Washington (WIAA) 4A high school girls basketball state tournament: 2024 predictions, top players

Top-seeded Camas has long waited for its final shot at a WIAA title with core group, but will others have a say in preventing that from happening?

Author:
Todd Milles, SBLive Sports
Publish date:
Feb 27, 2024 10:00 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.

Eastlake 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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2023-24 Washington high school girls basketball, districts: Eastlake at Woodinville — Photo by Todd Milles

CLASS 4A TOURNAMENT (Bracket)

(Wednesday first-round games in Tacoma)

G1: No. 11 Emerald Ridge (19-7) vs. No. 6 Bothell (20-6), 9 a.m. (Winner plays No. 4 Sumner at 9 a.m. Thursday)

G2: No. 10 Bellarmine Prep (18-8) vs. No. 7 Tahoma (20-4), 10:30 a.m. (Winner plays No. 1 Camas at 10:30 a.m. Thursday)

G3: No. 12 Eastlake (18-9) vs. No. 5 Davis of Yakima (18-5), 12:15 p.m. (Winner plays No. 3 Kamiakin at 12:15 p.m. Thursday)

G4: No. 9 Lake Stevens (19-4) vs. No. 8 Gonzaga Prep (19-6), 2 p.m. (Winner plays No. 2 Woodinville at 2 p.m. Thursday)

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

Championship game Saturday: 5 p.m.

FAVORITE: Camas

Papermakers endured a rugged out-of-state schedule, defeated Oregon champion Clackamas and three-time defending 3A champion Garfield - and are the slickest-passing, stingiest-defending squad in the bracket.

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FAB FIVE

F Jaecy Eggers, Woodinville, sr. (16.1 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 3.4 apg)

G Esmeralda Galindo, Davis of Yakima, sr. (21.2 ppg, 7.3 rpg)

F Addison Harris, Camas, sr. (17.0 ppg, 10.0 rpg)

G Lainee Houillon, Sumner, sr. (16.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 3.3 apg, 3.9 steals)

G Nicole Wertenberger, Kamiakin, sr. (17.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.5 apg)

PLAYER TO WATCH: Addison Harris, Camas

Her work rate is non-stop. She goes over taller players for rebounds and putbacks. And the Montana State signee has become the team's steadiest 3-point shooter. To beat the Papermakers, you have to outplay her.

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