High school girls basketball preview: The top teams, players in the South Sound in 2022-23
The 2022-23 high school basketball season in Washington is in full swing and league title races are taking shape around the South Sound.
Wondering what to watch for in the new year?
We’ve got you covered, breaking down the favorites and possible contenders in the Class 4A North Puget Sound League, 4A South Puget Sound League, 3A North Puget Sound League, 3A South Sound Conference, 3A Pierce County League, 2A South Puget Sound League, 2A EvCo and small schools. Plus, we list the top players in the area to watch across all classifications.
LEAGUE PREVIEWS
4A NPSL
Tahoma is the team to beat, returning its entire starting five from last season. The Bears have piled up a 10-1 record; a one-point loss to a good Emerald Ridge team from the 4A SPSL is the only blemish to date. Tahoma’s scoring distribution is balanced between all five starters. Senior guard Hope Hassmann, the reigning 4A NPSL MVP and a Cal State Fullerton signee, facilitates Tahoma’s up-tempo transition game and offense, averaging 18.5 points, 4.1 assists and 3.6 steals this season. She was a TNT All-Area first-team selection in 2022. Senior forward Amelie Sitterud, a Loyola Marymount commit, averages 9.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.1 blocks. Junior Lily Cavanaugh (9.7 points), senior Angie Cavanaugh (8.5 points) and senior Lauryn Frederickson (6.5 points) all contribute on both ends. Kentwood and Decatur should factor into the league race, as well, although Kentwood will face an uphill climb after losing Jersey Huerta — a 2022 TNT All-Area selection — to a knee injury. Decatur is 8-2 on the season, led by senior guard Jewel Young, who is facilitating with ease this season, averaging 9.8 points and 7.2 assists. Amanda Pham leads the team in scoring, averaging 18.1 points per game. Kentridge (7-3) is also in the picture, led by junior guard Sydney Esperanza (13 points, five rebounds) and sophomore forward Jayla Keowla (11.5 points, 6.6 rebounds).
4A SPSL
The 4A SPSL North and 4A SPSL South each appear to have a pair of front runners midway through the league schedule — all four of which advanced to the state playoffs last season. Sumner, which advanced to the 4A state title game for the first time in program history last March, currently sits atop the 4A SPSL North, and is the only team still undefeated in league play. The Spartans graduated their top two contributors from last season’s historic group in forwards Alyson Deaver (last season’s 4A SPSL North MVP and TNT All-Area player of the year) and Catelyn Deaver (4A SPSL North first-team selection and TNT All-Area pick), but should be postseason contenders again led by last season’s 4A SPSL North defensive MVP in guard Lainee Houillon. Sumner’s only loss so far this season is to a Lincoln program in position to repeat as 3A PCL champion. Bellarmine Prep, which reached the 4A state first round last season, is just behind Sumner in the division standings, and brings back several key contributors, including returning 4A SPSL North first-team guards Kiara Stone and Jada Travis, and guard Keiara Curtis. The Lions, looking to return to the Tacoma Dome, have already played a tough nonleague schedule, including a win over 3A PCL favorite Lincoln and traveling to play a 4A state favorite in Camas. Emerald Ridge and Olympia are the top two contenders in the 4A SPSL South. The Jaguars return four starters from the group that advanced to the Tacoma Dome for the first time in school history and reached the 4A state quarterfinals last March, including reigning division MVP Monique Carter and defensive MVP Alina Sapilak. Olympia, led by guard Hannah Berschauer, has the early advantage in the division after topping Emerald Ridge in the first of two regular season meetings between the programs last week. The Bears reached the 4A state regionals last season.
3A NPSL
Auburn Mountainview may have the best shot this season, off to a 3-2 record that includes wins over Mount Rainier, Timberline and North Creek. The Lions’ two losses have come to 4A Kentridge and Decatur. Senior guard Maliyah Elliott runs the show for the Lions, averaging 13.3 points. She’s a menace on defense and a fast, aggressive three-level scorer on the offensive end and despite being just 5-foot-4, is the team’s leading rebounder. Junior post Ainsley Weatherford has taken the next step this season for the Lions, averaging 9.3 points per game, taking some of the defensive pressure off Elliott. 6-foot-1 freshman Iliayah Wallis-Caw chips in seven points per game. Todd Beamer could factor into the race, too. Seniors Dreanna Jackson (15.2 points) and Kayanna Jackson (11.5 points) are both double-digit scorers for the Titans.
3A PCL
Lincoln swept the 3A PCL last season on the way to a first-round appearance in the Tacoma Dome, and is in position to make it back-to-back undefeated runs through league play. The Abes are a perfect 6-0 through the first set of 3A PCL contests, having already bested each league opponent by double digits with an average margin of victory of 34.5 points. Lincoln could make another convincing postseason run this winter, returning most of last season’s talented group, including the 3A PCL defensive player of the year in guard Jaleigha Robinson and two more 3A PCL first-teamers in guards Malani Warren and Ciona Wells. Lincoln 6-foot-3 freshman forward Oliviyah Edwards is ranked in the top 25 nationally in the 2026 recruiting class by ESPN, and already has several Division I offers. The Abes already have a pair of wins over teams that played in the Tacoma Dome last season in Hermiston and 4A SPSL North leader Sumner, which was the 4A state runner-up a season ago. Lincoln’s only in-state loss is to another 4A SPSL North contender in Bellarmine Prep, which also reached the Tacoma Dome last year. Bonney Lake, which advanced to the 3A state first round last winter and returns last season’s league MVP and TNT All-Area selection Jazmyn Shipp, and Silas are also among the top three teams in the 3A PCL standings halfway through the league schedule, while Spanaway Lake brings back last season’s offensive player of the year in Atreonia Garner.
3A SSC
It’s a three-way race between Gig Harbor (6-4 overall, 3-0 SSC), North Thurston (9-2, 5-1) and Peninsula (9-1, 5-1). Gig Harbor has the leg up after beating North Thurston on Friday, 49-34; Riley Peschek scored 22 points and set a school record with 24 rebounds in the win over the Rams. North Thurston, meanwhile, handed Peninsula’s its lone loss on the season, beating the Seahawks, 58-50 in mid-December. Gig Harbor’s Peschek, a post, is averaging a double double with 16 points and 11 rebounds this season. Tides’ guard Taylor Schwab (16 points, five rebounds, three assists) runs the show for Gig Harbor. North Thurston should be a contender for years to come. Sophomore guard Soraya Ogaldez was an all-league selection last year as a freshman, a difference maker on both sides of the floor and crafty with the ball. She’s complemented by sophomore guard Grace Lee and junior forward Alexis Meyer. Former assistant Hannah Lekson takes over the head coaching duties at Peninsula, where she returns four starters from last season’s team. Sharpshooting senior Brooke Zimmerman is a consistent scoring threat and one of the team’s best rebounders. Junior guard Kaylia Heidelberg and sophomore guard Grace Richardson are also players to watch for the Seahawks.
2A SPSL
White River is the team to beat after a 2A state tournament appearance last year. White River returns four starters from their varsity squad, including first-team all-league sophomore post Vivian Kingston and senior guard Morgan Greene. Second-team selections Lexi Banks and Ava Bright round out an experienced White River roster. It’s the year of the center in the 2A SPSL, as Enumclaw junior post Bella Firnkoess will contend with Kingston for league MVP honors. Senior guard Charlee Torgison is another player to watch for Enumclaw.
2A EvCo
Despite the talent graduated by both schools, Tumwater and W.F. West — which both made the 2A state tournament field a season ago — still stand as the league’s favorites. W.F. West reached the state tournament semifinal round and took home a fifth-place finish at the Yakima Valley SunDome. Senior guard Kylie Waltermeyer is the top returner for Tumwater, averaging 15.5 points per game for the T-Birds. She’s complemented by junior guard Regan Brewer (14.9 points). Sophomore post Julia Dalan is the player to watch for W.F. West, which is 10-2 on the season and 5-0 in league play. She scored 28 points in a 55-36 win over Capital on Saturday.
SMALL SCHOOLS
Despite losing TNT All-Area first-team selection and 1A Nisqually League MVP Jazmyn Stone to graduation, Annie Wright is once again a contender, amassing a 7-1 record and a 6-1 mark in league play. Chief Leschi is a contender in the 2B classification, coming off a 2022 state tournament appearance. The Warriors return senior all-state guard Tala Mitchell, who averages close to 20 points per game.
25 PLAYERS TO WATCH
G Hannah Berschauer, Olympia, sr.
G Monique Carter, Emerald Ridge, sr.
G Olivia Collins, Sumner, fr.
G Shayla Cordis, Timberline, fr.
G Keiara Curtis, Bellarmine Prep, soph.
F Oliviyah Edwards, Lincoln, fr.
G Maliyah Elliott, Auburn Mountainview, sr.
C Bella Firnkoess, Enumclaw, jr.
G Atreonia Garner, Spanaway Lake, sr.
G Hope Hassmann, Tahoma, sr.
G Lainee Houillon, Sumner, jr.
F Vivian Kingston, White River, soph.
G Tala Mitchell, Chief Leschi, sr.
G Soraya Ogaldez, North Thurston, soph.
G Jaleigha Robinson, Lincoln, jr.
G Alina Sapilak, Emerald Ridge, sr.
G Taylor Schwab, Gig Harbor, jr.
C Jazmyn Shipp, Bonney Lake, jr.
F Amelie Sitterud, Tahoma, sr.
G Alyssa Smith, Bethel, sr.
G Kiara Stone, Bellarmine Prep, jr.
G Jada Travis, Bellarmine Prep, jr.
G Kylie Waltermeyer, Tumwater, sr.
G Ciona Wells, Lincoln, jr.
G Jewel Young, Decatur, sr.
