Preview: Sumner Boys Basketball Tonight at Tumwater

What: First Round State Playoff Game

Where: Tumwater High School

When: Friday, February 25, 6:00 PM

Situation: The WIAA switched things up this year with the state basketball playoff format, switching from the old 16-team, four-day Tacoma Dome event to one that features four different regional rounds followed by a round of eight the following weekend at the T-Dome.

Each regional site will feature four teams, two of which will advance to the round of eight. Every regional will have one automatic advance game and one loser-out game on Friday. The winner of the loser-out game will then play the loser of the automatic advance game on Saturday for the final spot in the round of eight from the regional. For example, Sumner and Tumwater play in the loser-out game of the Tumwater regional on Friday, while Fife and River Ridge play in the automatic advance game. The winner of the Sumner/Tumwater game will advance to play Saturday, while the loser will be eliminated. The winner of the Fife/River Ridge game automatically advances to the round of eight at the Tacoma Dome, while the loser plays the winner of the Sumner/Tumwater game on Saturday for the final spot in the round of eight out of the region.

Teams:

Sumner (16-9) – Sumner’s record is a bit deceiving, as six of the Spartans nine losses on the year have come against teams also in the state round of 16. Sumner, who is led in scoring by Dan Devries, has won 10 of its past 13 games.

Tumwater (12-8) – Tumwater has won four of its past five games, including a one-point win over West last week in order to qualify for state.