Washington (WIAA) 2A high school girls basketball state tournament: 2024 predictions, top players

As Ellensburg chases third state title - and history - Lynden and other contenders hope to spoil Bulldogs' party

Author:
Todd Milles, SBLive Sports
Publish date:
Feb 27, 2024 12:30 AM EST

After four grueling days of basketball at the Yakima Valley SunDome this week, somebody will be dancing with the big WIAA gold ball Saturday night.

Ellensburg returns as the defending state champion, but a host of contending hopefuls are waiting for their shot.

Here are SBLive WA's teams and players to watch, and round-by-round predictions - complete with a championship-game pick.

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ellensburg burlington edison girls basketball march 202315 — Photo by Sean Carter

CLASS 2A TOURNAMENT (Bracket)

(Wednesday first-round games in Yakima)

G1: No. 14 West Valley of Spokane (14-9) vs. No. 3 W.F. West (20-4), 9 a.m. (Winner plays No. 4 Prosser at 9 a.m. Thursday)

G2: No. 10 Sammamish (17-7) vs. No. 7 White River (20-4), 10:30 a.m. (Winner plays No. 1 Ellensburg at 10:30 a.m. Thursday)

G3: No. 12 Enumclaw (16-8) vs. No. 5 Clarkston (23-1), 12:15 p.m. (Winner plays No. 6 Archbishop Murphy at 12:15 p.m. Thursday)

G4: No. 9 Ridgefield (20-3) vs. No. 8 Columbia River (18-7), 2 p.m. (Winner plays No. 2 Lynden at 2 p.m. Thursday)

Semifinals Friday: 3:45 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Championship game Saturday: 5 p.m.

FAVORITE: Ellensburg

A team that has won 73 consecutive games and the past two WIAA titles deserves the nod. They still have the best on-ball perimeter defender in 1A in PG Jamison Philip, who has a bevy of skilled targets to distribute the ball to.

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Julia Dalan, WF West girls basketball, class of 2025 AND Evanjillie Dalan, Montesano girls basketball, class of 2026 — Photo by Todd Milles

FAB FIVE

C Julia Dalan, W.F. West, jr. (24.2 ppg, 14.8 rpg, 4.9 blocks)

G Chloe Deharo, West Valley of Spokane, sr. (29.4 ppg, 7.0 apg, 4.0 rpg)

G Brooke Blachly, Archbishop Murphy, soph. (21.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.0 apg)

G Finley Parcher, Lynden, fr. (16.5 ppg, 7.3 rpg)

G Jamison Philip, Ellensburg, jr. (7.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 4.0 apg, 2.5 steals)

PLAYER TO WATCH: Julia Dalan, W.F. West

Every team that draws the Bearcats will wince putting together a scouting report. How do you stop one of the strongest, most-skilled post players in the state who has expanded her game to the 3-point stripe? Good luck.

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