Predicting the 3A Semi-Finals

The regional playoffs are complete and the state tournament brackets are officially released <a href="https://www.wpanetwork.com/wiaa/brackets/tournament.php?act=view&amp;tournament_id=3467">here</a>. The 3A class is not as highly anticipated as in some past years with the two top heavy favorites in Garfield and Mead expected to play it out in a Seattle versus Spokane finale on Saturday. Nonetheless, many fans will be hopeful for some competitive machups and maybe even an upset leading up to the state title game. Here are my predictions leading up to the 3A state semi-finals. Kelso will knock off Hermiston in a competitive matchup for round one of the top half of the bracket. This will setup a Kelso versus Lake Washington game. Lake Washington will win this in a tough outing. 2022 Idaho signee [player_tooltip player_id="27948" first="Rosa" last="Smith"] and Washington volleyball signee [player_tooltip player_id="27933" first="Elise" last="Hani"] are the difference makers here, but Utah State signee [player_tooltip player_id="144528" first="Natalie" last="Fraley"] is going to do her part for Kelso. Stanwood will defeat Auburn setting up their quarterfinal game with 3A heavyweight Mead. Stanwood’s 6’4 [player_tooltip player_id="154284" first="Vivienne" last="Berrett"] is a tough matchup inside, but Mead’s speed and size in their own right with multiple 6’0 posts will be the difference. <strong>3A Semifinal Showdown Prediction: Lake Washington (#4) vs Mead (#1) </strong> Snohomish will defeat Bonney Lake setting up a rematch with Arlington. Eastern Washington signee [player_tooltip player_id="326009" first="Ella" last="Gallatin"] and company will do their best to pull off the upset win over Arlington. Unfortunately for Snohomish, [player_tooltip player_id="115421" first="Jenna" last="Villa"] and [player_tooltip player_id="79201" first="Keira" last="Marsh"] are playing their best basketball of the season and Arlington is on fire right now. In the bottom half of the bracket I predict Lakeside will knock off Lincoln with D1 recruit [player_tooltip player_id="267050" first="Claire" last="O’Connor"]’s steady inside play. Lakeside’s victory would then setup yet another game against Garfield where the Lady Bulldogs have shown off too much fire power time after time. I predict Garfield will have a smooth path to the semis making up an interesting matchup with Arlington. <strong>3A Semifinal Showdown Prediction: Arlington (#3) vs Garfield (#2)</strong> Who do you have winning these 3A semifinal games? Let us know on Twitter @PGHWashington