Photo by Mason Kelley
Road to Tacoma: WIAA Class 3A Hardwood Classic state girls basketball preview
The 2021-22 WIAA basketball season is down to its final week, and the 12 remaining Class 3A girls basketball programs are due to arrive soon in Tacoma.
Here is SBLive WA's tournament preview - with players to watch, team favorites, schedules and championship game predictions:
COVERAGE REWIND
All-state point guard Rosa Smith led Lake Washington to the 3A championship game in 2020, losing to Garfield.
Photo by Todd Milles
* Rosa Smith's last-second shot fuels Lake Washington's regional-round comeback
* Class 3A girls basketball regional-round preview
* Three meetings with Lakeside, three wins for Garfield, this time in Sea-King finals
* Malia Samuels, Katie Fiso give Garfield dynamic duo at point guard
* Final Class 3A girls basketball rankings, Feb. 21
WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE
Auburn has a lineup full of seniors, including sharp-shooting guard Chloe Furnstahl.
Photo by Todd Milles
No. 14 Hermiston (16-10) vs. No. 6 Kelso (17-5), 3:45 p.m.
Winner plays No. 4 Lake Washington on Thursday
No. 10 Auburn (15-6) vs. No. 7 Stanwood (12-5), 5:30 p.m.
Winner plays No. 1 Mead (23-0) on Thursday
No. 12 Bonney Lake (17-5) vs. No. 5 Snohomish (15-4), 7:15 p.m.
Winner plays No. 3 Arlington (19-2) on Thursday
No. 9 Lakeside of Seattle (18-5) vs. No. 8 Lincoln of Tacoma (18-3), 9 p.m.
Winner plays No. 2 Garfield (18-0) on Thursday
State semifinals Friday: 7:15 p.m. and 9 p.m.
State championship Saturday: 9 p.m.
FAVORITE
Garfield junior Navaeh Talbert has emerged as another reliable attacking guard for the Bulldogs.
Photo by Vince Miller
Mead is the 1-seed, but Garfield is the defending 3A champion and undefeated in the Metro League. And while everyone seems to have a plan facing the Bulldogs' trapping pressure - it never seems to work out. Point guards Malia Samuels and Katie Fiso are the big names, but rest of talented cast flusters opponents, too.
FIELD
Mead has gone unbeaten in GSL play on the strength of its senior class - and suffocating defense.
Photo by Todd Milles
Speaking of defense, no team in the field plays the physical brand of man-to-man pressure than Mead, which hasn't had a close game all season. Senior-led Panthers have been planning for this week for years. ... 3A Wesco champion Arlington loves to run and pressure, too - and has guard Keira Marsh and forward Jenna Villa leading the way. ... Reigning 3A finalist Lake Washington features one of the tournament's best point guards in Rosa Smith, but teams will find out that 6-foot-4 paint enforcer Elise Hani is no fun to run in to. ... Is deliberate-tempo Lakeside of Seattle due for a fourth meeting with Metro rival Garfield in the quarterfinals? League MVP Claire O'Connor and company sure hope so.
FIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH
Very few players in Washington have the quick release - and shooting range -as Arlington junior Jenna Villa.
Photo by Todd Milles
PG Katie Fiso, Garfield, soph.
PG Olivia Moore, Mead, sr.
PG Malia Samuels, Garfield, jr.
PG Rosa Smith, Lake Washington, sr.
F Jenna Villa, Arlington, jr.
FINAL FOUR TEAMS
Lake Washington, Mead, Arlington, Garfield
CHAMPIONSHIP PICK
Garfield 61, Mead 53
TICKET INFO
Four-day tournament pass is $50 for adults, $38 for students and senior citizens. Three-day tournament pass is $38/$30. Non-championship (Wed.-Fri.) single-day tickets are $15/$12. Championship (Sat.) single-day tickets are $16/$13.
(Featured file photo by Mason Kelley)
