Class 3A state preview: Garfield boys, Lynnwood girls favorites to take titles

THURSDAY’S QUARTERFINALS

9 a.m.: No. 3 Bellevue (23-2) vs. Kennedy Catholic (19-6)

10:30 a.m.: Stanwood (17-5) vs. O’Dea (20-7)

12:15 p.m.: No. 6 Lincoln (21-4) vs. No. 2 Rainier Beach (21-5)

2 p.m.: No. 8 Cleveland (22-6) vs. No. 1 Garfield (24-2)

POWER RANKINGS

1. Garfield (24-2): Can anyone upend this purple-crazed blur? The Bulldogs won the Class 4A title in 2014, then became the fourth consecutive Metro League program to capture the 3A crown last season. 6-foot-5 guard Jaylen Nowell (17.4 ppg) leads a deep and talented group that crashes the boards hard, and runs like gazelles in the open floor.

2. Rainier Beach (21-5): Who has owned championship night in the Tacoma Dome? It has been the Vikings, who have advanced to the 3A title game nine times in the past 15 seasons. No player is more athletic than 6-6 Sam Cunliffe (21.2 ppg), the Arizona State signee who is a highlight-reel moment every time he goes to the basket.

3. O’Dea (20-7): Look who is back — three-time state championship coach Jason Kerr, who is in his first season with the Irish after a long stint at Franklin. Armed with five tough-minded guards, led by SG Michael Carter (17.1 ppg) and Quin Barnard (16.5 ppg) — and benefiting from a favorable draw — the Irish can shake this tournament up this week.

4. Bellevue (23-2): Last season, the Wolverines were in the co-favorite mix. Now, they come in slightly under the radar. PG Sharif Khan (16.5 pgg) moved over from shooting guard, and has shown better ball-handling against pressure later in the year. PF/C Mikey Henn (19.8 ppg) is a reliable inside-outside scoring threat.

5. Lincoln (22-4): Local pride alert. The Abes are back in the 3A quarterfinals for the first time since 2013. PG Trevion Brown (13.0 ppg, 3.6 apg) makes it all go on the offensive end — and SG Dionte Simon is the reigning three-time 3A Narrows defensive MVP. The Abes are a very balanced, athletic and dangerous group.

6. Cleveland (22-6): After a 12-year drought — welcome back, Eagles. G/F C.J. Elleby (16.5 ppg) could be the next great NCAA Division I up-and-comer, and shows no fear in flinging it from everywhere as a sophomore. G Davon Bolton (16.1 ppg) is the ideal slasher complement. The Eagles have a nasty, relentless edge to them, too.

7. Stanwood (19-6): Four lose-and-go games later, the Spartans now can breathe easy in their first state-tournament trip since 2014. C Chase Strieby (13.6 ppg) and F A.J. Martinka (12.9 ppg) are dependable 1-2 scoring punch, and the Wesco North champions will press at will. Stanwood hasn’t won in the state quarterfinals since 2001.

8. Kennedy Catholic (19-6): The 3A Seamount champions do just enough of everything to scare opponents. PG Emilio Mancol (19.2 ppg) has moxie and hits big shots, but it is SF James Jolly (7.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg) who is team’s best all-around player. The Lancers are 0-3 in 3A quarterfinal games, including a 66-54 loss to Garfield last season.

THURSDAY’S QUARTERFINALS

3:45 p.m.: Mt. Spokane (14-10) vs. No. 1 Bellevue (25-0)

5:30 p.m.: Prairie (21-4) vs. No. 2 Lynnwood (24-0)

7:15 p.m.: Edmonds-Woodway (16-10) vs. Kamiakin (14-10)

9 p.m.: No. 4 Arlington (23-1) vs. No. 7 Lincoln (24-1)

POWER RANKINGS

1. Lynnwood (24-0): What separates the top two teams — the defending 3A champion Royals and Bellevue? It is their overall physicality, led by forward Mikayla Pivec (22.0 ppg, 14.0 rpg, 4.5 steals), who can single-handedly control the paint herself. She is headed to Oregon State. Dating back to last season, Lynnwood is on a 32-game winning streak.

2. Bellevue (26-0): The only thing left for the Wolverines to prove is winning the 3A title. They have all the championship pieces, led by 6-foot-1 Shelby Cansler (17.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg) and point guard Anna Wilson (15.9 ppg, 4.8 apg), the sister of Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson. Seventeen of Bellevue’s wins have been by 30 or more points.

3. Lincoln (24-1): Riding a 22-game winning streak, the 3A Narrows champions are legit. The best thing they have is size, led by 6-2 center Tamia Braggs (19.4 ppg, 10.1 rpg), who is a weak-side terror, and PF Morticia McCall (11.3 ppg, 10.0 rpg). The Abes have not won a quarterfinal game since their run to the 4A title game in 1980, losing to Garfield.

4. Arlington (23-1): Run, you say? The Eagles would rather sprint up and down the court to get easy transition buckets, then apply fullcourt pressure. SG Gracie Castaneda (10.5 ppg), the Wesco North player of the year, is a slashing scorer and the team’s best on-ball defender. Guard-heavy Eagles have been surprisingly good rebounding team.

5. Prairie (21-4): Much has changed around the six-time state champion’s camp. For one, Brett Johnson, a University of Oregon basketball alum, is the second coach to take over since longtime coach Al Aldridge retired in 2012. The Falcons will shoot more 3-pointers than anybody here, led by PG Cherita Daugherty (9.8 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 4.9 apg).

6. Edmonds-Woodway (16-10): If this was a halfcourt shooting content — the Warriors might be the tournament favorite. PG Missy Peterson (13.8 ppg. 7.0 rpg) has unlimited shooting range, and SG Mady Burdett (15.3 ppg) also is a good 3-point shooter. The fourth-place team from the Wesco South relies on tempo to offset lack of inside game.

7. Mount Spokane (14-10): As a 3A school, you grow up quickly in the Greater Spokane League against 4A powerhouses Central Valley, Lewis and Clark and Gonzaga Prep. The Wildcats make their first trip to the Tacoma Dome, and will rely on PG/SG Jaidyn Lyman (10.3 ppg) locating SF Jordan Smith (13.6 ppg) for open looks.

8. Kamiakin (14-10): The future … is now. The Braves have the youngest starting five (three ninth graders, two juniors) in the tournament, led by SG Oumou Toure (16.1 ppg, 7.3 rebounds, 3.0 steals), the ninth-grade sister of Khadidja (East Carolina) and Sira (Weber State). It is Kamiakin’s first state trip since 2013 when it placed fourth.

This story was originally published March 2, 2016 at 7:00 PM with the headline "Class 3A state preview: Garfield boys, Lynnwood girls favorites to take titles."