Class AAA Boys

SEATTLE COLISEUM AUBURN -- NICKNAME - Trojans. -- LOCATION - Auburn. -- RECORD - 17-9 (SPSL North Division). -- HEAD COACH - Dave Denny, first season (spent previous 16 seasons as Mark Morris head coach). -- PLAYERS TO WATCH - G Torrey Spear, 6-2, sr., 11 ppg; F Jeff Davis, 6-2, sr.; C Cameron Curry, 6-5, sr.; F Wendell Krohn, 6-4, sr.; G Marc Singer, 5-11, sr. -- OUTLOOK - Team rode the Trojan dark horse to fifth-place finish at state last season, but most those starters graduated. Short, quick Trojans are long shots again.

BELLARMINE PREP -- NICKNAME - Lions. -- LOCATION - Tacoma. -- RECORD - 22-1 (Narrows League). -- HEAD COACH - Steve Anstett, 25th season. -- PLAYERS TO WATCH - G Chris Pierce, 6-2, sr., 12 ppg; G Mike Miller, 6-6, jr.; 12 ppg; F Steve Westphal, 6-4, sr.; F Jake Guadnola, 6-4, jr., 15 ppg; C Nate Hoyer, 6-5, sr., 10 ppg; F/C Jeff Nadeau, 6-3, sr., 10 ppg. -- OUTLOOK - Second-ranked Lions have won 16 straight games and swept to title in tough West Central District. Bellarmine in tough half of bracket but might be best bet to knock off tourney-favorite Kamiakin.

CENTRAL VALLEY -- NICKNAME - Bears. -- LOCATION - Veradale (Spokane Valley). -- RECORD - 19-6 (Greater Spokane League). -- HEAD COACH - Terry Irwin, 10th season. -- PLAYERS TO WATCH - G Kyle Latta, 6-0, jr., 9 ppg; G Ryan Looney, 6-0, jr., 12 ppg; G Jeremy Mort, 6-0, jr., 10 ppg; F Paul Allen, 6-6, jr., 12 ppg; C Byron Anderson, 6-8, sr., 7.3 ppg, 8 rpg. -- OUTLOOK - Eighth-ranked Bears are stocked with young guns with long range. As long as shots fall, Bears won't. Defense tough. Only Kamiakin (62-40 loss) has scored more than 49 points against CV in past nine games.

CURTIS -- NICKNAME - Vikings. -- LOCATION - University Place (Tacoma). -- RECORD - 19-5 (SPSL South Division). -- HEAD COACH - Lindsay Bemis, second season, 34-11. -- PLAYERS TO WATCH - C Matt Nickel, 6-6, sr., 15 ppg, 10 rpg; G Todd Kennedy, 6-0, sr., 12 points; G Aaron Kennedy, 6-0, sr., 12 ppg. -- OUTLOOK - Nickel was SPSL South MVP, and quick-striking transition game rides Kennedy Expressway to the hole. Vikes also play pressing, trapping defense. Strong chance for school's first state-final appearance since 1985.

DECATUR -- NICKNAME - Gators. -- LOCATION - Federal Way. -- RECORD - 16-9 (SPSL North Division). -- HEAD COACH - Ed Boyce, third season 45-26. -- PLAYERS TO WATCH - G Roberto Bergersen, 6-5, jr.; G Andre Pleasant, 6-5, so.; P Tony Norman, 6-5, jr.; G Jovan Hollins, 6-3, jr.; G Kevin Henderson, 5-11, sr.; G/F Kyle Howat, 6-6, sr. -- OUTLOOK - Gators had won 13 of 14 games until 19-point loss to Bellarmine in district final. Had lost to Bellarmine by only two in early-season meeting. Team has state experience (second straight trip) and decent draw.

EISENHOWER -- NICKNAME - Cadets. -- LOCATION - Yakima. -- RECORD - 16-8 (Big Nine). -- HEAD COACH - John Felton, fifth season. -- PLAYERS TO WATCH - G Jesse Walter, 5-9, jr., 15.3 ppg; C Malcolm Stewart, 6-5, so., 12.4 ppg; F Josh Wyrick, 6-3, sr. -- OUTLOOK - Won 11 of 12 games after 2-5 start, with only loss in the stretch to top-ranked Kamiakin. Wyrick only senior with significant playing time.

FEDERAL WAY -- NICKNAME - Eagles. -- LOCATION - Federal Way. -- RECORD - 16-8 (SPSL North Division). -- HEAD COACH - Jerome Collins, eighth season. -- PLAYERS TO WATCH - F Mike Dickerson, 6-6, jr., 22 ppg, 8 rpg; G Kenyattah Reed, 5-11, sr., 15 ppg; G Travis Henry, 6-0, sr., 11 ppg; G Brian Holsinger, 5-10, jr.; F David Stone, 6-1, jr. -- OUTLOOK - Despite exploits of Star Times all-Seattle-area pick Dickerson (who transferred from Decatur), team has shown deceptively balanced offense. Still, Eagles tend to be like Mike. When he's on, so are Eagles. When he's not, they fade away.

FERRIS -- NICKNAME - Saxons. -- LOCATION - Spokane. -- RECORD - 22-3 (Greater Spokane League). -- HEAD COACH - Wayne Gilman, 10th year. -- PLAYERS TO WATCH - G Kyle Henneberry, 5-11, sr.; G David Ohman, 6-1, sr., 18 ppg; F Matt Sachse, 6-3, jr., 15 ppg; F James Marshall, 6-3, jr.; F Bobby Jones, 6-0, sr. -- OUTLOOK - Saxons got the David Letterman game (10 p.m.) on opening day, but along with it a list of reasons they should earn a trophy. No. 3: Kamiakin in other half of bracket. No. 2: Spokane little known No-Doze capital of West. And No. 1: Two words - Marysville-Pilchuck.

JUANITA -- NICKNAME - Rebels. -- LOCATION - Kirkland. -- RECORD - 16-10 (KingCo Conference). -- HEAD COACH - Jim McDonald, second season, 39-16. -- PLAYERS TO WATCH - F Pat Russell, 6-4, sr., 14 ppg; G Brian Towne, 6-1, jr., 10 ppg; G Rob Peterson, 6-4, so., 7 ppg; F Justin Browning, 6-6, sr.; F Tom Hanson, 6-4, jr. -- OUTLOOK - Won nine of 11 games after 2-5 start to make playoffs. Made state by coming back from seven-point deficit in final 22 seconds of loser-out game. To win Juanita would likely have to beat, in order, No. 2 Bellarmine, No. 7 Mercer Island, No. 1 Kamiakin and No. 3 Redmond.

KAMIAKIN -- NICKNAME - Braves. -- LOCATION - Kennewick. -- RECORD - 24-1 (Big Nine). -- HEAD COACH - Don Schumacher, 14th season, 210-106. -- PLAYERS TO WATCH - C Scot Pollard, 7-0, sr., 20.1 ppg, 15 rpg; G Tony Schumacher, 6-2, sr., 10.1; F Scott Roberts, 6-3, sr., 9.1; F Jess Utecht, 6-4, sr., 10.7; G Dan Legard, 6-5, jr., 7.1; C/F Pat Kaelber, 6-9, jr.; F Ryan Franklin, 6-4, jr. -- OUTLOOK - Pollard (Kansas) and Schumacher (Utah State) are NCAA Division I signees. Roberts might be one of top three defensive players in state. Braves return top four scorers from last year's state runner-up and add last year's 7-foot San Diego section player of the year.

KELSO

-- NICKNAME - Hilanders. -- LOCATION - Kelso. -- RECORD - 20-2 (Greater St. Helens League). -- HEAD COACH - Jeff Reinland, fourth year. -- PLAYERS TO WATCH - C Ryan Chilton, 7-0, sr., 21 ppg, 15 rpg; G Tom Lloyd, 6-3, sr., 20 ppg; G Jason Hight, 5-10, sr.; F Cody Morrison, 6-2, sr. -- OUTLOOK - Little-known team from southwest Washington has won 13 straight games and has big-time center in Chilton (Colorado State). An opening-round victory against Federal Way should produce quarterfinal matchup of tourney's only two 7-footers (Chilton and Kamiakin's Pollard).

MARYSVILLE-PILCHUCK

-- NICKNAME - Tomahawks -- LOCATION - Marysville. -- RECORD - 12-13 (Western AAA Conference). -- HEAD COACH - Mike Lowery, 10th season. -- PLAYERS TO WATCH - G Bary Gould, 6-1, sr., 14 ppg; G Brooks Meek-Anderson, 5-11 jr., 10 ppg; F Nate Navarro, 6-2, sr.; C Zach Ward, 6-3, jr. -- OUTLOOK - 0-20 last season, Tommies opened this season 1-7. But they've won five of last six, including a two-point loser-out victory Saturday over 10th-ranked Cascade - without their leading-scorer Gould (back strain).

MERCER ISLAND

-- NICKNAME - Islanders. -- LOCATION - Mercer Island. -- RECORD - 19-6 (KingCo Conference). -- HEAD COACH - Ed Pepple, 26th season, 542-136 (33rd season overall, 614-204). -- PLAYERS TO WATCH - PG Grant Farmer, 5-11, sr.; G Terik Brown, 6-0, so., 9.4 ppg; F Jason Cooper, 6-3, jr., 13.9 ppg; G Bobby Fielder, 6-2, sr., 10.7 ppg; F Pete Spear, 6-3, sr.; C Jeff Knoll, 6-8, so., 4.4 ppg. -- OUTLOOK - Islanders returned only one starter (Farmer) from team that finished fourth at state last year, and team suffered late-season loss of leading scorer and rebounder David Arigbabu (6-7 sr.). But with hot-shooting of Terik Brown and improving play in middle of young Knoll, Islanders have won four of five playoff games. Brown, who earn a starting job seven games ago, has averaged 17.9 ppg since then. Knoll has averaged 7.3 ppg and 8 rpg since taking over for Arigbabu.

OLYMPIC

-- NICKNAME - Trojans. -- LOCATION - Silverdale. -- RECORD - 15-8 (Olympic League). -- HEAD COACH Al Gleich, eighth year. -- PLAYERS TO WATCH - PG Bryan Thoemke, 5-11, so., 10.7 ppg, 3.6 apg; G Ryan Dotson, 6-2, jr., 11.9 ppg; F Hur Diez, 6-2, sr., 10 ppg; F Tony Prouse, 6-2, sr., 14.1 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 3.6 spg. -- OUTLOOK - Toughest opening-round draw (Kamiakin) and it doesn't look much better after that.

PUYALLUP

-- NICKNAME - Vikings. -- LOCATION - Puyallup. -- RECORD - 16-9 (SPSL South Division). -- HEAD COACH - Jim Clifton, 15th season. -- PLAYERS TO WATCH - G Marcus Yoder, 6-0, sr., 10 ppg, 4.5 apg; F Brock Huard, 6-5, so., 11 ppg, 8.5 rpg; F Jason Plumb, 6-3, sr., 10 ppg, 7 rpg; F Jim Stroud, 6-3, jr., 10 ppg; G Brett McDaniel, 5-10, sr.; G Darren Erath, 6-1, sr.; C Brian Wick, 6-6, sr. -- OUTLOOK - Might have toughest draw this side of Olympic with Mercer Island, Bellarmine, Kamiakin and Redmond at each step of title path. But Vikings have height - eight players 6-3 or taller - and some experience. Might pull off a surprise or two.

REDMOND

-- NICKNAME - Mustangs. -- LOCATION - Redmond. -- RECORD - 21-4 (KingCo Conference). -- HEAD COACH - Jerry Koester, seventh season, 164-34. -- PLAYERS TO WATCH - F/C J.D. Huleen, 6-7, sr., 12.7 ppg, 8 rpg; G Jeff D'Amico, 6-3, sr., 9.6 ppg; F Todd Wyatt, 6-4, sr., 7.3 ppg; G Josh Folsom, 6-1, jr., 11.2 ppg in playoffs. -- OUTLOOK - In five previous state appearances, Mustangs have two championships, a second-place finish and a third-place finish (last year). One of two most tournament-experienced teams in field, along with Kamiakin. Favorable draw, tough Redmond defense could mean showdown with Kamiakin.