The 17th annual Bud Clary War of the Border basketball tournament this weekend will feature the largest, most talented field in the history of the event. Two defending state champions from Washington and one from Oregon highlight the 35-team field, which will do battle on eight different courts over three days, starting Friday night.

“The popularity of this tournament continues to grow,” Mark Morris coach Bill Bakamus said of the Border skirmish, which features Washington teams facing off against Oregon foes.

“If you are a basketball fan, these are some of the top teams in Washington and Oregon competing hard for two days,” he added. “Many of the players who play in this tournament are going to have great senior seasons and will follow it up with strong college careers.”

Current NBA stars Martell Webster and Aaron Brooks are among the more illustrious Border alumni. Mark Morris, R.A. Long and Kelso will compete for Washington, which leads the overall series 10-6 and holds a 410-373 edge in games won.

Washington Class 3A state champion Franklin of Seattle and Class 2A champion Squalicum, which returns all five starters, are among the tournament favorites, along with Oregon Class 6A champ Jesuit of Portland.

Other elite Oregon teams include Class 6A runner-up Lincoln of Portland, 6A third-place finisher Central Catholic, 5A fourth-place finisher Hillsboro and 5A fifth-place finisher Grant.

Seattle Prep was fourth in 3A for Washington.

Rainier will compete for Oregon.

All four local teams are in action Friday. Rainier plays in the tourney opener against Ellensburg at 3:45 p.m. at Mark Morris. R.A. Long takes on Mountlake Terrace at 6:15 at Ted M. Natt Court at Mark Morris, then battles Bethel at 8:45 at Kelso. Kelso hosts Bethel at 6:15 and Mark Morris hosts Puyallup at 8:45.

There are 36 games at MM, R.A. Long, Lower Columbia College, Mount Solo Middle School, three courts at Kelso, and at Coweeman Middle School on Saturday. Those venues will host 32 more games on Sunday.

There will also be an individual skills competition at Mark Morris at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

Bud Clary Chevrolet has sponsored the tournament every year.

“The company’s generosity is appreciated,” Bakamus said.

Admission is $5 for adults and $4 for students.

17th Annual Bud Clary War of the Border

Friday’s games

at Mark Morris

Ellensburg vs. Rainier, 3:45 p.m.

Curtis vs. Benson, 5 p.m.

Mountlake Terrace vs. R.A. Long, 6:15 p.m.

Franklin vs. Benson, 7:30 p.m.

Mark Morris vs. Puyallup, 8:45 p.m.

At Kelso

Puyallup vs. Cleveland, 5 p.m.

Kelso vs. Bethel, 6:15 p.m.

West Valley vs. Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.

Bethel vs. R.A. Long, 8:45 p.m.

Saturday’s games

At LCC

West Valley vs. Clackamas, 10 a.m.

Squalicum vs. Benson, 11:15 a.m.

Bethel vs. Clackamas, 12:30 p.m.

Franklin vs. Lake Oswego, 1:45 p.m.

At Mark Morris

Mark Morris vs. Central Catholic, 10 a.m.

Lincoln, Wash. vs. Jesuit, 11:15 a.m.

Mark Morris vs. South Salem, 12:30 p.m.

Squalicum vs. Jesuit, 1:45 p.m.

Curtis vs. South Eugene, 3 p.m.

R.A. Long vs. Stayton, 4:15 p.m.

Squalicum vs. South Eugene, 5:30 p.m.

At Mount Solo

Curtis vs. Grant, 10 a.m.

Franklin vs. Lincoln, Ore., 11:15 a.m.

Ellensburg vs. Cleveland, 12:30 p.m.

W.F. West vs. Corvalis, 1:45 p.m.

Eisenhower vs. Rainier, 3 p.m.

At R.A. Long

Seattle Prep vs. Rainier, 10 a.m.

Puyallup vs. Lake Oswego, 11:15 a.m.

Eisenhower vs. Stayton, 12:30 p.m.

Bellarmine Prep vs. Tigard, 1:45 p.m.

At Kelso

Kelso vs. Sandy, 10 a.m.

Bellarmine Prep vs. Roosevelt, 11:15 a.m.

Kelso vs. Tualatin, 12:30 p.m.

Lincoln, Wash. vs. Lincoln, Ore., 1:45 p.m.

At Kelso I

Eisenhower vs. Cleveland, 10 a.m.

W.F. West vs. Tigard, 11:15 a.m.

West Valley vs. Grant, 12:30 p.m.

Puyallup vs. Benson, 1:45 p.m.

At Kelso II

Ellensburg vs. Tualatin, 10 a.m.

Mountlake Terrace vs. Corvallis, 12:30 p.m.

Seattle Prep vs. Sandy, 12:30 p.m.

Mt. Vernon vs. Roosevelt, 1:45 p.m.

At Coweeman

Bethel vs. South Salem, 10 a.m.

Mt. Vernon vs. Hillsboro, 11:15 a.m.

Curtis vs. Central Catholic, 12:30 p.m.

Mountlake Terrace vs. Hillsboro, 1:45 p.m.

Sunday’s games

At LCC

Curtis vs. South Salem, 9:30 a.m.

Eisenhower vs. Sandy, 10:45 a.m.

Lincoln, Wash. vs. South Eugene, noon

Mountlake Terrace vs. Beaverton, 2:45 p.m.

At Mark Morris

Mark Morris vs. Clackamas, 9:30 a.m.

Ellensburg vs. Hillsboro, 10:45 a.m.

Mark Morris vs. Lake Oswego, noon

Individual competitions, 1:30 p.m.

Eisenhower vs. Tualatin, 2:45 p.m.

At Mount Solo

Lincoln, Wash. vs. Lake Oswego, 9:30 a.m.

Mountlake Terrace vs. Roosevelt, 10:45 a.m.

Puyallup vs. Grant, noon

Seattle Prep vs. Central Catholic, 2:45 p.m.

At R.A. Long

West Valley vs. Central Catholic, 9:30 a.m.

W.F. West vs. Rainier, 10:45 a.m.

Squalicum vs. Clackamas, noon

Ellensburg vs. Sandy, 2:45 p.m.

At Kelso

Franklin vs. South Eugene, 9:30 a.m.

Seattle Prep vs. Tualatin, 10:45 a.m.

Bethel vs. Central Catholic, noon

Kelso vs. Corvallis, 2:45 p.m.

At Kelso I

Bethel vs. Grant, 9:30 a.m.

Mount Vernon vs. Beaverton, 10:45 a.m.

West Valley vs. South Salem, noon

Bellarmine Prep vs. Hillsboro, 2:45 p.m.

At Kelso II

Puyallup vs. Jesuit, 9:30 a.m.

R.A. Long vs. Tigard, 10:45 a.m.

Curtis vs. Lincoln, Wash., noon

Mount Vernon vs. Tigard, 2:45 p.m.

At Coweeman

Squalicum vs. Lincoln, Wash., 9:30 a.m.

Bellarmine Prep vs. Corvallis, 10:45 a.m.

Franklin vs. Jesuit, noon

W.F. West vs. Roosevelt, 2:45 p.m.