Road to regionals: Washington high school (WIAA) 3A girls basketball preview, game picks

If four-time defending state champion wants to stay alive for No. 5, it must go on road to defeat 3A GSHL champion Mountain View on Saturday

Maggee Schmitz, left, and White River girls are No. 3 seeds in Class 3A state tournament. / Photo by Todd Milles

Only one more game separates WIAA state-championship hopefuls from the destination spot for Class 3A basketball: Tacoma Dome.

Starting Friday, 16 teams play in the regional round of the WIAA playoffs - with 12 schools advancing to the state tournament in Tacoma.

Here is the Class 3A regional girls basketball primer:

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CLASS 3A SCHEDULE (Bracket)

PROTECTED

1-seed Central Valley (23-0) vs. 8-seed Meadowdale (17-6), 8 p.m. Friday, Central Valley HS, Spokane

2-seed North Thurston (26-1) vs. 7-seed Kennewick (17-6), 2 p.m. Saturday, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma

3-seed White River (22-3) vs. 6-seed Lakeside of Seattle (22-4), 4 p.m. Saturday, Auburn HS

4-seed Stanwood (20-4) vs. 5-seed Seattle Prep (20-7), 8 p.m. Friday, Arlington HS

LOSER-OUT

9-seed Ridgeline (20-4) vs. No. 17 Bellevue (21-6), 6 p.m. Friday, Central Valley HS, Spokane

10-seed River Ridge (20-7) vs. No. 15 Roosevelt (18-9), 6 p.m. Saturday, Mount Tahoma HS, Tacoma

11-seed Mountain View (15-6) vs. No. 19 Garfield (14-9), noon Saturday, Mark Morris HS, Longview

12-seed Eastside Catholic (15-11) vs. No. 13 Bellarmine Prep (22-8), 2 p.m. Saturday, Issaquah HS

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TOP DOG

Paced by McDonald's All-American Brynn McGaughy, Central Valley went unscathed through the Greater Spokane League. She is inside-outside anchor for a group of guards who are tenacious on defense and aggressive on offense, led by Eden Sander.

CAN FILL IT UP

Both standout North Thurston guards Soraya Ogaldez and Shayla Cordis average well over 20 points per game - and can put up 30 points in an instance. But they are very different in their style: Ogaldez is pure power off the dribble while Cordis is smooth around the perimeter.

CAN'T-MISS MATCHUP

When you watch White River take on Lakeside of Seattle, fundamental, disciplined basketball will be on display. Both teams run their stuff on both ends - and win games. Lions have a size advantage across the lineup while 3A NPSL champions will counter with plenty of 3-pointers.

GAME PICKS

Central Valley over Meadowdale

North Thurston over Kennewick

Lakeside of Seattle over White River

Seattle Prep over Stanwood

Ridgeline over Bellevue

Roosevelt over River Ridge

Garfield over Mountain View

Eastside Catholic over Bellarmine Prep

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Playoff Pick 'Em

High School on Si 2025 Playoff Pick 'Em Challenge / Graphic illustration by Jesus Baca

Playoff Pick 'Em is a brand-new bracket prediction challenge for high school sports, where users compete to pick the most accurate bracket. The contest is free-to-play and is available nationwide for most sports on High School On SI. Enter today and pick your favorite teams to take home the title!

High School On SI is celebrating the WIAA Hardwood Classic and the road to the Tacoma Dome with a $500 prize to the winners of the 4A Boys and 4A Girls brackets in the Playoff Pick 'Em Challenge. Enter for free today!

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SBLIVE FINAL WASHINGTON GIRLS BASKETBALL RANKINGS

CLASS 4A RANKINGS

1. Davis of Yakima (20-2)

2. Chiawana (22-1)

3. Lake Washington (23-4)

4. Woodinville (23-4)

5. Union (20-3)

6. Camas (19-6)

7. Auburn (19-6)

8. Sumner (222-4)

9. Mead (16-7)

10. Issaquah (19-11)

Others: Redmond (22-4), Emerald Ridge (18-7), Kennedy Catholic (18-6), Lake Stevens (16-7).

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CLASS 3A RANKINGS

1. Central Valley (23-0)

2. North Thurston (26-1)

3. Lakeside of Seattle (22-4)

4. White River (22-3)

5. Seattle Prep (20-7)

6. Ridgeline (20-4)

7. Eastside Catholic (15-11)

8. Kennewick (17-6)

9. Roosevelt (17-9)

10. Stanwood (20-4)

Others: Bellevue (20-6), Garfield (13-9), Meadowdale (17-6), River Ridge (20-7).

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CLASS 2A RANKINGS

1. Lynden (24-0)

2. Ellensburg (24-0)

3. Deer Park (23-0)

4. W.F. West (23-1)

5. Archbishop Murphy (22-2)

6. Prosser (21-4)

7. Columbia River (20-3)

8. Woodland (17-4)

9. Bainbridge (19-5)

10. Eatonville (19-3)

Others: Port Angeles (17-6).

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CLASS 1A RANKINGS

1. Lynden Christian (18-3)

2. Bellevue Christian (21-2)

3. King's (17-7)

4. Zillah (20-3)

5. Annie Wright (19-5)

6. Seton Catholic (18-6)

7. Cashmere (17-7)

8. Naches Valley (20-5)

9. Nooksack Valley (16-8)

10. Montesano (17-7)

Others: Wapato (14-10), Cedar Park Christian (15-7), King's Way Christian (16-5).

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CLASS 2B RANKINGS

1. Adna (21-2)

2. Rainier (20-3)

3. Reardan (19-2)

4. Brewster (20-4)

5. Napavine (19-6)

6. Mount Vernon Christian (19-3)

7. Cle Elum-Roslyn (18-5)

8. Northwest Christian of Colbert (19-4)

9. Mabton (22-4)

10. Columbia of Burbank (17-7)

Others: Liberty of Spangle (19-7).

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CLASS 1B RANKINGS

1. Neah Bay (20-1)

2. Garfield-Palouse (21-2)

3. Waterville-Mansfield (20-3)

4. Yakama Tribal (19-3)

5. Wellpinit (21-2)

6. Pateros (19-5)

7. Inchelium (20-2)

8. Oakesdale (18-5)

9. Lummi (22-4)

10. Sunnyside Christian (19-5)

Others: Pe Ell (21-0), Wilbur-Creston-Keller (14-6), Crosspoint (17-7), Taholah (17-6).

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