Breaking down the class 4A girls tournament

The South Puget Sound League North Division has proven it’s the best girls basketball conference in the state. There’s no way to even argue.

Last year, the league had three of the top-four finishers at the Class 4A state tournament with Kentwood winning the title, followed by Federal Way in third and Auburn Riverside in fourth.

And the SPSL North might be even better this year.

Those same three teams entered the postseason as the consensus top-three in the state with unbeaten Auburn Riverside the clear favorite to win the Class 4A championship.

Third-ranked Federal Way makes its second-straight appearance at state and features a roster filled with underclassmen. The Eagles will take on a familiar opponent at 2 p.m. today in their opener when they battle first-year Chiawana from Pasco. Federal Way beat Chiawana in the Tri-Cities on Jan. 2, 55-48, and got 18 points from Darah Huertas-Vining and 15 from Talia Walton. Federal Way outscored fourth-ranked Chiawana 38-35 in the second half.

The Favorite

Auburn Riverside Ravens (25-0)

The Ravens have to be a big-time favorite to win the school’s third title in the last four years after dominating the rugged SPSL North with a perfect record. Auburn Riverside beat second-ranked Kentwood twice and third-ranked Federal Way three times.

The Ravens are led by University of Washington-bound senior guard Mercedes Wetmore, who is averaging 17.2 points a game. Kat Cooper is chipping in 14.6 a game and Brooklynn Hinkens is scoring 8.0 a game.

Auburn Riverside got a tough draw with 22-2 Edmonds-Woodway in their opener.

The Second Tier

Kentwood Conquerors (22-5)

The second-ranked Conks were upset in the semifinals of the West Central District Tournament by Bellarmine. Kentwood did rebound to beat Federal Way in the third/sixth game in overtime. The Conks are led by junior point guard Kylie Huerta (19.3 points). But she isn’t the only offensive weapon. Kentwood has three other players averaging double figures in Sanda Milovic (11.8), Liz Mills (11.7) and Courtney Johnson (10.2).

Bellarmine Prep Lions (18-7)

The Lions proved they are a team to be reckoned with after beating Kentwood and losing to Auburn Riverside by just seven points in the title game at districts. After starting the season 4-5, the Lions have reeled off 14 wins in their last 16. Bellarmine is led by Mechela Barnes, who finished with 21 points in the loss to Auburn Riverside.

Federal Way Eagles (21-6)

All six of the Eagles’ losses this season have come to Auburn Riverside and Kentwood. Third-ranked Federal Way is a combined 1-6 against the two teams. The Eagles are led by sophomore guard Darah Huertas-Vining, who is averaging 14.6 points a game. Junior post Talia Walton is averaging 12.6 points and 11.8 rebounds and junior guard Brittany Barrington is chipping in 8.3 points.

Mead Panthers (21-5)

The Panthers won the Eastern Washington regional with a 54-48 win over fourth-ranked Chiawana on Saturday. Mead is led by Jazmine Redmond, who had 23 points in the win over Chiawana, and was named the MVP of the regional.

Could Surprise

Garfield Bulldogs (14-9)

The Bulldogs won the KingCo 4A championship over Newport and are rolling after struggling early in the season.

Newport Knights (19-5)

The Knights feature one of the best individual players in the state in guard Betsy Kingma, who can score with anybody at nearly 20 points a game.

Chiawana Riverhawks (23-3)

The first-year Pasco school has a very talented roster, led by juniors Shelby Ellsworth, Hayley Hodgins and Mikaela Rivard. All three are averaging in double figures.

Issaquah Eagles (21-4)

The Eagles won regular season title in the rugged KingCo 4A Crest Division over Newport and Garfield.

Long Shots

Edmonds-Woodway (22-2)

Have the unenviable task of playing unbeaten Auburn Riverside in opener.

Lake Stevens (18-5)

Lewis and Clark Tigers (16-9): The Tigers won the Class 4A titles in 2007 and ‘08.

Marysville-Pilchuck Tomahawks (17-6)

Moses Lake Chiefs (14-12)

Puyallup Vikings (18-8)

The Vikings beat SPSL South champ Bethel, 36-35, in winner-to-state, loser-out game Saturday.

Rogers Rams (18-9)

The Rams finished third in the SPSL South Division before winning a pair of loser-out games at districts.

Breaking down the class 4A boys tournament

Until last weekend, the Class 4A tournament looked like it was going to be the Federal Way Eagles and 15 “other” pretenders. The top-ranked and defending state champions rolled through the South Puget Sound League with a perfect 16-0 record, winning games by an average of 25 points.

But that all changed Friday night in the West Central District championship game when the Lincoln Abes proved Goliath could be slain. The Abes overcome a 21-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Eagles, 59-56. It was Federal Way’s first loss to an in-state opponent in 41 games.

The Eagles still enter the tournament, which kicks off today inside the Tacoma Dome, as the prohibitive favorite.

But the loss to Lincoln does give the “other” 15 teams a glimmer of hope that Federal Way can actually lose a big game.

The tournament draw was announced Sunday and the Eagles begin their title defense against Stanwood at 10:30 a.m. in the Tacoma Dome Wednesday. A win would set up a potential quarterfinal matchup with third-ranked Gonzaga Prep, the top team from east of the mountains, Thursday. The Bullpups open the tournament against Auburn at 9 a.m.

Decatur makes its fourth-straight appearance in Tacoma after finishing third at the West Central District Tournament. The Gators play at noon against Yakima’s AC Davis, the third seed from Eastern Washington.

The Favorite

Federal Way Eagles (23-2)

It would be a fairly big upset if the Eagles don’t repeat as the Class 4A state champions, despite losing to Lincoln Friday. The loss might actually get the Eagles more focused on playing in their third-straight state title game. Federal lost to Ferris in the 2008 championship game before beating Garfield last year. The Eagles’ other loss this year came at the King Holiday Hoopfest to Portland’s Jefferson High.

Federal Way has the most depth and athleticism in the tournament and are led by a pair of Division I signees — Cole Dickerson and Isiah Umipig. The University of San Francisco-bound Dickerson is averaging 25 points a game and will, most likely, be named the state’s player of the year following the tournament. Umipig, a Cal-State Fullerton signee, is the engine that makes the Eagles go. He sets the tone on both the offensive and defensive ends and is averaging 14.3 points.

Federal Way is also getting nearly 10 points each from Robert Christopher (9.6), Tyrell Lewis (9.4), Jerry Duckworth (8.0) and George Williams (7.2).

The Second Tier

Gonzaga Prep Bullpups (23-2)

The Greater Spokane League champions proved to be the best team from east of the mountains all season. Both of the Bullpups’ losses this season came to Mead, but Gonzaga Prep downed the Panthers in the district title game, 67-63, Saturday. The Bullpups feature 6-foot-6 Ryan Nicholas, who is averaging a double-double and will play next year at the University of Portland. Nicholas had 28 points in the district title win over Mead.

Lincoln Abes (18-7)

The Narrows League champions also won the West Central Tournament after upsetting Federal Way in the title game. The Abes feature four ultra-athletic players averaging in double figures, which makes them very hard to defend.

Could Surpise

Decatur Gators (17-9)

The Gators have been an up and down group all season long. Decatur won a three-way playoff to snare the second seed from the SPSL South before finishing third at the West Central District Tournament. The Gators picked up a huge win over Kentwood in the district quarterfinals to earn the automatic berth to state.

Decatur is led by junior Jerron Smith and senior Jordan McCloud. Smith is averaging 21.6 points and McCloud is chipping in 17.6 points and 10 rebounds.

Smith has scored in double figures in all but one game this season and has scored 20 or more points 14 times. McCloud, who is making his fourth trip to the state tournament, has also failed to score in double figures just once.

Kentwood Conquerors (16-10)

The Conks feature 6-foot-9 UCLA-signee Josh Smith, who was recently named a McDonald’s All-American. Kentwood beat Beamer Friday in a winner-to-state, loser-out game. If the Conquerors are sharing the ball, as they have much of the last few weeks, and Smith stays out of foul trouble, this is a dangerous team that could move into contention

Jackson Timberwolves (20-4)

Jackson has junior guard Brett Kingma, who is leading the area in scoring at 25 points a game. The 6-foot-2 Kingma has scored in double figures in all 24 of Jackson’s games.

Skyline Spartans (20-3)

The Spartans won the KingCo Conference and are led by Cory Hutsen and Kasen Williams. Hutsen is the only player averaging in double figures (13.8) and Williams will be one of the top wide receiver recruits in the nation in the fall.

Walla Walla Blue Devils (22-5)

The Blue Devils feature a pair of Division I-signees in point guard Gary Winston (Idaho) and wing Michael Weisner (Montana).

Long Shots

Wilson Rams (18-8)

The Rams finished as the second seed from the Narrows League and are a big and physical team.

Stanwood (16-7)

Eastlake (17-8)

Mead Panthers (19-6)

The Panthers finished second in the Eastern Washington bracket after losing 67-63 in the district final. Mead did, however, beat Gonzaga Prep twice during the season.

Lake Stevens (18-5)

AC Davis Pirates (20-7)

Making first state appearance since 2004.

Auburn Trojans (16-9)

After finishing fifth in the SPSL North, the Trojans got hot at the right time, winning three-straight games at the West Central District Tournament.

Lake Washington Kangaroos (17-7)