Photo by Joseph Cunningham
Runnin’ through Class 1A girls basketball regionals: Title direction points 'Northwest'
With the 16-team field set for regional round of the WIAA Class 1A 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 1A GIRLS REGIONALS
TOP BILLING
Nudging Nooksack Valley for the 1-seed, reigning 1A champion Lynden Christian pivoted midseason to a more pressure-oriented lineup.
BEST BET TO SCORE 30
So much of Annie Wright's fortunes rest on guard Jazmyn Stone's contributions, and she has the green light in this high-volume offense.
RIDE THIS DARKHORSE
Again, there were 10 legitimate candidates for the top eight seeds - with talented 9-seed Wapato, led by K.K. Bass, being one of them.
PROTECTED-GAME PREVIEW CAPSULES
Nooksack Valley junior guard Devin Coppinger leads the Pioneers.
Photo by Hailey Palmer/Lynden Tribune
No. 1 Lynden Christian (18-4) vs. No. 8 Seattle Academy (18-3)
6 p.m. Saturday, Mount Vernon High School
Skinny: Katie Drais is dangerous, and the Cardinals will put up lots of 3-pointers. But these are the Lyncs. They understand the moment best.
Pick: Lynden Christian, 65-41.
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No. 2 Nooksack Valley (18-3) vs. No. 7 Colville (17-3)
2 p.m. Saturday, Mount Vernon High School
Skinny: Tournament's two biggest teams meet early - and Pioneers' Devin Coppinger-vs.-Colville's McKenna Reggear matchup could be fun.
Pick: Nooksack Valley, 55-47.
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No. 3 Cashmere (18-1) vs. No. 6 Freeman (16-5)
8 p.m. Friday, Wenatchee High School
Skinny: Scotties have won 11 of 12 games, but are facing suffocating Cashmere pressure. Up to Sydney McLean to limit mistakes against it.
Pick: Cashmere, 42-39.
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No. 4 Montesano (19-1) vs. No. 5 Zillah (16-3)
2 p.m. Saturday, W.F. West High School
Skinny: 1A EvCo champions will need help from entire cadre of ball-handlers, especially Jaiden King, to solve high-pressure Zillah riddle.
Pick: Montesano, 55-50.
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WINNER-TO-STATE-GAME PREVIEW CAPSULES
1A Trico co-champion La Center plays Annie Wright in a winner-to-state, loser-out game
Photo courtesy of La Center athletics
No. 9 Wapato (18-4) vs. No. 16 Overlake (11-10)
8 p.m. Friday, Davis High School
Skinny: If Overlake's 2-3 zone can limit Wolves' wild scoring runs, game could stay close for a while - at least until K.K. Bass catches fire.
Pick: Wapato, 61-38.
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No. 10 Annie Wright (16-2) vs. No. 15 La Center (15-7)
6 p.m. Friday, Mount Tahoma High School
Skinny: No doubt, Gators feel snubbed by lower-than-anticipated seed - which makes them a dangerous, motivated ball club this weekend.
Pick: Annie Wright, 66-51.
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No. 11 King's (16-8) vs. No. 14 Bellevue Christian (15-7)
8 p.m. Friday, Jackson High School
Skinny: Two surprise programs happy to be in hunt? Sophia Bold might be best player on the floor, but King's has balance - and pedigree.
Pick: King's 34-30.
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No. 12 Tenino (17-6) vs. No. 13 Toppenish (16-7)
6 p.m. Friday, W.F. West High School
Skinny: If Beavers can get the ball up court to forward Ashley Schow, they should fare well. Big if, because Toppenish defense no joke.
Pick: Tenino, 58-52.
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