Photo by Vince Miller
Runnin’ through Class 4A girls basketball regionals: Is Woodinville finally ready to take finishing step?
With the 16-team field set for regional round of the WIAA Class 4A girls basketball tournament, here is SBLive WA’s weekend overview of the matchups, players to watch – and game score predictions:
FINAL SBLIVE WA GIRLS BASKETBALL RANKINGS
CLASS 4A GIRLS REGIONALS
TOP BILLING
Since an opening loss to Tumwater, 1-seed Woodinville has reeled off 22 consecutive wins, cementing itself as team to beat moving forward.
BEST BET TO SCORE 30
You might not know Sumner's Alyson Deaver, whose prep career has been plagued by knee issues. She is healthy, and playing like an all-state MVP.
RIDE THIS DARKHORSE
Tenth-seeded Chiawana has a state-contending squad - senior point guard, all-6-footer frontcourt - on paper, and still could be a factor.
PROTECTED-GAME PREVIEW CAPSULES
Sumner senior Alyson Deaver, a two-time 4A SPSL player of the year, has been one tough customer to slow down.
Photo by Todd Milles
No. 1 Woodinville (22-1) vs. No. 8 Bellarmine Prep (17-6)
6 p.m. Friday, Jackson High School
Skinny: Present meets future? Falcons star duo of Veronica Sheffey and Tatum Thompson playing at high level, but Lions have promising young backcourt.
Pick: Woodinville, 71-57.
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No. 2 Sumner (21-2) vs. No. 7 Richland (17-6)
Noon Saturday, Auburn High School
Skinny: Very rarely do you see a pair of two-time league MVP's square off, but Sumner's Alyson Deaver and Richland's Kylee Fox ready to put on a show.
Pick: Sumner, 64-55.
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No. 3 Pasco (21-1) vs. No. 6 Emerald Ridge (16-5)
Noon Saturday, Richland High School
Skinny: Mid-Columbia champions lose one game in district semifinals, and suddenly they are forgotten contender? Mya Groce and company will send out reminder.
Pick: Pasco, 60-48.
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No. 4 Lake Stevens (19-3) vs. No. 5 Eastlake (21-3)
8 p.m. Saturday, Everett Community College
Skinny: Teams just met in last week's 4A Wesco/KingCo District semifinals, and Viks eked out OT win. Should come down to defense again this week as well.
Pick: Eastlake, 45-43.
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WINNER-TO-STATE-GAME PREVIEW CAPSULES
Despite losing its last two games in the Dist. 3/4 tournament, Camas remains a threat to win it all in Class 4A.
Photo by Todd Milles
No. 9 Camas (15-8) vs. No. 16 Inglemoor (9-12)
8 p.m. Friday, Battle Ground High School
Skinny: Papermakers will oh-so-close nabbing the 8-seed, and have a top-five roster in 4A. They'll have too many options for perplexing Viks to figure out.
Pick: Camas, 68-41.
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No. 10 Chiawana (17-6) vs. No. 15 Sunnyside (12-11)
8 p.m. Friday, Richland High School
Skinny: It's pretty simple - how do size-challenged Grizzlies handle bullish Chiawana ninth grade post Malia Ruud? Sunnyside's 3-point shot could be neutralizer.
Pick: Chiawana, 66-53.
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No. 11 Olympia (20-7) vs. No. 14 Moses Lake (13-9)
Noon Saturday, Tumwater High School
Skinny: First one to 50 points wins? Defense has carried both squads in the postseason - and that won't change in what should be grind-it-out affair.
Pick: Moses Lake, 42-41.
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No. 12 Issaquah (15-8) vs. No. 13 Rogers of Puyallup (19-6)
2 p.m. Saturday, Lake Washington High School
Skinny: Since second week of January, all three of Eagles' losses have been to top-five squads. Translation - Kathy Gibson getting team fine-tuned for stretch run.
Pick: Issaquah, 60-50.
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