Washington (WIAA) 1B high school girls basketball state tournament: 2024 predictions, top players
After four grueling days of basketball at the Spokane Arena this week, somebody will be dancing with the big WIAA gold ball Saturday night.
Neah Bay returns as the defending state champion, but a host of contending hopefuls are waiting for their shot.
Here are SBLive WA's teams and players to watch, and round-by-round predictions - complete with a championship-game pick.
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Photo courtesy of Waterville-Mansfield athletics
CLASS 1B TOURNAMENT (Bracket)
(Wednesday first-round games in Spokane)
G1: No. 11 Lummi Nation (19-8) vs. No. 6 Oakesdale (17-4), 3:45 p.m. (Winner plays No. 4 Crosspoint at 3:45 p.m. Thursday)
G2: No. 10 Mossyrock (17-6) vs. No. 7 Wilbur-Creston-Keller (18-5), 5:30 p.m. (Winner plays No. 1 Neah Bay at 5:30 p.m. Thursday)
G3: No. 12 Garfield-Palouse (17-6) vs. No. 5 Almira/Coulee-Hartline (15-7), 7:15 p.m. (Winner plays No. 3 Waterville-Mansfield at 7:15 p.m. Thursday)
G4: No. 9 Sunnyside Christian (21-3) vs. No. 8 Curlew (19-4), 9 p.m. (Winner plays No. 2 Mount Vernon Christian at 9 p.m. Thursday)
Semifinals Friday: 7:15 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Championship game Saturday: 9 p.m.
FAVORITE: Neah Bay
Lady Reds are a well-oiled machine - a mixture of two senior leaders and a hungry cast of sophomores. PG Amber Swan is a top facilitator and F Ryana Moss is a versatile inside-outside matchup piece on both ends.
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Photo by Todd Milles
FAB FIVE
F Taylor Andringa, Sunnyside Christian, sr.
G Emma Baker, Curlew, sr. (17.9 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 4.1 steals)
C Allie Heino, Mount Vernon Christian, sr. (18.9 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 2.6 blocks)
F Ryana Moss, Neah Bay, sr. (14.4 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.6 steals)
G Amber Swan, Neah Bay, sr. (10.3 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 4.6 apg, 2.8 steals)
PLAYER TO WATCH: Allie Heino, Mount Vernon Christian
To have a reliable post player with Heino's skill set - footwork and ability to score on a variety of around-the-basket - is a huge advantage, especially on the big court of Spokane Arena. Toughest matchup of the tournament.
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Photo by John Gehring
PREDICTIONS
First-round picks:
Oakesdale over Lummi Nation
Wilbur-Creston-Keller over Mossyrock
Garfield-Palouse over Almira/Coulee-Hartline
Sunnyside Christian over Curlew
Quarterfinal picks:
Crosspoint over Oakesdale
Neah Bay over Wilbur-Creston-Keller
Waterville-Mansfield over Garfield-Palouse
Mount Vernon Christian over Sunnyside Christian
Semifinal picks:
Neah Bay over Crosspoint
Mount Vernon Christian over Waterville-Mansfield
Championship pick:
Neah Bay 55, Mount Vernon Christian 46
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