4A Girls District 1 Tournament Preview

First round: Monroe at Lynnwood, Edmonds-Woodway at Lake Stevens, Snohomish at Jackson, Kamiak ar Arlington, all Wednesday night, 7 p.m.

Semifinals: Saturday, 6 p.m. at Mountlake Terrace H.S.

Championship: Feb. 16, 8 p.m. at Mountlake Terrace H.S.

Advancing: Top two advance to regionals; third place to play-in game against Kingco No. 3.

Big storylines: There's plenty to see at the 4A District 1 tournament. There's the top two teams, Monroe and Arlington, which have lost a combined four games all season – all to teams in this tournament (except for Arlington's loss to Stanwood which is a No. 1 seed in the 3A tournament). The Royals' loss came against Monroe, which it will face in the two teams' first-round game. The Bearcats have been playing teams tough all year, and haven't lost to a Wesco 4A team not named "Lake Stevens" by more than eight points. Speaking of the Vikings, they're no stranger to the district tournament, having won the past three in a row. Lake Stevens is also riding a six-game winning streak into the district tournament. Jackson and Snohomish are playing in the first round and features two opposing coaches that are married – Jackson head coach Jeannie Boyer and Snohomish assistant coach Joel Boyer.

Favorite: Lynnwood. The Royals, ranked No. 4 in the latest Associated Press poll, have dispatched every team they've played this season except one: Monroe. Lynnwood and the Bearcats square off in a rematch in the first-round game.

Dark horse(s): Jackson and Lake Stevens (the No. 2 seeds) are too easy. Nobody will be surprised if one (or both) of these teams get to the regional round of the state tournament. Monroe (North No. 4 seed) however, would be a bit more of a shock. The Bearcats handed Lynnwood its only loss of the season, and have played teams close all season. They always seem to be around at the end of the game, and if Monroe can continue that trend in the postseason it could pull an upset or two.

Matchup we want to see: Lynnwood versus Arlington in the district championship. The two No. 1 seeds met on Jan. 16 in Lynnwood, with the Royals winning 47-39. Lynnwood had a definite home advantage, and at a neutral site this game could go either way. Arlington and Lynnwood have been at the top of The Herald Power Poll all season, and, if they can make it to the championship game, should put on quite a show in the rematch.

Players to watch: Jasmin Edwards (Lynnwood), Brooke Pahukoa (Lake Stevens), Lindsay Brown (Arlington), Sierra Anderson (Jackson), Natalie Kasper (Edmonds-Woodway), Madeline Smith (Snohomish), Tiffany Ohlsen (Monroe), Katherine Hamill (Kamiak).

Picks: 1. Lynnwood, 2. Arlington, 3. Whoever wins the Jackson-Lake Stevens consolation game. We'll say the Vikings.