Washington (WIAA) 1B high school girls basketball state tournament: 2024 predictions, top players

Top-seeded and defending state champion Neah Bay is convincing favorite in Spokane

After four grueling days of basketball at the Spokane Arena this week, somebody will be dancing with the big WIAA gold ball Saturday night.

Neah Bay 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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Photo courtesy of Waterville-Mansfield athletics

CLASS 1B TOURNAMENT (Bracket)

(Wednesday first-round games in Spokane)

G1: No. 11 Lummi Nation (19-8) vs. No. 6 Oakesdale (17-4), 3:45 p.m. (Winner plays No. 4 Crosspoint at 3:45 p.m. Thursday)

G2: No. 10 Mossyrock (17-6) vs. No. 7 Wilbur-Creston-Keller (18-5), 5:30 p.m. (Winner plays No. 1 Neah Bay at 5:30 p.m. Thursday)

G3: No. 12 Garfield-Palouse (17-6) vs. No. 5 Almira/Coulee-Hartline (15-7), 7:15 p.m. (Winner plays No. 3 Waterville-Mansfield at 7:15 p.m. Thursday)

G4: No. 9 Sunnyside Christian (21-3) vs. No. 8 Curlew (19-4), 9 p.m. (Winner plays No. 2 Mount Vernon Christian at 9 p.m. Thursday)

Semifinals Friday: 7:15 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Championship game Saturday: 9 p.m.

FAVORITE: Neah Bay

Lady Reds are a well-oiled machine - a mixture of two senior leaders and a hungry cast of sophomores. PG Amber Swan is a top facilitator and F Ryana Moss is a versatile inside-outside matchup piece on both ends.

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Photo by Todd Milles

FAB FIVE

F Taylor Andringa, Sunnyside Christian, sr.

G Emma Baker, Curlew, sr. (17.9 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 4.1 steals)

C Allie Heino, Mount Vernon Christian, sr. (18.9 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 2.6 blocks)

F Ryana Moss, Neah Bay, sr. (14.4 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.6 steals)

G Amber Swan, Neah Bay, sr. (10.3 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 4.6 apg, 2.8 steals)

PLAYER TO WATCH: Allie Heino, Mount Vernon Christian

To have a reliable post player with Heino's skill set - footwork and ability to score on a variety of around-the-basket - is a huge advantage, especially on the big court of Spokane Arena. Toughest matchup of the tournament.

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Photo by John Gehring

PREDICTIONS

First-round picks:

Oakesdale over Lummi Nation

Wilbur-Creston-Keller over Mossyrock

Garfield-Palouse over Almira/Coulee-Hartline

Sunnyside Christian over Curlew

Quarterfinal picks:

Crosspoint over Oakesdale

Neah Bay over Wilbur-Creston-Keller

Waterville-Mansfield over Garfield-Palouse

Mount Vernon Christian over Sunnyside Christian

Semifinal picks:

Neah Bay over Crosspoint

Mount Vernon Christian over Waterville-Mansfield

Championship pick:

Neah Bay 55, Mount Vernon Christian 46

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