2/24/2026
Now that the 2A State Tournament brackets have been released and the schedules are set, let’s take a look at who’s in and who’s out, comparing the teams from last year to this year and other notable points of interest.
Let’s get started!
2A Girls Tournament
Link to 2026 tournament bracket
Link to 2025 tournament bracket
Last year’s Trophy winners
Champion (1) Lynden
2nd (2) Ellensburg
3rd (3) Deer Park
4th (5) Archbishop Murphy
5th (6) Prosser
6th (4) WF West
Last year’s top 8 seeds
1. Lynden
2. Ellensburg
3. Deer Park
4. WF West
5. Archbishop Murphy
6. Prosser
7. Columbia River
8. Bainbridge
This year’s top 8 seeds
1. Lynden
2. Deer Park
3. Prosser
4. Clarkston
5. Archbishop Murphy
6. W.F. West
7. Ellensburg
8. Selah
Last year’s best underdogs
There weren’t any real underdog stories for the 2A girls last year. The top six seeds took home the six trophies with Archbishop Murphy and Prosser outgaining their seeds by one spot. Maybe the only true underdog was Deer Park who moved up from 1A a season removed from finishing as runner-ups for the state title. The Stags took home the 3rd place trophy as the #3 seed, just falling to Ellensburg in a tight semifinal matchup.
This year’s underdogs to watch
It is going to take quite the upset for anyone to take down Lynden as the Lions look for their third consecutive state title. However, if you are looking for a couple of teams to attach to are the #7 seed in perennial contender Ellensburg, who always saves their best basketball for the SunDome. Another potential underdog is Archbishop Murphy who enter state as a #5 seed after finishing 4th last year and graduating just two players from that squad. The Wildcats gave Lynden their toughest 2A game of the season in their district title showdown on Thursday.
Last year’s best Favorites
Lynden entered as the one seed and took home the state title in arguably the most stacked state tournament in 2A history. The anticipation for the tournament was off the charts but Lynden rolled, winning their three games by 39, 18, and 17 on their way to the title. All of the favorites did pretty much what they were supposed to do with no real upsets taking place.
This year’s best chance Favorites
Lynden is about as big of a favorite as you’ll find in any classification this year. With Finley Parcher and Payton Mills back with loads of depth, the Lions have rolled to a perfect record this season. Prosser is a team that nobody can sleep on however with one of the best scorers in the state in Herbie Wright looking to lead the Mustangs to their first state title game since 2011 when they cut down the nets.
Biggest surprises!
Who’s the most surprising they are in?
This one is easy. Nathan Hale went 2-20 last season. This season, they are the #11 seed after finishing 13-9 and winning the district title. The Raiders were at one point 6-9 before winning seven in a row and carry all of that momentum into what was the first state berth according to WIAA. They also have one of the very best players in the state in Boise State commit Zia-Daye Anderson. It has already been quite the turnaround for the Raiders with a historic season after a historically bad season.
Who’s the most surprising they are out?
Columbia River and Bainbridge were both in the top 8 last year and neither made it to the regional round this year. Both played on the final day of Districts in winner-to-state games, but both fell by two points to league foes that they were 2-0 against entering that matchup. Bainbridge finished 2nd in the Olympic 2A while Columbia River finished tied for 2nd in the GSHL 2A. The seasons for the two teams are eerily similar and unfortunately so are the endings to their seasons that both ended with 15 wins but both needed a 16th to make it to state.
Final Thoughts
It is no secret that Lynden is the biggest favorite in any classification this year. They have won 71 games in a row with their last loss coming on December 19th, 2023. They have almost the entire same roster as their last two titles with only six seniors graduating in the last two years. They are as much of a lock as one could imagine. But every lock has a key. Every team will be looking to take their shot at the champs with the potential to pull off an all-time upset. Can any team do it is the question.
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2A Boys Tournament
Link to 2026 tournament bracket
Link to 2025 tournament bracket
Last year’s Trophy winners
Champion (3) Bremerton
2nd (10) Prosser
3rd (2) RA Long
4th (11) Columbia River
5th (5) Selah
6th (8) Mark Morris
Last year’s top 8 seeds
1. Lynden
2. R.A. Long
3. Bremerton
4. West Valley (Spokane)
5. Selah
6. Lakewood
7. Foster
8. Mark Morris
This year’s top 8 seeds
1. Bremerton
2. R.A. Long
3. Selah
4. Pullman
5. Tumwater
6. Anacortes
7. Grandview
8. Renton
Last year’s best underdogs
No questions about this one. #10 Prosser caught fire at the right time and started their run by knocking off the three-time defending champions in Lynden in the quarterfinals before defeating league rivals in Selah in the semifinals. While the Mustangs fell in the title game to Bremerton, it was a special run for a team that was only a favorite in one of their state games, that being in regionals.
Columbia River also had a great run as the #4 seed on their way to a 4th place finish. The Rapids upset Lakewood by four in the first game at the SunDome before falling to Selah in the quarterfinals. They wouldn’t cruise to the end as the Rapids fought in the consolation bracket by stunning Lynden and then beating league foes in Mark Morris for their first trophy since 2018.
This year’s underdogs to watch
With the #10 seed playing for the state championship last year, everyone is searching for another Cinderella in the boys 2A tournament. One obvious choice is Lynden who had their title reign end last year. The Lions have close losses to three teams in the top 8 and if it wasn’t for a three-point loss to Anacortes in the district title game, would be in the top 8 right now.
Another potential Cinderella is Bainbridge. The Spartans have lost to Bremerton three times and the only other 2A team they have lost to was #7 Grandview. They also fell to the #1 1A team in Zillah and the #3 4A team in Lake Washington. They are as battle tested of a team outside of the top 8 and as the #10 seed this year, they hope to replicate Prosser’s magical run.
Last year’s best Favorites
Both Bremerton and R.A. Long came in on the same side of the bracket with the Knights as the #3 seed and the Lumberjacks as the #2. Lynden falling in the quarterfinals put extra emphasis on their semifinal matchup where Bremerton hung on in a thriller 62-54. The Knights impressed in a 74-53 win over Prosser for the championship while R.A. Long got a 68-61 win over Selah in the 3rd place game. Those two were the only teams in the top 4 to take home trophies and they enter this year’s tournament as the top 2 seeds.
This year’s best chance Favorites
Bremerton is the team to beat as we enter the state tournament and are considered to be a sizeable favorite in the classification with the best player in the classification in junior star Jalen Davis. R.A. Long is a big problem for anyone as showcased by their perfect 24-0 record and a strong win over a very good Tumwater team elevated their case to be the #1 seed. Selah is another team that can’t be overlooked after falling in the semifinals last year. The Vikings graduated a bulk of last year’s roster but have a ton of height and have another Pepper in Oliver Pepper which always makes the team dangerous.
Biggest surprises!
Who’s the most surprising they are in?
I would not classify any team as a real “surprise” to get in but if you look at just record, the #8 seed Renton RedHawks finishing 14-11 is a little surprising on the surface. When you look into it a bit more it makes perfect sense. Renton is the only 2A team in the KingCo Crown-Crest division and play a schedule loaded with very good teams in higher classifications. Mount Si and Lake Washington are title contenders at 4A, Bellevue is the #8 seed in 3A, and a whole lot more strong state contenders. In fact only one team in the division finished below .500 so do not let Renton’s record deceive you. This team is very good.
Who’s the most surprising they are out?
One year after making an incredible run to the state championship game, the Prosser Mustangs did not reach the state tournament this season. The CWAC is always stacked with talented teams but a loss to Lakewood in an equally stacked NWC ended the Mustangs season a bit early. Only five teams from last season’s tournament aren’t back this year but Prosser and Mark Morris are the only teams that made it past Wednesday last year that did not make a return.
Final Thoughts
It felt like it was a guarantee that Bremerton would successfully defend their title but as the season has played out, this tournament has become very stacked. R.A. Long has stayed perfect this season after giving Bremerton their closest game at state one year ago and Selah has reloaded quickly. It goes deeper than that with Anacortes and Lynden coming out of the stacked NWC along with Lakewood. You can’t count out the team that played for the title in 2024 in Grandview either along with Pullman and a young but talented Tumwater squad. This went from an afterthought to maybe the toughest state tournament in 2026.
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