Road to state – Bracket breakdown – What could happen in 1A to 4A

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Post-season is here. It's time to start breaking down those brackets. March Madness starts in February for high school basketball in Washington with district tournaments starting across the state. Here are my picks for for tate title match-ups in Class 1A through 4A. If you happened to see the original article this one is updated. Wapato is still 1A not 2A as the first read. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Class 4A</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/PapermakersWBB/status/1618421129659715586?t=of3tYKqimuQDbO7VGoGKTQu0026amp;s=19","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/PapermakersWBB/status/1618421129659715586?t=of3tYKqimuQDbO7VGoGKTQu0026amp;s=19 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Camas vs Kamiakin</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Camas </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Camas is the easy choice here. This is a team that is as talented and deep as I have seen in recent years. The inside-out combo of [player_tooltip player_id='580772' first='Addison' last='Harris'] and [player_tooltip player_id='317648' first='Keirra' last='Thompson'] is the best one-two punch in the state in my opinion. There are shooters everywhere. [player_tooltip player_id='580773' first='Riley' last='Sanz'] is a talented player who can score from all levels. [player_tooltip player_id='590581' first='Sophie' last='Buzzard'] gives you another great shooter who can hit threes in bunches. Let's not forget about the performance from [player_tooltip player_id='361145' first='Reagan' last='Jamison'] in last year's state tournament. She led the tournament in scoring and rebounding.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction - Camas 71-56</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Kamiakin </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team has a little bit of everything in a big way. It starts with Memphis signee [player_tooltip player_id='115419' first='Nikole' last='Thomas']. The senior guard leads the team with 15 points per game to go along with 5.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 3.1 steals. She is smooth and athletic at the point guard position, breaking down defense like a cardboard box. [player_tooltip player_id='115411' first='Maddy' last='Rendall']-13.4 points and 6.6 are rebounds through 15 games can also fill it up from deep with 36 made threes in those 15 games. You also have size and some athletic youngsters -Small forward - 6'1, [player_tooltip player_id='587258' first='Emauni' last='Smith'] and <strong>Aubrey Herrin</strong>. <strong>Nicole Wartenberger</strong> is also a threat from three with 18 made through 15 games. She is getting almost 10 points a game. The combination of size and shooting has Kamiakin playing in title game in my bracket. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Class 3A</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Garfield vs Lincoln </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One could argue they have the best team in the state. I go with Camas but they are close. Led by 5 star guard [player_tooltip player_id='279612' first='Katie' last='Fiso']. She is one of the top prospects in the state for good reason. She has a skill-set along with her athleticism that are tough to match. She led Garfield to the 3A title last season and might do it again. There are plenty of weapons on this team with senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='115418' first='Navaeh' last='Talbert'] and So. [player_tooltip player_id='391868' first='Jayda' last='Lewis']. [player_tooltip player_id='594132' first='Imbie' last='Jones'] is one of the more athletic players who has size to go with it. [player_tooltip player_id='391867' first='Sarah' last='Lessig'] has that same profile. <strong>Rakiya Jackson</strong> brings it on defense. They are a deep team with talent and size everywhere. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Lincoln </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A lot of attention goes to Garfield in Class 3A but this team is loaded with talent as well. [player_tooltip player_id='435687' first='Oliviyah' last='Edwards'] - 6'4 Fr. is on the national radar as a top prospect. She is talented beyond her size and can even step out and knock down threes. The guards are quick with [player_tooltip player_id='584106' first='Ciona' last='Wells'] - A smooth shooting junior guard, [player_tooltip player_id='301070' first='Jaleigha' last='Robinson'] another highly ranked junior guard. Senior <strong>Melani Warren</strong> and junior forward <strong>D'andrea Woods-Singleton</strong> providing backcourt scoring size and strength in the post. The bench is deep and talented.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction - Lincoln 59-57</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Class 2A </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Ellensburg vs Lynden </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Ellensburg </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They are my favorite to win it again in Class 2A. Can anyone take down the Bulldogs and their two plus years win streak? Not likely, with [player_tooltip player_id='115393' first='Olivia' last='Anderson'], a 6'5 blue chip prospect in the middle, along with 6'4 [player_tooltip player_id='592523' first='Alana' last='Marrs'], to protect the paint. That is if anyone gets to the paint. Sophomore point guard [player_tooltip player_id='375545' first='Jamison' last='Philip'] and Senior [player_tooltip player_id='115407' first='Rylee' last='Leishman'] provide a first line of defense that pressures non stop and Philip is one of the best guards in 2A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Lynden </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lynden is no stranger to surviving brackets in any sport. Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='584239' first='Payton' last='Mills'] has been impressive this season putting up some strong scoring and rebounding games. She has great footwork and gets herself to the basket when she is getting the ball on the block. She has also taken a step further with her shooting, stepping out to knock down threes. A top ranked freshman in prep hoops Class of 2026. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='593744' first='Mallory' last='Villars'] has been a solid scoring option from the point guard position.Junior <strong>Hailey Koetje</strong>.adds experience and scoring. Senior <strong>Adia Newcomb</strong> and freshman <strong>Kelanie Newcomb</strong> are shooters who can get hot from distance. Junior <strong>Mya VanderYacht</strong> adds experience to the blend of freshman and upperclassmen on the roster. They have good quickness and some shooters in the backcourt. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction - Ellensburg 67-49</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Class 1A </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Wapato vs Nooksack Valley</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Wapato </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a little confusion, I will indeed have Wapato playing in the correct tournament. Not 2A, but the competition doesn't get much easier with top ranked Nooksack Valley in the field. #3 ranked Wapato is led by [player_tooltip player_id='115396' first='KK' last='Bass']. A great athlete who has unlimited range on her jumper. She rebounds, runs, and jumps with the best of them in any classification. She surpassed the 1,000 point mark early in the season and is a player who can get hot and be a difference maker. Freshman point guard and 6th ranked 2026 prospect [player_tooltip player_id='579811' first='Deets' last='Parrish-Nagle'] adds a strong overall floor game with the ability to score, and get into the lane and create. Some other players will need to step up, <strong>Trinity Wheeler</strong> might be one of those players. She is a sophomore on a team that has only one senior in Bass. Her big game potential is capable of shooting the Wolves through the bracket.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Nooksack Valley </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The heavy favorite to win the 1A title after finishing 2nd to Lynden Christian last season. They are my pick to take home the gold ball. One of the best players in the state, [player_tooltip player_id='281968' first='Devin' last='Coppinger'] is a special player that has some of the best guard skills you will find at any level. She is strong with the ball and gets into the lane and onto the free throw line often. I don't think I have seen her miss any free throws either. Her ability to get downhill and finish strong at the rim is elite level good. She can play any position on the floor and will post up smaller guards. This is a team isn't going to get pushed around much. They have several players who are strong and athletic. . <strong>Hallie Kamphouse</strong> is a knock down shooter on the perimeter. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='593745' first='Tana' last='Hoekema'] has played well with some big games. <strong>Taylor Lentz</strong> and [player_tooltip player_id='593747' first='Lainey' last='Kimball'] are both athletes. They have a lineup that is as athletic and strong as any. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prediction - Nooksack 65-51</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->