It’s almost time to ring those bells and bring the cheer for holiday hoops around the Northwest.
So, what are the best tournaments to check out? VarsityWA gives five stirring options for spectators to satisfy their basketball fix through the rest of December.
POA HOLIDAY CLASSIC
Dates and sites: Dec. 26-27 and 29 at five different high schools (Franklin and Grant High Schools host marquee games), Portland, Ore.
Notable participants: Eastside Catholic, Davis of Yakima, Lake Washington, Sumner and Union girls.
Team to watch: Davis of Yakima. Not only are the reigning WIAA Class 4A champions legitimate contenders to win the tournament’s Platinum Bracket, they will also face Oregon 6A champion Tualatin on the off day (Dec. 28) in a nonleague showdown.
Skinny: In its ninth season, this has grown into the premier girls tournament in the Northwest, drawing 64 schools from all over the western part of the United States, blending the region’s best program with nationally-ranked powerhouses in three top-tier brackets (Diamond, Emerald, Platinum). Last Washington school to win a top bracket was Cashmere, led by former star Hailey Van Lith, in 2019.
Schedule: Diamond bracket (Grant H.S.) — Lake Washington vs. Etiwanda (Calif.), 3 p.m.; Annie Wright vs. Benson (Ore.), 5 p.m.; Tualatin (Ore.) vs. Union, 8 p.m. Semifinals on Dec. 27 are 6:30 and 8 p.m. Championship game Dec. 29 at 8 p.m.
Emerald bracket (Grant, Franklin H.S.) — Sumner vs. St. Mary’s, 1:30 p.m.; Eastside Catholic vs. Sage Hill (Calif.), 5 p.m. Semifinals on Dec. 27 are 1:30 and 6:30 p.m. Championship game Dec. 29 TBD.
Platinum bracket (Franklin H.S.) — Davis of Yakima vs. Mission Hills (Calif.), noon. Semifinals on Dec. 27 are noon and 8 p.m.. Championship game Dec. 29 at 1:30 p.m.
Tickets: Adults $15 and students $10 per day. Tournament pass is $40.
LES SCHWAB INVITATIONAL
Dates and site: Dec. 26-30, Peter W. Stott Center at Portland State University, Portland, Ore.
Team to watch: Rainier Beach boys.
Skinny: Once top 2026 recruit Tyran Stokes transferred to Rainier Beach in November, the Vikings were late additions to the 29th LSI field, along with nationally-ranked Columbus, of Florida, Sierra Canyon, of California and a host of quality Oregon programs. Last season, three Washington schools — Annie Wright, Camas and Gonzaga Prep — participated in the tournament.
Schedule: First-round games Dec. 26 go from 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Quarterfinal games Dec. 27-28 are at 6:30 and 8 p.m. Semifinal games Dec. 29 are at 6:45 and 8:15 p.m. Championship game Dec. 30 is at 8:45 p.m.
Tickets: Single-session tickets range from $14 to $38, depending on the day. Tournament pass is $166.20.
SUNDOME SHOOTOUT
Dates and site: Dec. 29-30, Yakima Valley SunDome, Yakima
Notable participants: Bainbridge, Cascade Christian, Fort Vancouver, Glacier Peak, Lynden, Seattle Christian, Selah, West Valley of Yakima and Zillah boys, and Deer Park, Selah and Zillah girls.
Teams to watch: Selah boys and Deer Park girls.
Skinny: Although the tournament invites a few bigger schools, this 28-team extravaganza largely celebrates the smaller schools (2A, 1A, 2B) — headlined by local state-championship hopeful Zillah boys (No. 1 in 1A) and Selah boys (No. 3 in 2A), and Zillah girls (No. 2 in 1A). But don’t forget about 4A contender West Valley of Yakima boys, who take on Glacier Peak in a top-five showdown.
Schedule: There are 14 games played on each day — two playing simultaneously — going on from at 11 a.m.-8 p.m. on Dec. 29, and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on Dec. 30 in a round-robin format. Marquee matchups include Selah-Deer Park girls (5 p.m. on Dec. 29), Glacier Peak-West Valley boys (8 p.m. on Dec. 29), Lynden-Selah boys (3 p.m. on Dec. 30) and Deer Park-Zillah girls (6 p.m. on Dec. 30).
Tickets: Single-day tickets are $15 for adults, $11 for students. Tournament passes are $24 for adults, $18 students.
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LYNDEN CHRISTMAS CLASSIC
Dates and site: Dec. 29-31, Lynden Christian High School, Lynden
Notable participants: Issaquah, Lynden, Lynden Christian, Napavine, Snohomish and White River girls.
Team to watch: Lynden.
Skinny: For an eight-team girls tournament, this event packs a heavy punch with three legitimate state contenders (Lynden in 2A, Lynden Christian in 1A, Napavine in 2B). The two-time defending state champion Lions, led by all-state guard Finley Parcher and Payton Mills, one of the state’s top post players, are the headliners.
Schedule: White River vs. Seattle Academy, 3 p.m.; Rogers of Puyallup vs. Lynden, 4:45 p.m.; River Ridge vs. Snohomish, 6:30 p.m.; Napavine vs. Lynden Christian, 8:15 p.m. Semifinals Dec. 30 at 5:30 and 7:15 p.m. Championship game Dec. 31 at 2:45 p.m.
Tickets: Single-day tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for students. Tournament passes are $25 for adults, $15 for students.
TOP OF THE PEAK
Dates and site: Dec. 29-31, Glacier Peak High School, Snohomish
Notable participants: Archbishop Murphy, Eastlake, Glacier Peak, Redmond and Roosevelt girls.
Team to watch: Archbishop Murphy.
Skinny: Much like the Lynden tournament up north, this is another event that traditionally draws a share of heavy hitters in girls basketball. Watch out for 2A contender Archbishop Murphy, led by Santa Clara signee Brooke Blachly, who just went over 1,500 points for her career earlier this week.
Schedule: Bishop Blanchet vs. Redmond, 2 p.m.; Glacier Peak vs. Olympia, 3:45 p.m.; Eastlake vs. Decatur, 5:30 p.m.; Archbishop Murphy vs. Roosevelt, 7:15 p.m. Semifinals Dec. 30 are 5:30 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. Championship game Dec. 31 at 3:15 p.m.
Tickets: Single-day tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for students.
