Photo by Todd Milles
Road to Yakima: WIAA Class 2A Hardwood Classic state girls basketball preview
The 2021-22 WIAA basketball season is down to its final week, and the 12 remaining Class 2A girls basketball programs are due to arrive soon in Yakima.
Here is SBLive WA's tournament preview - with players to watch, team favorites, schedules and championship game predictions:
COVERAGE REWIND
Tumwater's unexpected loss to Burlington-Edison in the regional round sets up interesting early matchups in Yakima
Photo by Todd Milles
* 5 regional games you should not have missed: Burlington-Edison shakes up bracket
* Defense driving force behind Ellensburg's regional-round win over Washougal
* Class 2A girls basketball regional-round preview
* Final Class 2A girls basketball rankings, Feb. 21
* With only one state berth available, West Valley of Spokane nabs it
* Tumwater navigates tough Southwest District for district crown
WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE
Like clockwork - White River is back in the 2A championships, led by ninth grader Vivian Kingston.
Photo by Todd Milles
No. 11 Prosser (18-6) vs. No. 6 Port Angeles (17-5), 9 a.m.
Winner plays No. 5 Archbishop Murphy (14-6) on Thursday
No. 10 White River (20-4) vs. No. 7 Washougal (16-5), 10:30 a.m.
Winner plays No. 8 Burlington-Edison (17-7) on Thursday
No. 12 Lynden (16-6) vs. No. 4 W.F. West (19-5), 12:15 p.m.
Winner plays No. 2 Hudson's Bay (18-3) on Thursday
No. 9 West Valley of Spokane (21-2) vs. No. 1 Tumwater (22-2), 2 p.m.
Winner plays No. 1 Ellensburg (23-0) on Thursday
State semifinals Friday: 3:45 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
State championship Saturday: 5 p.m.
FAVORITE
After serving as the point guard last year, Rylee Leishman is playing more on the wing as a shooter.
Photo by Todd Milles
After 1-seed Tumwater's regional-round loss to Burlington-Edison, Ellensburg is the clear favorite moving forward. The unbeaten Bulldogs are the only team in the field not to lose to a 2A program. And with their tempo, depth and defensive prowess, led by wing standout Dylan Philip, who can even score 50 points on this squad?
FIELD
After missing the 3A state tournament because of injury, Hudson's Bay guard Aniyah Hampton is ready to fly this week.
Photo by Andy Buhler
The Thunderbirds are down, but not out -but have made their road very difficult, starting with 2A GSL champion West Valley of Spokane on Wednesday, then a possible showdown with Ellensburg in the quarterfinals. ... With the bracket shake-up, suddenly District 1 finalists Archbishop Murphy and Burlington-Edison have a clear path to the 2A title game. Both programs have a cadre of guards who defend and score. ... The last pair of 2A teams to beat Ellensburg - W.F. West and reigning state champion Lynden - are alive in Yakima. And while the Lions are a year or so away from being serious contenders again, W.F. West has size, slowdown style and a standout in Drea Brumfield to make noise.
FIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH
W.F. West forward Drea Brumfield is her school's all-time leading scorer headed off to Pepperdine next fall.
Photo by Todd Milles
PG Aubrey Amendala, Tumwater sr.
F Jaiden Bea, Washougal, sr.
F Drea Brumfield, W.F. West, sr.
PG Aniyah Hampton, Hudson's Bay, sr.
F Dylan Philip, Ellensburg, sr.
FINAL FOUR TEAMS
Archbishop Murphy, Burlington-Edison, Hudson's Bay, Ellensburg
CHAMPIONSHIP PICK
Ellensburg 58, Archbishop Murphy 44
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.
