High school girls basketball: The top teams, players in the South Sound in 2024-25
The 2024-25 high school girls basketball season is in full swing across Washington. Some league title races are taking shape around the South Sound, and others are just beginning.
Wondering what to watch for in the new year?
We’ve got you covered, breaking down the top teams and players in the 4A NPSL, 4A SPSL, 3A NPSL, 3A PSL, 2A SPSL, 2A EvCo and more this winter.
LEAGUE PREVIEWS
4A NPSL
After storming to the 3A state basketball tournament last year with a young team, we like Auburn’s chances to win the league in their first go-around in Class 4A. The Trojans graduated six seniors, including three starters, but return sophomore guards Avery Hansen (15.6 points, 6.9 rebounds per game) and Keleesa Howard (13.7 ppg, 5.9 rebounds) and are off to a 7-1 start. Hansen was a TNT All-Area first team selection as a freshman last season. The Trojans also return junior Ariyana Deloney (12.3 ppg, 4.7 rebounds). Kennedy Catholic handed Auburn its only loss so far and looks like a contender; freshman point guard Jayden Fitzgerald runs the show for the Lancers. Tahoma (9-2 overall, 5-0 NPSL) should be a contender as well. Junior point guard Bailey Nettleton leads the Bears in scoring with 11.8 points per game and is pulling down 4.7 rebounds per game. Kentwood features San Diego commit Jessica Ajayi but has struggled to string wins together.
4A SPSL
In the North division, it’s Sumner’s world and everyone else is living in it. After advancing to the 4A state tournament semifinals at the Tacoma Dome last winter, the Spartans are back for more, led by 6-foot-2 sophomore wing Kawehi Borden — who is now one of the area’s top players after showing all sorts of promise in her freshman season — and junior guard Olivia Collins, who pairs three-level scoring ability with swagger and never-back-down confidence. Borden is averaging 18.8 points per game, while Collins is adding 15.2. Emerald Ridge should factor in, too; Jags’ coach Arvin Mosley Jr. has built a consistent contender in South Hill. Emerald Ridge (7-2 overall) returns junior guard Semaj Williams, sophomore forward Raymiah Jackson and junior forward JaRyah McGriff.
In the South division, Olympia has emerged as the front runner, off to an 8-2 overall start. The Bears pride themselves on in-your-face, halfcourt man-to-man defense and are experienced, returning their entire starting five from last season: sophomore guards Brooke Juergens and Sawyer Schaff, senior guard Lauren Wolin and senior posts Lauren Juergens and Emma Hankins. Schaff (14 ppg) is the team’s top scorer in a balanced offensive attack. Bethel and Bonney Lake should factor in, too. Bonney Lake defeated Olympia this season, but lost to Bethel. Bethel beat Bonney Lake but lost to Olympia. Bison sophomore guard Na’leiyah Duncan (14 ppg) and senior guard Moriah Sears (13 ppg) shoulder most of Bethel’s scoring load. Bonney Lake graduated last winter’s TNT All-Area player of the year, Jazmyn Shipp, but returns a talented roster, highlighted by versatile 6-foot-3 guard/forward Azy Jackson, who can fill up the stat sheet in a hurry.
3A NPSL
A winning tradition: White River has reached the state’s 2A Sweet 16 in every season since 2008-09. Can they keep that streak alive after rising to a new-look 3A NPSL? White River and Enumclaw are in, Auburn and Auburn Riverside out — but Chris Gibson’s Hornets (7-2, 3-0) appear well on their way to another postseason appearance early on. Sophomore guard Maggee Schmitz is pouring in points (16 PPG) as White River’s leading scorer and senior center Vivian Kingston has averaged a double-double (12 PPG, 11 RPG) through eight games. Schmitz snags a team-high three steals per game. Despite the new league, it’s the same rivalry between crosstown Hornets. Enumclaw joined White River in the move from 2A SPSL play to the 3A NPSL, and we expect both teams to contend in their new league. That sets up an exciting league clash this week: Enumclaw visits White River in a battle Wednesday night. Enumclaw (8-1) began the season on a six-game win streak and lost once to 4A-Puyallup, 47-45. Danny Graham’s Hornets are powered by senior guard Kalee Swanson, a sharpshooter averaging 21 points per game and shooting 38 percent from beyond the arc. Junior forward Ava Smith grabs a team-high nine rebounds per game (6 PPG). Auburn Mountainview opened the season with a double-digit win over 4A-Puyallup and could make noise. The Lions return first-team forward and feared blocker Madelyn Shaw, plus senior forward Kyra Thomas and shooting guard Kaylahna Cruz.
3A PSL
In the Narrows division, we like Bellarmine’s chances, despite losing TNT All-Area first-team selection Jada Travis to graduation. Bellarmine athletic director Kevin Meines, who has coached the girls Lions’ basketball program in the past, returns to the sideline this year, older and conceivably wiser. The Lions are off to a 9-2 overall start with a 7-0 mark in league play, its only two losses coming in non-league games to Gonzaga Prep and Seattle Prep. Bellarmine sophomore guard/forward Kyla Frazier is averaging 19.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.5 steals and three assists per game. Silas and Gig Harbor should factor into the playoff race as well. In the Nisqually division, we expect North Thurston to run away with it. Not only do the Rams return TNT All-Area first-team selection and senior guard Soraya Ogaldez, coach Jackie Meyer’s group added Timberline transfer Shayla Cordis, a TNT All-Area second-team selection last winter. Ogaldez is averaging 24.8 points per game this season while Cordis is averaging 22. Senior guard Grace Lee averages 9.8 for North Thurston, which is 6-1 overall with a 6-0 mark in league play.
2A SPSL
Remy Berg and Ariana Vaeao, Fife soccer teammates and back-to-back league champions on the pitch, are spending their winter on the court. Talk about a smooth transition: the Trojans (8-1, 3-0) are surging, and in the words of head coach Deon Moyd, are “helping put the Fife basketball program back on the map.” The do-everything Berg (sophomore guard) and versatile Vaeao (junior forward) are combining for 26 points, 16 rebounds, and nine steals per game and have Fife in full control of the SPSL early on. Eatonville’s making an opening statement in its first season of 2A SPSL play, now 3-1 with early wins over new rivals Orting and Steilacoom. The Cruisers get a boost when top scoring option Bailey Andersen returns this month from a broken wrist suffered in AAU competition last summer. Eatonville also gets back all-Evergreen center Lillian Bickford and senior forward Hailey Hall. In Lakewood, Clover Park’s top scoring duo of junior forward Andralynne Harless (12 PPG, 12 RPG) and Ahriana Mamea (10 PPG, 10 RPG) both average a double-double.
2A EVCO
The W.F. West Bearcats are on the prowl for an Evergreen Conference three-peat, and we say it’s their league to lose with star 6-foot-4 center and Portland commit Julia Dalan on board. The program sports a 23-1 record over EvCo foes across the last two seasons much in part to Dalan, the school’s all-time leading scorer, rebounder and shot blocker. The Bearcats are 10-1 this year, their lone loss to 4A-Tahoma, 68-65 — and there’s plenty of firepower to go around. Sophomore guard Dilyn Boeck dropped a season-high 32 points on 4A-Lake Stevens in last week’s 59-37 win at a Snohomish holiday tournament, and junior shooting guard Rhylee Beebe is considered by rival coaches as one of the league’s most underrated players with all-around contributions that might not pop off a stat sheet. Black Hills (5-1), last year’s EvCo runner-up, could take a step forward with a high-octane backcourt between senior guard Kiley McMahon (19.5 PPG) and sophomore Tyler Venable (17 PPG). And are we witnessing a total Shelton turnaround? After finishing 1-12 last season, the Highclimbers are 6-1 in non-league play with three freshman starters and “a whole new look” for third-year head coach Chris Swanson. Junior forward Cedar Wily leads the way.
SMALL SCHOOLS
Watch out for the Golden Gators. Annie Wright’s Aaliyeh Martin is stuffing the stat sheet (18 PPG, 5 RPG) and the 1A Nisqually power rolled through eight wins to end the calendar year, including five by double-digits. Bellevue Christian (7-1, 2-0) is the two-time defending Nisqually champion and presumptive favorite to three-peat having won its last 36 league contests, but we think the Gators in Tacoma are destined for postseason play after a run to the state’s regional round in 2024. Backcourt talent galore: freshman shooting guard Jasmine Andrisek is averaging a double-double (11 PPG, 11 RPG) through 11 games and senior guard J’Lyn Doodigian adds 11 points and four rebounds. Tacoma’s Sound Christian (6-0, 3-0) co-leads the 1B/2B Sea-Tac, led by two-way guard Abby Mesler (22 PPG, 6 SPG).
TOP 30 PLAYERS TO WATCH
G Jessica Ajayi, Kentwood, sr.
G Bailey Andersen, Eatonville, sr.
G Kawehi Borden, Sumner, soph.
G Olivia Collins, Sumner, jr.
G Shayla Cordis, North Thurston, jr.
G Na’leiyah Duncan, Bethel, soph.
G/F Kyla Frazier, Bellarmine Prep, soph.
G Avery Hansen, Auburn, soph.
G Keleesa Howard, Auburn, soph.
F Azy Jackson, Bonney Lake, soph.
G CK Kandola, Auburn Riverside, jr.
F/C Vivian Kingston, White River, sr.
G Aaliyeh Martin, Annie Wright, jr.
F JaRyah McGriff, Emerald Ridge, jr.
G Kiley McMahon, Black Hills, sr.
G Abby Mesler, Sound Christian, jr.
G Bailey Nettleton, Tahoma, jr.
SG Mia Nielsen, Capital, jr.
G Soraya Ogaldez, North Thurston, sr.
G Samara Oliver, Lakes, sr.
F Elaine Pilcher, Rogers, soph.
G Grace Richardson, Peninsula, sr.
G Sawyer Schaff, Olympia, soph.
PG Maggee Schmitz, White River, soph.
G Annique Smith, Silas, jr.
PG Brandi Stanford, River Ridge, jr.
PG Kalee Swanson, Enumclaw, sr.
G Tyler Venable, Black Hills, soph.
G Semaj Williams, Emerald Ridge, jr.
G Lauren Wolin, Olympia, sr.
This story was originally published January 8, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
