High school girls basketball: 4A state tournament bracket breakdown
The Class 4A girls state basketball tournament begins Wednesday at the Tacoma Dome, where 15 games will be played in four days to decide this season’s champion.
Here’s what to watch for in the 2023 bracket, which features 12 programs from around the state.
STATE REGIONALS RESULTS
Winner-to-quarterfinals, loser-to-first-round games
No. 8 Emerald Ridge 67, No. 1 Woodinville 58
No. 2 Camas 52, No. 7 Kamiakin 48
No. 3 Tahoma 86, No. 6 Davis 59
No. 4 Eastlake 58, No. 5 Sumner 46
Winner-to-first-round, loser-out games
No. 9 Richland 49, No. 16 Olympia 39
No. 10 Bothell 68, No. 15 Sunnyside 40
No. 11 Bellarmine Prep 73, No. 14 Mount Si 43
No. 12 Gonzaga Prep 61, No. 13 Decatur 55
TACOMA DOME SCHEDULE
Wednesday’s first round and Thursday’s quarterfinals
No. 11 Bellarmine Prep vs. No. 6 Davis, 3:45 p.m. Wednesday
Winner vs. No. 4 Eastlake, 3:45 p.m. Thursday
No. 10 Bothell vs. No. 7 Kamiakin, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday
Winner vs. No. 8 Emerald Ridge, 5:30 p.m. Thursday
No. 12 Gonzaga Prep vs. No. 5 Sumner, 7:15 p.m. Wednesday
Winner vs. No. 3 Tahoma, 7:15 p.m. Thursday
No. 9 Richland vs. No. 1 Woodinville, 9 p.m. Wednesday
Winner vs. No. 2 Camas, 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 — 7 p.m.
10 PLAYERS TO WATCH
Brooke Beresford, Woodinville, sr.
Monique Carter, Emerald Ridge, sr.
Kylee Fox, Richland, sr.
Esmeralda Galindo, Davis, jr.
Addison Harris, Camas, jr.
Hope Hassmann, Tahoma, sr.
Lainee Houillon, Sumner, jr.
Ava Schmidt, Eastlake, sr.
Kiara Stone, Bellarmine Prep, jr.
Nikole Thomas, Kamiakin, sr.
TEAM PREVIEWS
No. 1 Woodinville (24-2) — The defending champion Falcons put together a nearly-unstoppable follow-up to last year’s title, rolling to 4A KingCo and 4A Northwest/SeaKing district crowns this winter, but a stunning upset in the regional round against Emerald Ridge snapped the Falcons’ 21-game winning streak. Lynden Christian — last year’s 1A state champion — handed Woodinville its only other loss in December. Falcons bring a pair of starters from last season’s title game win — guard Brooke Beresford (14.6 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 5.2 apg, 2.5 spg) and forward Jacey Eggers (15 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 2.6 bpg) — back to the Tacoma Dome.
No. 2 Camas (22-3) — The Papermakers stormed past competition in the 4A Greater St. Helens League on the way to an undefeated league title, and the 4A West Central/Southwest district bracket, upending state contender Tahoma in the championship game by 29. Camas left the Tacoma Dome fourth last season, and could very well finish above that mark in 2023. Camas is a perfect 22-0 against in-state opponents, led by forward Addison Harris, the 4A GSHL co-player of the year, who averages a double-double with 18 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. Guards Keirra Thompson (10 ppg, 6.8 apg) and Riley Sanz (10 ppg, 3.7 apg) also average double figures scoring. Forward Reagan Jamison, an all-tournament team selection last season, returned for last week’s regional round after missing time with a hip injury.
No. 3 Tahoma (22-3) — The Bears are tough to stop when Hope Hassmann (17.5 ppg, 5.5 apg, 3.5 spg), this season’s 4A NPSL MVP, gets hot. Tahoma won an undefeated 4A NPSL title, and the Bears’ only losses this season are to Camas twice and Emerald Ridge once. This is the first time since 1999 the program has advanced to a state tournament site.
No. 4 Eastlake (20-6) — Eastlake placed fifth in the Tacoma Dome last winter, and will look to make another run behind guard Ava Schmidt (18 ppg, 8 rpg), this year’s 4A KingCo MVP, and wing Sofia Aluas (15 ppg, 10 ppg, 3 apg, 3 spg), who averages a double-double. The Wolves have only lost to state contenders — three times to 4A KingCo rival Woodinville, and once each to Camas, Bellarmine Prep and 2A state favorite Ellensburg.
No. 5 Sumner (21-6) — The Spartans’ run to last year’s state championship game ended in heartbreak — a 65-63 loss to Woodinville in the final. Guard Lainee Houillon (19.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.5 apg, 4 spg) earned 4A SPSL North MVP honors this season, and guard Olivia Collins (19.5 ppg, 6.2 rpg) also averages double figures scoring. Sumner won a 4A SPSL North regular season title and 4A SPSL tournament championship despite graduating dominant twin-duo Alyson and Catelyn Deaver, who were all-tournament selections last year.
No. 6 Davis (19-3) — The Pirates are headed to the Tacoma Dome for the first time in program history after winning a 4A Columbia Basin Big Nine title — their first league championship in 36 years — and District 6 crown. Guards Esmeralda Galindo (26 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 3.3 apg), Navaeh Patterson (13.8 ppg, 5 rpg, 4 apg, 3 spg) and Leilani Johnson (12.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.3 apg, 2.3 spg) and forward Shaela Allen-Greggs (12.4 ppg, 11.9 rpg) all average double digits scoring. Only losses this season are to Tahoma, Eisenhower and 2A top seed Ellensburg.
No. 7 Kamiakin (20-4) — Opposing defenses must remain aware of a balanced Kamiakin offense, where a trio of upperclassmen average at least 10 points per game and seven Braves average 7 points or more. Guard Nikole Thomas drives the offensive machine and stuffs the stat sheet with 15.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 3.2 steals per game. Kamiakin won an undefeated 4A/3A Mid-Columbia Conference title and had a 15-game winning streak before a loss to Richland in the District 8 title game.
No. 8 Emerald Ridge (20-6) — Jaguars picked up a signature win in the regional round over reigning champion and top-seeded Woodinville. Emerald Ridge reached the Tacoma Dome in 2022 for the first time in school history, and could advance to the semifinals for the first time with a win Thursday. The 4A SPSL South winners are paced by division co-MVP and co-defensive MVP Monique Carter (9 ppg, 4 apg), forwards Maya Barnett (10 ppg, 5 rpg) and Ryah McGriff (8 ppg, 7 rpg) and guard Alina Sapilak (8 ppg).
No. 9 Richland (19-5) — Richland upset Kamiakin in the District 8 title game to raise the tournament’s championship trophy on its league rival’s home court. It was a feat no other 4A/3A MCC opponent accomplished all season, and it may have been the burst Richland — which placed sixth in last season’s state tournament and enters the week on a six-game winning streak — needed. Guards Kylee Fox (16.7 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 4.1 apg, 2.8 spg) and Maggie Smith (12 ppg, 5 rpg, 4.2 apg, 3 spg) pace the offense.
No. 10 Bothell (20-6) — If any team enters the state bracket battle-tested, it’s Bothell, which met defending-champion Woodinville in 4A KingCo play twice this season. The Cougars lost both meetings but rattled off eight straight wins in between. Forward McKylee Hawkins pours in 14 points per game, adding team-highs in rebounds (8.6), steals (2.2) and blocks (1.3). Shooting guard Ella Kaleta adds 10 points per game.
No. 11 Bellarmine Prep (21-7) — The Lions hang around with top contenders, and have already played four of the teams in this bracket. They’re one of only two in-state teams this season that have played Camas to single digits, along with Kamiakin. Bellarmine Prep has a trio of talented guards that average double figures scoring in Keiara Curtis (16.4 ppg, 2.6 apg, 2.7 spg), 4A NPSL North defensive MVP Kiara Stone (15.7 ppg, 3.8 apg, 3.1 spg) and Jada Travis (12.2 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 4.1 apg, 3.8 spg), who also pace a Lions defense that averages 14-plus steals per contest.
No. 12 Gonzaga Prep (18-7) — The Bullpups enter the bracket on a four-game win streak, and return to the Tacoma Dome for the first time since back-to-back state championship runs in 2014 and 2015. Guards Lucy Lynn (17.2 ppg), a Yale commit, and Taliah Lee (11.1 ppg) pace Gonzaga Prep’s offense, while 6-foot-3 post Gillian Bears is the Bullpups’ rebounds and blocks leader.
TNT CHAMPIONSHIP PICK
No. 2 Camas 52, No. 7 Kamiakin 45
This story was originally published February 28, 2023 at 7:00 AM.
