High school girls basketball: 3A state tournament bracket breakdown
The Class 3A girls basketball tournament begins Wednesday at the Tacoma Dome, playing for the first time in two seasons after the COVID-19 pandemic canceled last year’s event.
Here’s what to watch for when first-round games begin Wednesday morning.
SCHEDULE
Wednesday’s first round and Thursday’s quarterfinals
No. 14 Hermiston vs. No. 6 Kelso, 3:45 p.m.
Winner vs. No. 4 Lake Washington, 3:45 p.m. Thursday
No. 10 Auburn vs. No. 7 Stanwood, 5:30 p.m.
Winner vs. No. 1 Mead, 5:30 p.m. Thursday
No. 12 Bonney Lake vs. No. 5 Snohomish, 7:15 p.m.
Winner vs. No. 3 Arlington, 7:15 p.m.
No. 9 Lakeside of Seattle vs. No. 8 Lincoln of Tacoma, 9 p.m.
Winner vs. No. 2 Garfield, 9 p.m. Thursday
Friday’s semifinals
7:15 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Saturday’s championship and placing games
4th/6th — 9:30 a.m.
3rd/5th — 1 p.m.
Championship — 9 p.m.
TEAM TO BEAT
Two programs — Mead and Garfield — enter the bracket undefeated, and it’s certainly possible they could meet in Saturday’s final still carrying their perfect records. Mead cruised to 4A/3A Greater Spokane League and 3A District 8 titles, has posted double-digit wins in each of its 23 games this season and 16 of those victories have been by at least 20 points. The Panthers have allowed 40 or more points to an opponent only five times, and 50-plus points only once. Meanwhile, their well-balanced offense is averaging 63.4 points per game. The Panthers are headed to the Tacoma Dome for the first time since winning their most recent title in 4A in 2013. Mead also won championships in 1990, 1992 and 1996. Garfield is the defending 3A champion, and heading to the tournament for the fourth consecutive season following convincing runs through the 3A Metro League and 3A District 2 tournament. The Bulldogs have won all but one of their games by double digits, only four teams have posted 40-point performances against them, and only one has reached the 50-point mark. They are averaging 72.9 points per game entering the weekend, while holding their 18 opponents to 33.5. Garfield has appeared in six title games in its history, winning titles in 1980, 1987, 2005 and 2020. 3A Wesco and 3A District 1 champion Arlington and 3A KingCo champion Lake Washington round out an impressive top four in this bracket. Lake Washington was the state runner-up in 2020, while Arlington placed third.
SOUTH SOUND CONTENDERS
No. 8 Lincoln — This program is no stranger to the Tacoma Dome, and has now advanced to the hometown site in six of the past seven 3A tournaments. The Abes were upended on the road Mead — the tournament’s top seed — in last weekend’s regional round, but before that, they opened the season with 17 wins in their first 18 games. Lincoln made an undefeated run through 3A Pierce County League play, and didn’t lose a game at the 3A level until the playoffs. The young group — which figures to continue to be a contender in the seasons ahead — has four scorers who average double figures in junior guard Malani Warren (13.3 points per game), sophomore guard Jaleigha Robinson (11.8), sophomore forward De’Andrea Woods Singleton (11.8) and sophomore guard Ciona Wells (10.2). Robinson, the 3A PCL defensive player of the year, leads Lincoln’s defensive effort and was also a first-team pick in the league, along with Warren and Wells.
No. 10 Auburn — The Trojans brought back much of the group that won the 3A NPSL title in the shortened season last spring, and repeated as champions this winter. Senior guard Madelyn Brown (13.3 pionts, 7.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 3.2 steals per game) and senior guard Chloe Furnstahl (15.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 2.1 steals) shared the league’s MVP honors, while Brown was also named the MVP as a junior. Senior wing Ialissa Frederickson (12 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists), a 3A NPSL first-teamer, also averages double figures scoring for the Trojans. Auburn has won seven of its past eight games entering the week, including topping West Seattle in the regional round last weekend, and is bound for the Tacoma Dome for the first time since 2008. The Trojans have advanced to seven championship games in their history, winning titles in 1983 and 1991.
No. 12 Bonney Lake — Since dropping an opening-round loss to eventual champion Kelso in the 3A West Central/Southwest bidistrict tournament, the Panthers have posted four consecutive wins, including besting Gig Harbor in last weekend’s regionals. Bonney Lake returns to the Tacoma Dome for the first time since its only other appearance in 2010, and the Panthers could deliver the program its first win at the state level if they advance to the quarterfinals. Sophomore forward Jazmyn Shipp (18.2 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.0 steals, 1.2 blocks per game) nearly averages a double-double, and was named the 3A PCL MVP this winter. Senior forward Brooke Mansfield (10.7 points, 7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.9 steals), a 3A PCL first-teamer, also averages double digits scoring for the Panthers.
10 PLAYERS TO WATCH
F Vivienne Berrett, Stanwood, jr.
G Madelyn Brown, Auburn, sr.
G Katie Fiso, Garfield, soph.
G/F Ella Gallatin, Snohomish, sr.
G Teryn Gardner, Mead, soph.
G Olivia Moore, Mead, sr.
G Claire O’Conner, Lakeside of Seattle, jr.
G Malia Samuels, Garfield, jr.
G Rosa Smith, Lake Washington, sr.
G Jenna Villa, Arlington, jr.
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME PREDICTION
Garfield 55, Mead 51
