4A state basketball regionals: Area team breakdowns and predictions

No. 6 Bellarmine Prep (17-7) vs. No. 4 Union (21-2)

8 p.m. Friday at Battle Ground High School

About the Lions: Thought Malachi Flynn was averaging a lot in the regular season? He then set a district tournament record with 35.8 points per game. You can almost pencil his points in, but Lions are at their best when Joey Bodoia and Isaac Wojtanowicz are hitting around him and Christian Moore plays big inside.

About the Titans: This isn’t the same team that reached the 4A state semifinals a year ago, but has somehow looked pretty close despite losing key seniors. Cameron Cranston, the 4A Greater Saint Helens League MVP, is a tough matchup at 6-foot-5 with his ability to hit from 3-point range.

TNT pick: Union, 65-64

Timberline (18-6) vs. No. 5 Issaquah (20-3)

10 a.m. Saturday at Bellevue College

About the Blazers: Over the past six games, Jarryn Bush has stepped up his inside threat, averaging about 21 points per game and shooting 58 percent from the floor. He’s been Timberline’s go-to player in the postseason and if he keeps playing to that level, the Blazers have a chance in any game.

About the Eagles: Trevon Ary-Turner was questionable coming into last year’s state tournament because of a broken knuckle, but has been healthy the entire this year. The junior guard is averaging 18.9 points per game and 4 assists in what could be his third consecutive trip to the Tacoma Dome with a win.

TNT pick: Issaquah, 72-58

Kentwood (19-6) vs. No. 7 Cascade of Everett (21-1)

8 p.m. Saturday at Everett Community College

About the Conquerors: Not many guards in the state are better defensively than Kentwood junior Darius LuBom, the 4A SPSL Northeast player of the year. He averaged 18.7 points, 5 rebounds and 2.4 steals during the regular season and is hoping to lead Kentwood to the Tacoma Dome for the second consecutive season.

About the Bruins: They are coming off their only loss of the season when they fell to Kamiak, 65-59, on Feb. 9, but beat the Knights two games later, 76-69, behind Shorecrest transfer Drew Magaoay’s 45 points for the district championship. Senior 6-foot-6 forward Isaiah Gotell provides a tough inside presence.

TNT pick: Cascade, 61-60

Kamiak (17-6) vs. No. 3 Curtis (23-3)

8 p.m. Saturday at Rogers High School, Puyallup

About the Knights: Carson Tuttle, a 5-foot-10 sophomore, has scored in double digits in all but four games. He’s leading the team with 15.3 points per game. Kamiak only has one other state appearance in school history (2005). Key could be Coleman Grayson and Gavin Patrick dominating the paint.

About the Vikings: Tough to play Curtis’ full-court press defense for the first time. And especially tough when Aushanti Potts-Woods catches fire on the offensive end. Glenn Jordan complements that as one of Curtis’ better defenders and better slashers offensively. Most of the inside presence centers around John Moore.

TNT pick: Curtis, 68-50

Kentridge (14-11) vs. Central Valley (19-5)

8 p.m. Saturday at University High School, Spokane Valley

About the Chargers: They make their third consecutive appearance in the regional round of the state tournament. Joran Ticeson, a 6-foot-7 senior, is one of the South Sound’s top threats in the low block. He had a 21-point, 16-rebound night against Puyallup on Feb. 4. But can the Chargers knock down the shots around him?

About the Titans: Somehow allowed Richland’s BYU-bound guard Steven Beo to score 48 points and still won to advance to the district title game. Bears are one of three teams from the tough Greater Spokane League to reach the regional round of the 4A tournament. Deep team led by Ryan Rehkow and Cameron Tucker.

TNT pick: Central Valley, 61-48

No. 10 Woodinville (19-4) vs. No. 1 Federal Way (25-0)

8 p.m. Saturday at Puyallup High School

About the Falcons: The matchup to watch? Just look for the tallest players on the court. Woodinville’s Tony Miller, a 6-foot-6 double-double machine at forward who was named the 4A KingCo MVP and averaged 28.4 points and 12.5 rebounds per game, will have toughest test yet against Federal Way’s 6-foot-10 Jalen McDaniels.

About the Eagles: The difference between last year’s state-title run and what this year’s team brings is size in the frontcourt. Not only with McDaniels and Christian Jones, but also Malcolm Cola. Can’t leave Ferron Flavors or D’Jimon Jones open on the wings and Marcus Stephens sets it all up. A lot of balance.

TNT pick: Federal Way, 61-55

Bellarmine Prep (17-7) vs. No. 8 Skyview (19-4)

About the Lions: Jayana Ervin has reached the state tournament in each of her four years in Bellarmine’s program. The first-team all-4A Narrows League guard has helped shoulder the scoring load in the postseason with 4A Narrows MVP Shalyse Smith out. So has McKenzie Alton, a senior wing whose season high is 24 points.

About the Storm: The six-time reigning 4A Greater Saint Helens League champions have only lost one game to a team in the state of Washington (Prairie, 54-52). The Storm has won 14 in a row, getting a big lift from 6-foot-1 junior Ashlee Comastro, who is averaging 12 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.

TNT pick: Skyview, 48-46

Curtis (19-7) vs. No. 4 Bothell (22-1)

8 p.m. Friday at Bellevue College

About the Vikings: When this team is healthy and playing together, they are really hard to beat. Anna Matz, a Central Washington signee, dominates defensively. Her and CeDrice Howard make for a solid 1-2 punch in the paint. Jalaiya Frederick, a 4-foot-11 point guard, and Kaelin Williams-Kennedy lead the team in scoring at about 11 points per game each.

About the Cougars: Juniors Taya Corosdale and Keyonna Jones play most of the minutes, have played together since the sixth grade and both average in double figures, with Corosdale putting up 18.5 points, 11.3 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game. She’s considered the 14th best player in the nation at her position by ESPN.

TNT pick: Bothell, 63-54

Kamiak (15-10) vs. No. 6 Kentlake (20-5)

6 p.m. Saturday at Rogers High School, Puyallup

About the Knights: They are making their first state appearance since 2009 and enter the state regionals with five wins in their past six games behind Sarah Payne, who is averaging 13 points per game. They will not beat themselves, turning it over just 12 times per game, but don’t have a lot of consistent 3-point shooters, either.

About the Falcons: Aniston Denckla was the 4A SPSL Northeast’s player of the year last year as a freshman. This year it went to her teammate, Sydney Peterson, a junior. Kentlake’s lone losses this season have come from teams that are a combined 86-5 (Auburn Riverside, Lynnwood, Lynden Christian and Todd Beamer).

TNT pick: Kentlake, 55-41

Rogers (16-11) vs. No. 1 Central Valley (24-0)

6 p.m. Saturday at University High School, Spokane Valley

About the Rams: Jessi Westering, the daughter of Pacific Lutheran football coach Scott Westering and younger sister of Sumner girls basketball coach Jordan Moog, makes this team tick. The team captain has averaged 17.1 points and 8.5 rebounds per game for Rogers, which is making its fourth state appearance since 2008.

About the Bears: Of the sophomore Hull twins, Lexie Hull provides the scariest scoring punch. She’s averaged 18.1 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. But Lacie Hull leads the team in assists. Scary and young team starts three sophomores and two freshmen. Greater Spokane League has won seven of the past 10 state titles.

TNT pick: Central Valley, 63-45

Gig Harbor (15-8) vs. Snohomish (19-3)

6 p.m. Saturday at Everett Community College

About the Tides: Gig Harbor’s one of the hottest teams entering the state regionals with 11 wins in its past 14 games, despite losing its past two district games against Todd Beamer and Bellarmine Prep. Brynna Maxwell has scored in double figures in three of her past four games, including 21 against Curtis.

About the Panthers: Remember when Snohomish was perennially in the state tournament? It made state eight times from 2000-2009, but hasn’t made it back until this year. Coach Ken Roberts has the Panthers playing stingy defense and they’ve won 19 in a row since an 0-3 start thanks to the return of key players from injuries.

TNT pick: Snohomish, 51-41

Eastlake (17-7) vs. No. 3 Todd Beamer (22-2)

6 p.m. Saturday at Puyallup High School

About the Wolves: For a sophomore, Gina Marxen sure does do a bit of everything. The Wolves sent Camas home and reached the regional round with a win last week, behind Marxen averaging 17.2 points, 5 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 2.7 steals. Sarah Priestley had 21 rebounds in a loss to Issaquah earlier this season.

About the Titans: Sure they are missing their scoring punch with Quinessa Caylao-Do transferring to 3A Bellevue, but it’s only allowed Nia Alexander to shine. She’s developed her game on the wing and leads Beamer at 15.6 points per game, 6 assists, 5 steals and 5 rebounds. Colorado signee Bria Rice sets everyone up.

TNT pick: Todd Beamer, 64-35

This story was originally published February 23, 2016 at 10:39 PM with the headline "4A state basketball regionals: Area team breakdowns and predictions."