4A State Boys Basketball | Who can challenge favorite Franklin?

Three big questions highlight this year's Class 4A state boys basketball tournament:

Can Franklin repeat? Is the South Puget Sound League playing the best ball in the state? And just how good is undefeated Ferris of Spokane?

The answers come starting at 9 a.m. today, when the tournament tips off at the Tacoma Dome with Kentridge vs. Edmonds-Woodway.

The tournament favorite is top-ranked Franklin (21-2), which features fearless, peerless backcourt mates Venoy Overton, the do-it-all point guard averaging 22 points and 5.7 assists, and sophomore Peyton Siva, whose jumping ability resembles levitation.

Senior Jody Johnson (10.4 ppg, 8.3 rpg) gives Franklin a solid post presence.

Franklin coach Jason Kerr says his squad feels no pressure to repeat because "it's not the same team" as last year's, which graduated six seniors. Franklin, which has five titles in school history, never has lost a state-championship game.

Class 4A state basketball tournaments on the air


On television

Saturday — Girls championship, FSN, 7 p.m.; boys championship, FSN, 9 p.m.

On radio

Wednesday — Snohomish vs. Decatur, KRKO (1380 AM), 2 p.m.; Eisenhower vs. Bethel, KHHO (850 AM), 7 p.m.; Mariner vs. Franklin, KRKO (1380 AM) and KHHO (850 AM), 8:30 p.m.

Friday — Boys semifinal, KHHO (850 AM), 7 p.m.; boys semifinal, KJR (950 AM), 8:30 p.m.

Saturday — Girls championship, KJR (950 AM), 7 p.m.; boys championship, KJR (950 AM), 9 p.m.

Expect hungry contenders from the SPSL, which swept all six state berths at the West Central District tournament, shutting out Narrows League powerhouses such as South Kitsap, which had placed at state the past five years, Mount Tahoma, led by one of the area's best junior guards Patrick McCollum, and Gig Harbor, ranked No. 2 in the preseason.

"The SPSL this year answered the call," says coach Jerome Collins of fourth-ranked Federal Way, led by high-flyer Terrell Smith, whose 26-point average is best in the greater Seattle area. "The strength of the league is evident."

No. 3 Decatur (23-2), No. 5 Kentridge (22-3) and Federal Way (19-4) are solid, athletic squads from the same division, the SPSL North. Of their combined nine losses this year, eight were to each other. Kentridge could meet Decatur in the semifinals, though the Gators have a tough first-round draw in Snohomish (22-2).

A fourth SPSL North team, Kentwood (14-11), is also at state. The Conquerors feature 6-7 freshman Josh Smith, who had 32 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks in a 74-54 win over Mount Tahoma to clinch a state berth.

The other two SPSL entries are Curtis, which lost leading scorer Gerald Hill recently to a suspension, then a broken foot, and Bethel, which won the title in 2005.

Perhaps the hardest team to gauge is Ferris of Spokane (25-0), which dominated Eastern Washington with athleticism, size and pedigree.

Point guard Shawn Stockton is the nephew of NBA legend John Stockton. DeAngelo Casto is a 6-8 intimidator, blocking five shots per game. And 6-4 wing Jared Karstetter is the Greater Spokane League MVP.

"I think you're making a big mistake if you're just evaluating teams based on their record this time of year," says Ferris coach Don Van Lierop, a 1981 Bothell graduate. "People are probably feeling the same way with us. They look at our record and ask what would we do if were on [the west] side of the state? We'll find out."

The Saxons will be tested, facing Kentwood in the first round, then a likely quarterfinal date with Federal Way. If they survive, the semifinals against possibly Franklin loom.

Walla Walla was the last Eastern Washington team to win it all, in 1999. Ferris has come close three times, placing second in 1999, 2001 and 2002.

Michael Ko: 206-515-5653 or mko@seattletimes.com