4A Girls State Basketball Preview

Published 5:30 pm Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Thursday’s Quarterfinals

Kentlake vs. Bothell, 9 a.m.

Lewis and Clark vs. Snohomish, 10:30 a.m.

Moses Lake vs. Central Valley, 12:15 p.m.

Skyview vs. Todd Beamer, 2 p.m.

The Favorite

Central Valley. The 25-0 Bears have been atop the Associated Press 4A poll all season — and for good reason. Central Valley averages 61 points per game, along with 32 rebounds and 11 steals. The Bears, whose most recent state title was in 2002, are led by 6-foot-1 sophomore guard/forward Lexie Hull, who averages 18.1 points per game.

The Dark Horse

Snohomish. The Panthers, who cracked the Associated Press top 10 in the final poll of the season, have won 20 straight games. Snohomish features size — led by 6-foot-1 post Madeline Smith — and speed, and boasts two players who have signed with NCAA Division-1 schools, Smith (Montana State) and Madison Pollock (San Diego State). Snohomish (20-3) lost its first three games of the season, but two of those losses were to 3A powerhouses Lynnwood and Arlington, who are a combined 47-1.

Did you know?

The last time the Snohomish girls reached the state tournament was in 2009, when the Panthers lost to Kentwood 60-47 in the championship game. The first time Snohomish made it to the title game was in 1993, when the Panthers fell to Central Valley, 44-35.

Player to watch

Nia Alexander, guard, Todd Beamer. Alexander, a 5-foot-9 senior, leads the Titans in scoring at 14.3 points per game. Alexander (San Francisco) and fellow guard Bria Rice (Colorado) are both headed to D-1 schools next season, as is post Makenna Woodfolk (Hawaii).

Game we want to see

As is the case in a couple classifications this weekend, the two favorites will not meet in the championship game. Top-ranked Central Valley faces No. 2 Moses Lake in both teams’ state opener at 12:15 p.m. Thursday.

Prediction

With two-time defending champ Gonzaga Prep not in the field, there will be a new champion this season. Snohomish has the potential to make a run with a favorable draw in the top half of the bracket, but the Central Valley-Moses Lake quarterfinal likely will serve as the de facto championship. Look for Central Valley to beat Moses Lake, then defeat Bothell to take home the title.