Class 4A state preview: Unbeaten Federal Way boys, Central Valley girls favorites to take titles

THURSDAY’S QUARTERFINALS

3:45 p.m.: No. 3 Curtis (23-3) vs. Central Valley (20-5)

5:30 p.m.: Kentwood (20-6) vs. No. 5 Issaquah (21-3)

7:15 p.m.: No. 8 Lewis and Clark (20-6) vs. No. 1 Federal Way (26-0)

9 p.m.: No. 4 Union (22-2) vs. No. 2 Gonzaga Prep (23-2)

POWER RANKINGS

1. Federal Way (26-0): The Eagles are still flying high. Jalen McDaniels (19 ppg) and D’Jimon Jones (11 ppg) are threats to dunk on any player and they have Federal Way riding a 40-game winning streak. That’s tied with the run Richland had from 1978-1980 for second longest in Class 4A history (Ferris of Spokane won 59 games from 2006-2008).

2. Curtis (23-3): Coach Tim Kelly didn’t have any seniors on his previous two teams. But he’s got a couple of exceptional ones in Aushanti Potts-Woods (24.8 ppg) and Glenn Jordan (15.3 ppg). Not much size, but the Vikings (who won the state title in 2013) make up for it with a diverse set of defenses and spreading teams offensively.

3. Union (22-2): Thought the Titans would drop off after losing top two players from last year’s third-place team? Cameron Cranston (18 ppg) and Davis Kirichenko (13 ppg, 10 rpg) steadied the ship, with Cranston hitting a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to end Bellarmine Prep’s season last week. Has four state trophies since 2009, including 2010 state title.

4. Issaquah (21-3): Eagles sent Ty Gibson to Eastern Washington after a fourth-place finish in state last year and third place the year before. His former wingmate Trevon Ary-Turner (19 ppg) now leads the show. Jason Crandall (11 ppg) has reached state all four years of high school (his first year was with Richland).

5. Gonzaga Prep (21-3): Logan Adams went from leading the Greater Spokane League in scoring last year at 17 ppg to taking a step back, leading the Bullpups with 12.3 ppg but allowing his teammates to take on greater roles. His twin sisters, Alyssa and Aspyn Adams, are also in the Tacoma Dome, playing for Mount Spokane in the 3A tournament.

6. Lewis and Clark (20-6): Part of six teams from the GSL in the state boys or girls tournament — the most the league has ever sent to Tacoma. Lewis and Clark took second in a tough GSL with a school-best 15-3 record, with sophomore Naje Smith (12.7 ppg) leading a balanced attack. State berth ended a 20-year drought for the Tigers.

7. Kentwood (20-6): Coach Blake Solomon said last year the team was just enjoying the Tacoma Dome. And it bit the Conquerors in the form of a 58-57 quarterfinal loss to Woodinville after starting the game in a 22-9 hole. Darius LuBom (17 ppg) was an all-tournament selection last year and South Puget Sound League Northeast MVP this season.

8. Central Valley (20-5): Survived a 48-point effort from BYU-bound guard Steven Beo and Richland to secure a state berth in the district tournament. Ryan Rehkow and Cameron Tucker have led the Bears this year, but Justis Simmons has provided a deep threat in the past month, lifting CV over Kentridge in a state regional with 21 points on four 3-pointers.

THURSDAY’S QUARTERFINALS

9 a.m.: No. 6 Kentlake (21-5) vs. No. 3 Bothell (23-1)

10:30 a.m.: No. 5 Lewis and Clark (18-6) vs. Snohomish (20-3)

12:15 p.m.: No. 2 Moses Lake (23-0) vs. No. 1 Central Valley (25-0)

2 p.m.: No. 7 Skyview (20-4) vs. No. 3 Todd Beamer (22-2)

POWER RANKINGS

1. Central Valley (25-0): Starts three sophomores and two freshmen, but plenty of talent. Sophomore twins Lexie (18.3 ppg) and Lacie Hull (9.4) combine to average almost 15 rebounds per game. The Bears hope to make it eight state titles in the past 10 years for the Greater Spokane League.

2. Moses Lake (23-0): Quarterfinal game between Central Valley and Moses Lake could very well decide the eventual state champion. Gonzaga-bound Jessie Loera (19 ppg) earlier this season broke older sister and Oregon guard Jordan Loera’s school record with 37 points in a game against Chiawana. Sister Jamie Loera, a sophomore, was a first-team all-league selection this year.

3. Todd Beamer (22-2): Coach Corey Alexander said of last year’s game winner from Gonzaga Prep’s Laura Stockton that ended Titans’ title hopes in state semis — “I think our team was just heartbroke.” San Francisco signee Nia Alexander (15.6 ppg), Hawaii signee Makenna Woodfolk (12.4 ppg) and Colorado signee Bria Rice (7.4 ppg) planning much different result this year.

4. Bothell (23-1): 4A KingCo MVP Taya Corosdale (18.5 ppg, 11.3 rpg) and Keyonna Jones (14.7 ppg) lead a Cougars team that plays strong inside. And both are juniors. Bothell last won a state quarterfinal game in 1998 but opens with an intriguing matchup against sixth-ranked Kentlake. Only loss this season came against Issaquah on Jan. 6.

5. Lewis and Clark (18-6): Lefty, four-year starter and Boise State signee Riley Lupfer (20.3 ppg, 4.7 apg, 4.6 rpg) has more than 1,000 points for her career and is one of the best career scorers to come from the GSL. Shooting stroke might be her best asset. Last time Tigers reached state, they won the 2011 title.

6. Kentlake (21-5): Falcons have won nine of their past 10 games — with their lone loss coming against Todd Beamer in the district title. Now they are in the Tacoma Dome for the first time since 2007. Sydney Peterson (14.4 ppg) is a junior who earned the 4A South Puget Sound League Northeast MVP a year after teammate Aniston Denckla (8 ppg) earned the honor as a freshman.

7. Skyview (20-4): The Storm cruised past Bellarmine Prep last week to advance to the quarterfinals for the fourth time in five years (Skyview won the state title in 2012). Junior Ashlee Comastro (12.5 ppg, 8.9 rpg) is the only player averaging in double figures this season, but the Storm has four others averaging about eight points each.

8. Snohomish (20-3): If this is football, the Panthers run the power-I formation. They have a pair of 6-1 posts in Madeline Smith (13.8 ppg, 8.4 rpg) and Madison Pollock (12.8 ppg). Smith, a Montana State commit, is the 4A Wesco’s two-time league MVP and Pollock is headed to San Diego in the fall. She will play multiple positions and is a big reason Snohomish is on 20-game win streak.

This story was originally published March 2, 2016 at 6:26 PM with the headline "Class 4A state preview: Unbeaten Federal Way boys, Central Valley girls favorites to take titles."