A guide to the 3A and 4A girls state basketball tournaments
Published 1:30 am Tuesday, February 27, 2018
Previews of the Class 4A and 3A Hardwood Classic girls basketball tournaments in the Tacoma Dome (seeds in parentheses):
CLASS 4A
Wednesday’s loser-out games
(6) Bellarmine Prep vs. (14) University, 9 a.m.
(7) Lake Stevens vs. (10) Kentlake, 10:30 a.m.
(5) Woodinville vs. (12) Lewis and Clark, 12:15 p.m.
(8) Camas vs. (16) Union, 2 p.m.
Thursday’s quarterfinals
(4) Moses Lake vs. Bellarmine Prep-University winner, 9 a.m.
(1) Central Valley vs. Lake Stevens-Kentlake winner, 10:30 a.m.
(3) Kentridge vs. Woodinville-Lewis and Clark winner, 12:15 p.m.
(2) Eastlake vs. Camas-Union winner, 2 p.m.
The favorite
Central Valley. Ranked among the top 20 teams in the nation by both MaxPreps and USA TODAY, the unbeaten Bears (24-0) out of Spokane Valley are the overwhelming favorites to win the 4A crown. Central Valley, which led 53-0 at halftime in a league game earlier this season, has outscored opponents by nearly 40 points per contest. The Bears are 11-0 against teams in the remaining 4A field, winning those games by an average margin of 29.1 points. Central Valley is led by a trio of Division-I college recruits — Stanford University-bound twins Lexie and Lacie Hull, and University of Idaho signee Hailey Christopher. The Bears are 78-1 over the past three seasons, with the lone loss coming in a one-point defeat to Bellarmine Prep in last year’s state quarterfinals.
The dark horse
Moses Lake. It seems strange to consider the unbeaten Chiefs (23-0) a dark horse. But in a tournament that appears to be Central Valley’s to lose, fourth-seeded Moses Lake joins defending state champion Kentridge as one of the few teams that might be able to hang with the mighty Bears. Moses Lake has won all but five of its games by double digits and is led by Arizona State University signee Jamie Loera, a senior point guard who scored a school-record 38 points in the Chiefs’ state regional win over Woodinville.
Did you know?
Greater Spokane League teams have won eight of the past 12 4A state titles, including four of the last five. North Puget Sound League teams also have had success over the past decade, winning three of the last nine titles.
Player to watch
Lexie Hull, Central Valley. The 6-foot-2 senior forward and Stanford University signee leads the unbeaten Bears with 21.2 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. Ranked by ESPN as the No. 16 senior recruit in the nation, Hull has scored at least 20 points in each of her past eight games.
Game we wouldn’t miss
Central Valley vs. Kentridge. The previous two 4A state champions squared off in mid-January and could meet again in Saturday’s title game. Defending champion and third-seeded Kentridge (24-2) gave unbeaten Central Valley one of its toughest challenges this season, trailing by just two points at halftime before falling 57-39 to the mighty Bears. The interior battle between Lexie Hull and the Kentridge duo of 6-foot-4 junior JaQuaya Miller and 6-foot-2 sophomore Jordyn Jenkins would be a must-see matchup.
Prediction
Central Valley rolls past Lake Stevens and Moses Lake to reach the state championship game, where the Bears pull away from defending champion Kentridge to cap an undefeated season and claim the program’s second state title in the past three years.
CLASS 3A
Wednesday’s loser-out games
(3) Garfield vs. (14) Mt. Spokane, 3:45 p.m.
(7) Prairie vs. (10) Stanwood, 5:30 p.m.
(5) Seattle Prep vs. (13) Shorecrest, 7:15 p.m.
(8) Bethel vs. (9) Bellevue, 9 p.m.
Thursday’s quarterfinals
(4) Kamiakin vs. Garfield-Mt. Spokane winner, 3:45 p.m.
(1) Lincoln vs. Prairie-Stanwood winner, 5:30 p.m.
(6) West Seattle vs. Seattle Prep-Shorecrest winner, 7:15 p.m.
(2) Gig Harbor vs. Bethel-Bellevue winner, 9 p.m.
The favorites
Lincoln, Kamiakin and West Seattle. The three teams enter the Tacoma Dome with a combined five losses against in-state opponents. Riding an 18-game winning streak, top-seeded Lincoln (24-1) is 23-0 against 3A competition and has outscored opponents by 28.6 points per game. Fourth-seeded Kamiakin (21-2) outscores opponents by 24.8 points per contest, led by the standout backcourt duo of juniors Oumou Toure and Alexa Hazel. Sixth-seeded West Seattle (22-5) owns a 21-2 record against in-state opponents and is 5-1 against teams in the remaining 3A field.
The dark horse
Stanwood. The 10th-seeded Spartans (17-6) are peaking at the right time and could be a tough out in the Tacoma Dome. Stanwood has won seven of its past eight games, including a run to the program’s first district title since the 1990s. The fast-paced Spartans average 63.3 points per contest, with Seattle Pacific University-bound senior Ashley Alter (16.3 points) leading a balanced attack of four scorers who average more than 12 points per game.
Did you know?
Lincoln is the only team from last year’s 3A state semifinals to make a return trip to the state tournament. Defending champion Mercer Island, runner-up Bishop Blanchet and third-place Snohomish each failed to reach state this season.
Player to watch
Oumou Toure, Kamiakin. The 5-foot-11 junior guard averages 25.3 points per game and scored 44 points earlier this season in a loss to unbeaten Moses Lake.
Game we wouldn’t miss
Lincoln vs. Kamiakin. If the two title favorites meet in Friday’s state semifinals, it would be a classic battle of strengths. Kamiakin’s high-scoring offense averages 70.3 points per game, while Lincoln’s lockdown defense yields just 31.4 points per contest.
Prediction
Kamiakin beats third-seeded Garfield before scraping past Lincoln and West Seattle to win the program’s second state title, and its first since 1985.
