3A Girls Team Capsules

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Holy Names

Location: Seattle

Record: 22-2

Coach: Lee Adams (8th year)

Key players: W Claire Conricode, 5-9, Jr., 14.5 points per game; W/P Erika Johnson, 6-1, 12.6 ppg; P Sophie Reichelt, 6-1, Jr., 11.5 ppg.

Inside look: With nearly everyone returning from last year's third-place team, loaded Cougars could claim first state championship.

Kennedy Catholic

Location: Burien

Record: 21-3

Coach: Tom Mummert (3rd year)

Key players: G Yaz Fuller, 5-7, Sr., 5.0 assists per game; F Aminah Williams, 5-11, Jr., 11 rebounds per game; G Jasmine Lemon, 5-3, Jr., 11.3 ppg.

Inside look: Defending champions out to prove they can win it again with most of their top players back, including tourney MVP Fuller.

Contenders

Mercer Island

Location: Mercer Island

Record: 20-5

Coach: Jamie Prescott (6th year)

Key players: G Hannah Lilly, 5-8, Sr., 3 steals per game; G Hailey Gullstad, 5-6, Jr., 10.3 ppg; G Jae Shin, 5-7, Jr., 9.9 ppg.

Inside look: Islanders, eighth last year, have the talent to play with anyone, especially if they rebound and shoot well.

Shadle Park

Location: Spokane

Record: 16-8

Coach: Chad Dezellem (12th year)

Key players: G/P Aleisha Hathaway, 5-10, So., 14.4 ppg; G Chelsea Chandler, 5-9, Jr., 12.6 ppg; G Kendra Knutsen, 5-7, Jr., 10 ppg.

Inside look: Highlanders return three of their top six players from last year's second-place team and added young talent.

Prairie

Location: Brush Prairie (suburban Vancouver)

Record: 18-6

Coach: Al Aldridge (20th year)

Key players: G Lauren Goecke, 5-9, 4 apg; G Angie Gelhar, 5-6, Jr., 12 ppg; G Jackie Lanz, 5-8, Fr., 3 apg.

Inside look: Perennial powerhouse Falcons weathered multiple storms to get here and have a shot at 13th straight top-seven trophy.

White River

Location: Buckley

Record: 20-5

Coach: Chris Gibson (13th year)

Key players: G Brooke Paulson, 5-8, Jr., 15.4 ppg; G Sabra Sproul, 5-6, Jr., 12.4 ppg; P Megan McKune, 5-10, Sr., 10.4 ppg.

Inside look: When they hit on all cylinders, the Hornets are a team that could do some damage here before they drop to 2A next fall.

Might surprise

Bonney Lake

Location: Bonney Lake

Record: 19-5

Coach: Thomas Ostrander (2nd year)

Key players: G Marcel Pounds, 5-9, Sr., 20.8 ppg; P Rani Wiegand, 6-0, Jr., 8 rpg; G Rochelle Murray, 5-5, Sr., 4 apg.

Inside look: Pounds finds lots of ways to score and is the key reason the Panthers earned their first state basketball berth (girls or boys).

Shorecrest

Location: Shoreline

Record: 17-7

Coach: Ed Wissing (2nd year)

Key players: G Brianne Lasconia, 10.1 ppg; G Janie Uppinghouse, 5-10, So., 9.7 ppg; P India Matheson, 6-1, So., 7.6 ppg.

Inside look: Young Scots' top 5 scorers are sophomores or freshmen. They are in the state's top 16 for first time since 1981 regionals.

Cleveland

Location: Seattle

Record: 18-7

Coach: Stephenie Wheeler-Smith (2nd year)

Key players: W/P Cheyenne Wilson, 5-11, Jr., 17.9 ppg; P/W Kobe Jenkins, 5-10, Sr., 12.4 ppg; P Whitney Wilson, 5-11, Sr., 11.8 ppg.

Inside look: The athletic Eagles, in the top 16 for the first time since 1979, plan to open some eyes.

Lakes

Location: Lakewood

Record: 18-7

Coach: Daniel Guy (1st year)

Key players: F Stevonna Scott, 5-8, Jr., 13.5 ppg; G Brit-tanie Terry, 5-3, Sr., 10.7 ppg; G Rodericka Ware, 5-7, Fr., 9.1 ppg.

Inside look: With speed and a hawking defense, Lancers could pull an upset or two.

Seattle Prep

Location: Seattle

Record: 16-9

Coach: Michelle Hall (12th year)

Key players: G Kari Luttinen, 5-10, Jr., 18.4 ppg; G Brittany McMillan, 5-7, Sr., 5 apg; F/G Lindsey Brown, 5-10, Sr., 5 rpg.

Inside look: After a quick exit last year (0-2), multidimensional Panthers like their trophy chances with a deeper bench.

Mount Rainier

Location: Des Moines

Record: 18-6

Coach: Bob Bolam (8th year)

Key players: G Marisa Blair, 5-7, Sr., 5 steals per game; P Kiana Gandy, 5-9, So., 7.5 rpg; P Caroline Codd, 5-9, Jr., 9. 1 ppg.

Inside look: With three losses to Kennedy Catholic, the Rams are well-prepped, but they face a tough opener against Mercer Island.

Capital

Location: Olympia

Record: 17-8

Coach: Colleen Wells (8th year)

Key players: G Tosha Hollingsworth, 5-7, Sr., 22.8 ppg; F/P Aria Goodman, 5-11, Jr., 10.2 ppg; F Kendel Wilkerson, 5-10, So., 8 ppg.

Inside look: Hollingsworth is a handful who could lead Cougars to the trophy round if they stay out of foul trouble.

Longshots

East Valley

Location: Spokane

Record: 9-17

Coach: Rob Collins (3rd year)

Key players: G Jenni White, 5-5, Sr., 11.8 ppg; P Amber Swyers, 5-10, Jr., 6.5 rpg; W Kimmie Thatcher, 5-5, Jr., 6.9 ppg.

Inside look: Brutal early schedule prepared the Knights for a late-season run, but they face a tall order with Kennedy in opener.

Lynnwood

Location: Lynnwood

Record: 14-12

Coach: Everett Edwards (3rd year)

Key players: F Mokun Fajemisin, 5-10, So., 13.3 ppg; G/F Laycee Hill, 5-8, Sr., 8.8 ppg; G/F Meghan Cross, 5-10, So., 8.7 ppg.

Inside look: Scrappy Royals rebound well and used a late-season surge to qualify for the first time since 1994. Could win a game or two.

Yelm

Location: Yelm

Record: 18-7

Coach: Russ Riches (14th year)

Key players: P Katelyn Smith, 6-0, Sr., 16.8 ppg; W Austin Schorno, 5-8, Sr., 8 rpg; P Anushka Maldanodo, 6-0, Fr., 9.5 ppg.

Inside look: The streaky Tornados are making their second straight state appearance after a 17-year absence.

Sandy Ringer