

Central Valley Bears

Location: Spokane Valley

Record: 20-3

Coach: Rick Sloan

Key players: Austin Rehkow, 6-1, Jr., 12 ppg; Gaven Deyarmin, 6-1, Sr., 10 ppg; Anthony Brommer, 6-2, Sr., 9 ppg.

Inside look: The second-ranked Bears enter the tournament winners of 17 straight — 13 decided by nine points or less.

Boys contenders

Garfield Bulldogs

Location: Seattle

Record: 19-5

Coach: Ed Haskins

Key players: Tucker Haymond, 6-5, Jr., 22 ppg; Tre'Vaunte' Williams, 6-5, Jr., 17 ppg; Daniel Greer, 6-2, Sr., 9 ppg.

Inside look: The Bulldogs, ranked No. 3, are balanced, featuring the potent one-two combination of Haymond and Williams.

Bellarmine Prep Lions

Location: Tacoma

Record: 23-3

Coach: Bernie Salazar

Key players: Lucas Meikle, 6-8, Jr., 14 ppg; David Smith, 6-4, Sr., 13 ppg; Sefo Liufau, 6-5, Jr., 11 ppg.

Inside look: If the Lions lose this weekend, it won't be a blowout. Of their three losses, all have been by seven points or less.

Bothell Cougars

Location: Bothell

Record: 17-9

Coach: Ron Bollinger

Key players: Zach LaVine, 6-3, Jr., 24 ppg; Perrion Callandret, 6-1, Jr., 17 ppg; Aaron Wilks, 6-5, Jr., 6 ppg.

Inside look: The Cougars could be the surprise of the tournament if LaVine and Callandret get hot.

Jackson Timberwolves

Location: Mill Creek

Record: 19-5

Coach: Steve Johnson

Key players: Jason Todd, 6-5, So., 19 ppg; Dan Kingma, 5-9, So., 9 ppg; Sam Brown, 6-0, Sr., 9 ppg.

Inside look: Jackson is young, but the Timberwolves won't go quietly. Todd is blossoming into a great player.

Mount Rainier Rams

Location: Des Moines

Record: 18-10

Coach: Brian Johnson

Key players: Malik Rodgers, 5-9, Sr., 14 ppg; Adrian Davis, 6-1, So., 17 ppg; Caden Rowland, Jr., 6-4, 17 ppg.

Inside look: It has been an up-and-down season for the Rams, but they've won games when they needed to.

Union Titans

Location: Vancouver

Record: 18-7

Coach: Maco Hamilton

Key players: Jordan Chatman, 6-5, Sr., 21 ppg; Tanner Nelson, 6-3, Sr., 15 ppg; Tyler Copp, 6-1, Jr., 12 ppg.

Inside look: The Titans were the 3A state champions in 2010. Can the BYU-bound Chatman and Union surprise and win another title?

Mason Kelley