Top Ranked 1A teams as post-season play approaches

Devin Record February 2, 2023 @ 11:45 PM

Here I will be previewing the top ranked teams in the 1A classification that could go far in the state tournament. The rankings I will be looking at is the WIAA RPI rankings. I will be previewing each classification, but the 1A class is first.   Wapato 18-1 (8-0 league)   Wapato is a team who are playing very well this year. Their only loss was to one of the best 4A schools in the state, Davis. Wapato is led by junior Jordan Espinoza, senior [player_tooltip player_id='115396' first='KK' last='Bass'], and one of the top freshman in the state, [player_tooltip player_id='579811' first='Deets' last='Parrish-Nagle']. Bass is one of the best shooters and players in the 2023 class, Espinoza attacks the rim effectively and has great ball control. Freshman Parrish-Nagle has been an addition that has helped elevate this team. She plays with a ton of experience and confidence for only being a freshman. She's crafty with the ball and could help lead this team far.   Nooksack Valley 19-1 (14-0 league)   The Pioneers are a team who have post-season experience with the team going far last year, losing by just 1 point to NWC rival, Lynden Christian. This Nooksack Valley team has been clicking all year long, with their only loss being a non-league game against Tahoma. They have some big non-league wins against Glacier Peak and Mt Spokane. They defeated in conference rivals Lynden and Lynden Christian, even beating the Lyncs by 14 points in a matchup of last years 1A state title game. [player_tooltip player_id='281968' first='Devin' last='Coppinger'] for the Pioneers could easily be the best junior in the entire state. She shows up nightly to contribute exactly how the team needs her. She's a player who could take over the take this team far.   Lynden Christian 18-2 (13-1 league)   Lynden Christian is the defending 1A state champions and have a ton of key players returning back. They have a HUGE non-league win against Woodinville, one of the top teams in the entire state. They dropped games to Nooksack Valley and Eastlake. They still have an important matchup against city rival Lynden, here in a couple days. They are led by seniors Demi Dykstra and Daisy Poag but, sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='580777' first='Grace' last='Hintz'] is the difference maker for this squad. She plays beyond her years, being extremely talented for a sophomore. She scores at all 3 levels and is one of the most unselfish players in the entire state. She's a player to watch who could take over, as well.   Montesano 17-3 (7-0 league)   Montesano has dominated many opponents this season, winning by 20 or more quite a few times. They did lose 3 non-league games, one to Nooksack Valley early in the season, another to Olympia, who is a 4A school. They lost a tough one on the road to WF West as well. They are led by senior [player_tooltip player_id='115400' first='McKynnlie' last='Dalan']. McKynnlie will be headed to the University of Minnesota after this season. Last year, she helped lead Montesano to placing 5th in the state, taking home the schools first ever trophy. She scores in bunches, being able to drop 20 points a night. She attacks the rim aggressively, which results in a lot of buckets for her. She hits the three point shot well and when she's on fire from deep, there's not many players in the state who can guard her. The other fellow Dalan on the team, Evanjillie who is a current freshman, has also been standout on this team. They have the capability to lead this team far.   Bellevue Christian 17-0 (13-0 league)   Bellevue Christian, like many of the other top teams within the class, have not been challenged much at all. They beat league rival Annie Wright by almost 15 and they are the closest team to them within the conference. They are a great defensive team, in fact they have only allowed more than 30 points just 3 times. Only one of those teams was able to score over 40, that was Lakewood but Bellevue Christian still won by 15 points. They barely made the state tournament last year, being the 14 seed. They are still a very young team, with only 1 senior on roster, so inexperience could very well play a role for them late in the season.

Here I will be previewing the top ranked teams in the 1A classification that could go far in the state tournament. The rankings I will be looking at is the WIAA RPI rankings. I will be previewing each classification, but the 1A class is first.