Photo by Hailey Palmer/Lynden Tribune
Road to Yakima: WIAA Class 1A Hardwood Classic state girls basketball preview
The 2021-22 WIAA basketball season is down to its final week, and the 12 remaining Class 1A 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
* Class 1A girls basketball regional-round preview
* Final Class 1A girls basketball rankings, Feb. 21
WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE
Brynn Widner and the Zillah Leopards will certainly have the home-town advantage this week.
Photo by Todd Milles
No. 11 King's (17-8) vs. No. 6 Freeman (16-6), 3:45 p.m.
Winner plays No. 4 Montesano (20-1) on Thursday
No. 15 La Center (16-7) vs. No. 7 Colville (17-4), 5:30 p.m.
Winner plays No. 1 Lynden Christian (19-4) on Thursday
No. 13 Toppenish (17-7) vs. No. 5 Zillah (16-4), 7:15 p.m.
Winner plays No. 3 Cashmere (19-1) on Thursday
No. 9 Wapato (19-4) vs. No. 8 Seattle Academy (18-4), 9 p.m.
Winner plays No. 2 Nooksack Valley (19-3) on Thursday
State semifinals Friday: 3:45 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
State championship Saturday: 5 p.m.
FAVORITE
If you could watch all 12 teams get off the bus and walk into a gymnasium, and base your championship pick on first glance - Nooksack Valley rightfully would be your odds-on favorite. Physically, the Pioneers have pieces - perimeter shooters, physical rebounders and the best point guard in the tournament in Devin Coppinger.
FIELD
Lynden Christian is the 1-seed and defending 1A champion from 2020. And the Lyncs are, at worst, the co-favorites with fellow Northwest Conference rival Nooksack Valley. Guard Libby Stump is as efficient a performer as you will find in the field - and Brady Bomber's group can still get out and run. ... Folks in Montesano exhaled when forward McKynnlie Dalan (knee) played in the team's regional-round win over Zillah, The 6-footer is a difference maker on the wing. ... Hailey Van Lith is no longer carrying Cashmere's state-title winning fortunes - do-everything guard/forward Riley Johnson is. And the Bulldogs know what a deep tournament run feels like.
FIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH
Lynden Christian's Libby Stump is one of the tournament's smoothest, smartest playmakers in the field.
Photo by Joseph Cunningham
PG Devin Coppinger, Nooksack Valley, soph.
F McKynnlie Dalan, Montsano, jr.
G/F Riley Johnson, Cashmere, sr.
SG Libby Stump, Lynden Christian, sr.
PG/F Brynn Widner, Zillah, sr.
FINAL FOUR TEAMS
Montesano, Lynden Christian, Cashmere, Nooksack Valley
CHAMPIONSHIP PICK
Nooksack Valley 67, Lynden Christian 65
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 photos by Hailey Palmer/Lynden Tribune and Mike Hughes)
