Washington (WIAA) 3A high school girls basketball state tournament: 2024 predictions, top players

Mead has upped its game throughout the season, but it's March - and that is usually Garfield's time of the year to get serious

Author:
Todd Milles, SBLive Sports
Publish date:
Feb 27, 2024 9:00 AM EST

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

Garfield 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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2024 MLK Day hoops: Lakeside of Seattle vs. Mead girls — Photo by Todd Milles

CLASS 3A TOURNAMENT (Bracket)

(Wednesday first-round games in Tacoma)

G1: No. 11 Kennewick (18-7) vs. No. 3 Snohomish (17-6), 3:45 p.m. (Winner plays No. 5 Arlington at 3:45 p.m. Thursday)

G2: No. 10 Lincoln of Tacoma (17-7) vs. No. 7 Bonney Lake (19-4), 5:30 p.m. (Winner plays No. 1 Mead at 5:30 p.m. Thursday)

G3: No. 12 Everett (17-8) vs. No. 4 Auburn (23-3), 7:15 p.m. (Winner plays No. 6 Garfield at 7:15 p.m. Thursday)

G4: No. 9 Lake Washington (21-5) vs. No. 8 North Thurston (19-2), 9 p.m. (Winner plays No. 2 Lakeside of Seattle at 9 p.m. Thursday)

FAVORITE: Mead

You can never count out three-time defending 3A champion Garfield, but the No. 1 seed Panthers have been the most consistent team in the field - with heady PG Teryn Gardner at the helm and a vastly-improved cast around her.

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2023-24 Washington high school girls basketball: Gonzaga Prep at Mead — Photo by Lane Mathews

FAB FIVE

G Mia Broom, Lakeside of Seattle, sr. (22.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 4.0 apg, 4.0 seals)

G Katie Fiso, Garfield, sr. (22.5 ppg)

G Teryn Gardner, Mead, sr. (19.3 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 3.5 apg, 3.7 steals)

G Samara Morrow, Arlington, sr. (18.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 5.0 apg, 3.0 steals)

G Soraya Ogaldez, North Thurston, jr. (28.6 ppg, 4.6 apg, 5.1 steals)

PLAYER TO WATCH: Katie Fiso, Garfield

The Oregon signee's where-did-that-come-from passing can get your heartbeat up as a fan. and she can break your heart with her clutch playmaking, too. With two 3A titles under her belt, all she's known is Tacoma Dome magic.

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