Washington (WIAA) 3A high school girls basketball state tournament: 2024 predictions, top players
After four grueling days of basketball at the Tacoma Dome this week, somebody will be dancing with the big WIAA gold ball Saturday night.
Garfield returns as the defending state champion, but a host of contending hopefuls are waiting for their shot.
Here are SBLive WA's teams and players to watch, and round-by-round predictions - complete with a championship-game pick.
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CLASS 3A TOURNAMENT (Bracket)
(Wednesday first-round games in Tacoma)
G1: No. 11 Kennewick (18-7) vs. No. 3 Snohomish (17-6), 3:45 p.m. (Winner plays No. 5 Arlington at 3:45 p.m. Thursday)
G2: No. 10 Lincoln of Tacoma (17-7) vs. No. 7 Bonney Lake (19-4), 5:30 p.m. (Winner plays No. 1 Mead at 5:30 p.m. Thursday)
G3: No. 12 Everett (17-8) vs. No. 4 Auburn (23-3), 7:15 p.m. (Winner plays No. 6 Garfield at 7:15 p.m. Thursday)
G4: No. 9 Lake Washington (21-5) vs. No. 8 North Thurston (19-2), 9 p.m. (Winner plays No. 2 Lakeside of Seattle at 9 p.m. Thursday)
FAVORITE: Mead
You can never count out three-time defending 3A champion Garfield, but the No. 1 seed Panthers have been the most consistent team in the field - with heady PG Teryn Gardner at the helm and a vastly-improved cast around her.
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FAB FIVE
G Mia Broom, Lakeside of Seattle, sr. (22.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 4.0 apg, 4.0 seals)
G Katie Fiso, Garfield, sr. (22.5 ppg)
G Teryn Gardner, Mead, sr. (19.3 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 3.5 apg, 3.7 steals)
G Samara Morrow, Arlington, sr. (18.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 5.0 apg, 3.0 steals)
G Soraya Ogaldez, North Thurston, jr. (28.6 ppg, 4.6 apg, 5.1 steals)
PLAYER TO WATCH: Katie Fiso, Garfield
The Oregon signee's where-did-that-come-from passing can get your heartbeat up as a fan. and she can break your heart with her clutch playmaking, too. With two 3A titles under her belt, all she's known is Tacoma Dome magic.
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PREDICTIONS
First-round picks:
Snohomish over Kennewick
Lincoln of Tacoma over Bonney Lake
Auburn over Everett
Lake Washington over North Thurston
Quarterfinal picks:
Arlington over Snohomish
Mead over Lincoln of Tacoma
Garfield over Auburn
Lakeside of Seattle over Lake Washington
Semifinal picks:
Mead over Arlington
Garfield over Lakeside of Seattle
Championship pick:
Mead 60, Garfield 58
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