Washington high school (WIAA) 1B girls basketball regionals 2024: Nothing new at No. 1 for Neah Bay

Lady Reds won first state title last season - and could be cruising toward another late-Saturday date in Spokane

With the 16-team field set for regional round of the 2023-24 WIAA Class 1B girls basketball tournament, here is SBLive WA’s weekend overview of the matchups, players to watch – and game score predictions:

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CLASS 1B GIRLS REGIONALS (Bracket)

Photo by John Gehring

TOP BILLING

Defending state champion Neah Bay has depth, determination and a savvy sophomore group that bolsters talented roster.

BEST BET TO SCORE 30

A lot if asked of G Emma Lena Baker, who carries the load for Curlew with 12 games of 20 or more points. She answers the bell.

RIDE THIS DARKHORSE

No. 12 seed Garfield-Palouse has won 10 of past 11 games, with wins over Colton (two) and Oakesdale. Playing lockdown defense.

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Photo courtesy of Waterville-Mansfield athletics

PROTECTED-GAME PREVIEW CAPSULES

No. 1 Neah Bay (19-2) vs. No. 8 Curlew (19-3)

6 p.m. Friday, Tacoma Community College

Skinny: Difficult to prepare for intensity of Neah Bay's relentless pressure, which leads to many fastbreak opportunities.

Pick: Neah Bay, 70-45.

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No. 2 Mount Vernon Christian (22-5) vs. No. 7 Wilbur-Creston-Keller (18-4)

6 p.m. Friday, Mount Vernon High School

Skinny: Should be interested chess match between WCK's zone defense and Hurricanes' multitude of zone offenses.

Pick: Mount Vernon Christian, 50-34.

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No. 3 Waterville-Mansfield (17-4) vs. No. 6 Oakesdale (17-3)

4 p.m. Saturday, Wenatchee High School

Skinny: Two worker-type squads go at it - and difference will be Shockers' fullcourt pressure affecting Oakesdale guards.

Pick: Waterville-Mansfield, 49-41.

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No. 4 Crosspoint Academy (22-3) vs. No. 5 Almira/Coulee-Hartline (15-6)

Noon Saturday, Tacoma Community College

Skinny: Nobody wants to function faster than Crosspoint - which is top ACH G Beth Okamoto's biggest challenge.

Pick: Crosspoint, 56-52.

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Photo courtesy of Pe Ell athletics

WINNER-TO-STATE-GAME PREVIEW CAPSULES

No. 9 Sunnyside Christian (20-3) vs. No. 16 Pe Ell (17-5)

6 p.m. Friday, Grandview High School

Skinny: F Jenna Adringa, G Sydney Banks and Knights' ever-changing defense too much to handle on short notice.

Pick: Sunnyside Christian, 58-33.

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No. 10 Mossyrock (16-6) vs. No. 15 Evergreen Lutheran (18-5)

6 p.m. Friday, W.F. West High School

Skinny: Both squads have fluid athletes who are scrappy basketball players. Viks have edge in guard play - and tradition.

Pick: Mossyrock, 46-31.

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No. 11 Lummi Nation (18-8) vs. No. 14 Taholah (15-6)

Noon Saturday, Mount Vernon High School

Skinny: Expect plenty of short possessions ... and long 3-point attempts. Blackhawks make more of them.

Pick: Lummi, 68-59.

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No. 12 Garfield-Palouse (16-6) vs. No. 13 Pateros (18-5)

6 p.m. Saturday, Cheney High School

Skinny: Lots of sophomores, ninth graders ...and eighth graders in this matchup. Viks' late-season surge for real.

Pick: Garfield-Palouse, 54-50.

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