Road to Yakima: Washington high school (WIAA) Class 1A state girls basketball preview

The 2022-23 WIAA basketball season is down to its final week - with 12 remaining Class 1A girls basketball programs expected soon in Yakima starting Wednesday and running through Saturday.

Here is SBLive’s tournament preview — with players to watch, team favorites, schedules and championship game predictions:

COVERAGE REWIND

Get acquainted with the field through SBLive's coverage from throughout the 2022-23 season.

• Wapato girls find shooting stroke to down Deer Park in regionals
• Youth-driven King's growing in stature, beats Montesano in regionals
• WIAA Class 1A girls regional bracket breakdown
• Final all-classification Top 25 girls rankings
• Final Class 1A girls rankings
• Top-ranked Nooksack Valley wins first district title in 13 years
• Dalan cousins from Montesano, WF West square off

WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE

G1: Zillah (18-7) vs. Deer Park (20-3), 9 a.m.
Winner plays King's (22-3) in Thursday quarterfinals, 9 a.m.

G2: Annie Wright (18-7) vs. Cashmere (15-5), 10:30 a.m.
Winner plays Nooksack Valley (24-1) in Thursday quarterfinals, 10:30 a.m.

G3: Seattle Academy (16-6) vs. Montesano (21-4), 12:15 p.m.
Winner plays Wapato (23-1) in Thursday quarterfinals, 12:15 p.m.

G4: Freeman (19-5) vs. Bellevue Christian (21-2), 2 p.m.
Winner plays Lynden Christian (23-3) in Thursday quarterfinals, 2 p.m.

State semifinals Friday: 3:45 and 5:30 p.m.

State championship Saturday: 3 p.m.

THE FAVORITE

A year later, coach Shane Wichers is the first person to admit that his Nooksack Valley squad is in a much different spot than when it lost to Lynden Christian in 2B title game last March. "We know the steps," Wichers said. "We know the road." And he has the ideal pathfinder in PG Devin Coppinger, who really represents this team's identity - unmatched physicality. Across the board, particularly in the frontcourt with Taylor Lentz, Lainey Kimball and Tana Hoekema, the Pioneers are even more stout than last season. Throw in the dead-eye 3-point shooting of G Hallie Kamphouse, and this is a team that can beat you in a number of ways - and is motivated to take home first state title.

FIELD

The small-school gold standard, 14-time state champion Lynden Christian had been in the past four 1A title games (and six of past eight) - and has one of the best pure scorers in the state in G Grace Hintz. Two of Lyncs' losses are to Nooksack Valley. ... If you enjoy high-climbing, steep-diving roller-coaster rides - watch Wapato play for 32 minutes. Guards KK Bass, Deets Parrish and Trinity Wheeler average a combined 50 points per game - and will let it fly from anywhere. ... Returning semifinalists Montesano and Cashmere played in the third place game a year ago, and have the rosters to get back there. The Dalan sisters, paced by Minnesota signee McKynnlie, lead Montesano while Cashmere has a more balanced lineup than in recent seasons. ... Youth be served - and it has at King's. PG Kaleo Anderson co-leads a deep, talented 2026 pack around the state, and the Knights just defeated Montesano at regionals to earn a first-day bye. ... 2B Northeast winner Deer Park is at the state championships for the first time since 1989-90, and can slow down even the best offenses with their 1-3-1 zone defense. Unheralded F Darian Herring should flourish on the big stage, too.

8 PLAYERS TO WATCH

G Kaleo Anderson, King's, fr. (19.2 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 3.3 steals)

G KK Bass, Wapato, sr. (23.0 ppg)

G Devin Coppinger, Nooksack Valley, jr. (22.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 3.9 apg)

G McKynnlie Dalan, Montesano, sr. (20.4 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 4.1 apg)

F/C Jaycee Goldsmith, Freeman, sr. (13.2 ppg)

F Darian Herring, Deer Park, sr. (17.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 5.0 apg, 5.0 steals)

G Grace Hintz, Lynden Christian, soph. (21.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 2.0 steals)

G Aaliyah Martin, Annie Wright, fr. (16.0 ppg, 4.9 steals)

FINAL FOUR PREDICTION

King's, Nooksack Valley, Wapato, Lynden Christian

CHAMPIONSHIP PICK

Nooksack Valley 79, Wapato 72