State basketball preview: Capsules for all local girls games

Below are capsules for Friday’s and Saturday’s high school basketball state regional games involving local girls teams.

The numbers indicate each team’s seeding among the 16 teams that qualified for regional play in that classification.

Regional games involving seeds 1-8 are non-elimination contests, with both teams advancing to next week’s Hardwood Classics in the Tacoma Dome (Class 4A and 3A), Yakima Valley SunDome (2A and 1A) or Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena (2B and 1B). The reward for winning a non-elimination regional game is a bye into the state quarterfinals.

Seeds 9-16 play loser-out regional contests, with the winners advancing to the first round of their respective Hardwood Classics.

The losers of the seed 1-8 regional games face the winners of the 9-16 regional games in first-round Hardwood Classic matchups next Wednesday. The winners of those first-round contests advance to next Thursday’s state quarterfinals.

Capsules for state regional games involving local boys teams were in Thursday’s edition of The Herald.

CLASS 4A

No. 3 Central Valley vs. No. 6 Glacier Peak

When: 6 p.m., Friday

Where: University H.S. (Spokane Valley)

Records: Central Valley 19-3; Glacier Peak 20-3

Implications: Winner to quarterfinals; loser to first round

Recent history: Glacier Peak rallied to beat Central Valley 58-53 in last year’s 4A state fourth/sixth-place game.

About the Bears: Despite graduating four of its top six scorers from last season, perennial power Central Valley is headed to the Hardwood Classic for a fifth consecutive year. The Bears were once again the top 4A team in the Greater Spokane League and clinched their state berth with a two-point overtime win over Mead in their district title game. Senior guard Peyton Howard and junior forward MJ Bruno lead Central Valley’s balanced scoring attack, which features six players averaging at least seven points per game. The Bears average 60.5 points per contest and allow just 43.2. Their losses were to league rival Gonzaga Prep, reigning 3A state runner-up Mt. Spokane and Oregon powerhouse Beaverton. Central Valley has claimed state trophies each of the past four seasons, including a state title in 2018.

About the Grizzlies: With a slew of returning talent from last year’s fourth-place state team, Glacier Peak rolled to its third unbeaten Wesco 4A finish in four years and earned its ninth state berth in the past decade. The Grizzlies gave 4A state top-seeded Woodinville one of its toughest tests, taking the unbeaten Falcons to overtime in the 4A Wes-King Bi-District Tournament title game. Glacier Peak’s only other losses were to 4A state No. 7 seed Union and reigning 3A state runner-up Mt. Spokane. Thriving on a high-pressure defense that leads to transition baskets, Glacier Peak held opponents to 50 points or less in all but five games. Junior guards Maya Erling and Aaliyah Collins lead the Grizzlies’ balanced and fast-paced attack, which averages 62.7 points per contest.

No. 11 Lake Stevens vs. No. 14 Camas

When: 4 p.m., Saturday

Where: Jackson H.S.

Records: Lake Stevens 19-5; Camas 15-11

Implications: Winner to first round; loser out

About the Vikings: After a bi-district quarterfinal loss to Eastlake, Wesco 4A runner-up Lake Stevens won back-to-back elimination games to reach the state regionals for the second time in three years. The Vikings punched their state ticket by beating KingCo 4A Tournament runner-up Inglemoor, avenging a loss from earlier this season. Boise State University-bound senior point guard Raigan Reed averages 19 points per game, leading a Lake Stevens attack that scores 64.5 points per contest. The Vikings’ next four top scorers are all sophomores, led by guard Baylor Thomas at 11 points per game.

About the Papermakers: After finishing third in the five-team Greater St. Helens League 4A, Camas won three loser-out games in eight days to earn its fourth consecutive state regional berth and its fifth in the past six seasons. The Papermakers needed to win a play-in game just to reach their bi-district tournament. Then after an opening-round loss, Camas rebounded by winning back-to-back elimination contests. The latter was a state-clinching 18-point win over GSHL 4A champion Skyview, which had beaten the Papermakers twice during the regular season.

CLASS 3A

No. 3 Arlington vs. No. 6 Lake Washington

When: noon, Saturday

Where: Jackson H.S.

Records: Arlington 21-2; Lake Washington 19-5

Implications: Winner to quarterfinals; loser to first round

About the Eagles: Arlington has rattled off 16 straight wins en route to the 3A Northwest District Tournament title and its program’s sixth Hardwood Classic berth in eight seasons. Led by an array of talented long-distance shooters and a high-pressure defense that forces numerous turnovers, the junior-laden Eagles average 64.5 points per game and allow just 37.1. During their win streak, they have won all but two games by double digits. Sophomore guard Keira Marsh and junior guard Hailey Hiatt lead Arlington’s fast-paced and balanced scoring attack, which has netted 70-plus points eight times. The Eagles’ only two losses came in December to Wesco 4A runner-up Lake Stevens and Wesco 3A/2A champion Shorecrest.

About the Kangaroos: Just two years removed from back-to-back two-win seasons, Lake Washington is headed to the Hardwood Classic for just the second time in the past two decades. The Kangaroos reached the state regionals last year during a massive turnaround, but fell short of the Tacoma Dome with a regional loss to eventual fourth-place state finisher Snohomish. Entering the 3A Sea-King District Tournament, 6-foot-4 sophomore forward Elise Hani was leading Lake Washington with 10.8 points and 12.4 rebounds per game. Sophomore guard Rosa Smith adds 10.7 points and 4.5 assists for the two-time defending KingCo 3A/2A champions. Three of the Kangaroos’ five losses were to KingCo 4A teams Woodinville, Inglemoor and Issaquah.

No. 4 Mt. Spokane vs. No. 5 Shorecrest

When: 8 p.m., Friday

Where: University H.S. (Spokane Valley)

Records: Mt. Spokane 18-3; Shorecrest 21-2

Implications: Winner to quarterfinals; loser to first round

About the Wildcats: Despite graduating four key seniors from last year’s state runner-up team, Mt. Spokane is making its fifth consecutive state regional appearance and has clinched its fourth Hardwood Classic berth in five years. The Wildcats are led by University of Washington-bound senior guard Jayda Noble, who received Greater Spokane League most valuable player honors. Mt. Spokane, which is riding a 12-game win streak, beat a pair of elite 4A teams in Central Valley and Glacier Peak. The Wildcats’ three losses were to unbeaten 1A powerhouse Cashmere and 4A state qualifiers Kentridge and Moses Lake. Mt. Spokane has five players listed at 6 feet or taller and allows just 37.2 points per game.

About the Scots: Shorecrest claimed the Wesco 3A/2A title and is headed to the Hardwood Classic for the second time in three seasons. The Scots handed league rival Arlington its only conference loss and rattled off a 14-game win streak before falling to the Eagles in the 3A Northwest District Tournament championship game. Shorecrest’s only other loss was to Snohomish. The Scots’ stingy defense allows just 36 points per game and has held all but three opponents to 50 points or less. Junior center Kiana Lino is a double-double machine, and senior guards Amanda Lee and Sydney VanNess also average double-figure scoring for Shorecrest.

No. 11 Meadowdale vs. No. 14 Hudson’s Bay

When: 6 p.m., Saturday

Where: Issaquah H.S.

Records: Meadowdale 17-7; Hudson’s Bay 19-7

Implications: Winner to first round; loser out

About the Mavericks: After returning the bulk of its roster from last year’s underdog state regional run, Meadowdale is back in the regional round with another chance to earn its first Hardwood Classic berth since 2009. The Mavericks tied for third in the 15-team Wesco 3A/2A, but lost three of their final six regular-season games and fell to Snohomish in a district quarterfinal. Meadowdale rebounded by winning three consecutive district elimination contests, beating Everett and Ferndale before winning a rubber match against Snohomish to reach state. Junior post Fatoumata Jaiteh and senior guard Lilly Williams lead a balanced attack that features five Mavericks averaging at least six points per game.

About the Eagles: Hudson’s Bay is making its second consecutive state appearance and just its fourth in program history. Prior to last year, the Eagles’ only other state trips were in 2007 and 1975. Hudson’s Bay is led by a pair of juniors who average double-doubles. Jaydia Martin leads the Eagles with 21.1 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, while Kamelai Powell adds 13.8 points and 10.2 rebounds per contest. Hudson’s Bay finished third in the six-team Greater St. Helens League 3A before advancing to their district title game with three consecutive postseason wins, including a victory over league champion Prairie.

CLASS 1A

No. 3 Warden vs. No. 6 King’s

When: noon, Saturday

Where: Big Bend Community College (Moses Lake)

Records: Warden 22-1; King’s 18-7

Implications: Winner to quarterfinals; loser to first round

About the Cougars: Warden took a 22-0 record into its district title game, where it suffered its only loss of the season in a three-point defeat to defending state champion La Salle. The Cougars are making their first state appearance since 2006 and have outscored opponents by more than 38 points per game. Warden averages 68.2 points per contest and allows just 29.8.

About the Knights: Perennial power King’s is making its 23rd state appearance in the past 27 seasons. The Knights played an ultra-tough schedule, with 13 of their 25 games coming against teams that reached their respective state tournaments. King’s went 7-6 in those matchups, including a win over 4A state No. 9 seed Moses Lake.