Prep girls basketball: Season preview

High school girls basketball squads are off and running as they reach the midpoint of the 2022-23 season’s first month.

Below is an in-depth look at the local girls basketball scene:

WESCO 4A

COACHES POLL

The predicted order of finish as voted on by the league’s coaches. Included are the average points per vote, with first-place votes in parentheses.

T1. Glacier Peak (2) — 1.25

T1. Lake Stevens (2) — 1.25

3. Kamiak — 2.3

4. Jackson — 3

5. Mariner — 4

Note: Coaches were not allowed to vote of their own team. One coach did not participate in the voting.

FAVORITES

Glacier Peak

The Grizzlies took a step back last season after graduating a whopping six college-bound players from a team that went unbeaten during the shortened spring season in 2021 and would have been a state-title favorite in a regular year with a postseason. The result of all that talent leaving was GP suffering its first-ever losing campaign at 9-14, but the Grizzlies also played a very tough non-league schedule and still found themselves only one win shy of a state regionals berth after winning two games at the bi-district tournament. GP has plenty of turnover again this winter with just three varsity players back, but this time the team returns its top scorers in senior Kylani Rookstool (15 points) and sophomore Brynna Pukis (14 points), as well as standout defender sophomore Sammie Thoma. The Grizzlies entered Wednesday 4-0, with non-league wins over Wesco 3A/2A contenders Meadowdale and Everett. Rookstool and Pukis have each provided big performances early, including 31 points from Rookstool against Gig Harbor and 29 by Pukis versus Meadowdale.

Lake Stevens

The defending Wesco 4A champion Vikings were the clear class of the conference last season and never received much of a challenge while winning all seven of their league games by an average of 26.9 points. Lake Stevens reached the 4A Hardwood Classic quarterfinals and its first-round victory was its first win at the Tacoma Dome since 2013. But the Vikings have as much firepower to replace as any team in the area after graduating Eastern Washington University-bound posts Camille Jentzsch and Cori Wilcox, West Virginia State University-bound guard Baylor Thomas and versatile multi-sport standout Chloe Pattison. Softening the departures is a core of returning players who played prominent supporting roles in the Vikings’ run to the state tournament last season in junior forward Nisa Ellis and senior guards Perla Ruiz and Ella Edens. Ellis, who has scored 20 points or more in three of Lake Stevens’ first four games this winter, is averaging a team-best 20.5 points for the 3-1 Vikings. Ruiz has added 14.3 points and Edens 7.3 points.

CONTENDER

Kamiak

The Knights are looking to build off a second-place finish in Wesco 4A after finishing 5-2 in league play a season ago. Kamiak reached the bi-district tournament but exited after a pair of losses. The Knights return three starters off their 9-10 squad, which includes their top two scorers in junior guard Bella Hasan and senior swingwoman Nayella George. Hasan averaged 18 points, five rebounds and four assists last season, while George posted 13 points and nine rebounds. Senior forward Abbie Dyer adds to returning starters for Kamiak, which features just two players taller than 5-foot-7. Hasan opened this winter with a 40-point performance in a win over Mount Vernon, but the Knights have dropped four straight since during a tough stretch that included Wesco 3A/2A contenders Stanwood and Everett, and 1A powerhouse Nooksack Valley.

WESCO 3A/2A

COACHES POLL

The predicted order of finish as voted on by the league’s coaches. Included are the average points per vote, with first-place votes in parentheses.

1. Arlington (10) — 1.1

2. Stanwood (2) — 2

3. Snohomish — 3.6

4. Meadowdale — 4

5. Everett — 4.8

6. Lynnwood — 5.5

7. Archbishop Murphy — 6.4

8. Mountlake Terrace — 7

9. Edmonds-Woodway — 9.2

10. Shorewood — 9.8

11. Shorecrest — 10.8

12. Monroe — 10.9

13. Cedarcrest — 11.8

14. Marysville Getchell — 11.9

15. Cascade — 13.9

16. Marysville Pilchuck — 14.9

Note: Coaches were not allowed to vote of their own team. Four coaches did not participate in the voting.

FAVORITE

Arlington

The Eagles ran through Wesco 3A/2A play unbeaten last season on their way to a conference title, a 3A District 1 title and a third straight trip to the Tacoma Dome. Arlington secured its second consecutive third-place trophy at the 3A Hardwood Classic, which was the program’s fourth state trophy since 2015. The Eagles, who finished 21-3 and won 17 games by double digits, return three starters from last season, including The Herald’s All-Area Player of the Year Jenna Villa. The Washington State University-bound senior guard averaged nearly a double-double with 21 points and 9.5 rebounds as a junior. The Eagles are tasked with replacing first-team All-Area guard Keira Marsh, who helped make up a devastating one-two punch with Villa, but have plenty of experienced pieces from last season’s run returning around Villa. Junior Samara Morrow takes over point guard duties for Arlington this winter and has already shown the ability to make big plays as she hit the game-winning shot in the final seconds of a key 49-48 win over Wesco 3A/2A contender Snohomish last Friday. Villa has picked up right where she left off last season as well. She’s scored at least 29 points in three of Arlington’s four games and is averaging 26 points. The Eagles are 3-1 and already hold wins over league contenders Snohomish and Lynnwood. Their lone loss came by two points against 3A state runner-up Lake Washington in a non-league contest.

CONTENDERS

Stanwood

The Spartans finished 14-5, made it to the 3A district title game and brought home a sixth-place trophy from the Hardwood Classic a season ago. Stanwood is under new leadership this fall as former La Conner assistant Dustin Swanson has taken over coaching duties for Alex Iverson, who left after one season to become the Lake Stevens boys coach. Swanson helped the 2B juggernaut Braves to a fourth-place finish at state last winter and is the Spartans’ fourth coach in five seasons. Swanson inherits a roster without much turnover as Stanwood graduated just three players from its sixth-place finish and returns four starters who are seniors this season. Senior center Vivienne Berrett, a University of Hawaii commit, leads the way for the Spartans and provides an imposing presence in the paint at 6-foot-4. She’s surrounded by a strong set of senior guards that includes sharpshooters Tatum Brager and Grace Walker, and defensive standout Chloe Santeford. Stanwood entered Wednesday 5-1 with its victories coming by an average of 30.4 points. The team’s only loss was to defending 4A state champion Woodinville. Berrett is averaging a team-best 20.8 points, which includes 36 points in the team’s season opener versus Kamiak.

Snohomish

The Panthers earned a fourth-place trophy at the Hardwood Classic last winter, which was the program’s fourth top-four finish since 2015. Snohomish went 17-5 and nearly reached 3A’s final four before falling in a one-possession game with Arlington in the quarterfinals. The Panthers graduated just three seniors from their fourth-place team, but the departures include major impact players in Eastern Washington University-bound guard Ella Gallatin and multi-sport standout Cheyenne Rodgers, who were both All-Area first-teamers. The Panthers welcome back a pair of starters in sharpshooting senior guard Jada Andresen and 6-foot sophomore forward Tyler Gildersleeve-Stiles. Andresen averaged 12 points and 2.9 3-pointers per game, while Gildersleeve-Stiles provided nine points and six rebounds. The Panthers will rely on a handful of players to step into bigger roles this season, which includes a number of underclassmen. Snohomish is off to a 1-4 start while facing a challenging early schedule that’s included defending conference champion Arlington, league contender Everett, Wesco 4A co-favorite Glacier Peak and 1A powerhouse Lynden Christian. The Panthers nearly knocked off Arlington last week, but fell by one point after a late go-ahead bucket.

Meadowdale

The Mavericks fell one win shy of advancing through districts in their bid for a third consecutive state regionals berth a season ago. Meadowdale finished the season 12-10 and enters this winter under new leadership with first-year coach Kevin Thompson taking over for Arie Mahler. The Mavericks graduated four seniors but return many of their key players. Top scorer Gia Powell, a 5-foot-8 junior guard, leads the returning talent for Meadowdale after averaging 15.9 points as a sophomore. She’s joined in the backcourt by senior Jordan Leith, who averaged 9.9 points. The Mavericks should also receive a boost from King’s transfer Natalie Durbin, a 5-foot-9 junior guard. Meadowdale is 3-2 this winter and faces a tough two-game stretch this week with Wesco 3A/2A favorite Arlington on Thursday and 3A state runner-up Lake Washington on Saturday. Powell is averaging 21 points and 6-foot sophomore post Audrey Lucas 10.6 points through the team’s first five games.

Everett

The Seagulls rebounded from a 2-5 start last season by winning 10 of their next 12 games and reaching the 3A state regionals for the first time since 2013. Everett, which finished 12-8, was on the cusp of its first trip to the Tacoma Dome since 1996, but the team’s season came to an end in agonizing fashion as it lost its regional game to Hermiston on a buzzer-beater. The Seagulls are tasked with replacing four seniors, including go-to scorer and four-year varsity starter Ella Sylvester. But Everett returns many key pieces from an impactful class of 2024 that’s entering its junior season. The team is led by twin sisters Alana and Mae Washington, a pair of do-it-all junior guards, and junior point guard Mylie Wugumgeg. Alana and Mae Washington are the catalysts for Everett’s pressure defense, which allowed just 41.1 points per game last season. The Seagulls are 4-3 this winter while facing a challenging early schedule, which includes key league victories over contenders Snohomish and Meadowdale. The Washington sisters have combined to average 30.3 points in Everett’s four wins.

STORYLINES TO WATCH

Can Wesco 3A/2A deliver another impressive showing in the playoffs?

Teams from Wesco 3A/2A made a major statement during the state tournament last season as Arlington, Snohomish and Stanwood combined to claim half of the six state trophies handed out after the 3A Hardwood Classic. Arlington finished third, Snohomish fourth and Stanwood sixth. For comparison, Wesco was the only league in the state to produce multiple top-six finishers in 3A and just three other leagues in the 4A-1A classifications had multiple state placers. Add in Archbishop Murphy’s fourth-place finish in 2A, and it brings Wesco 3A/2A’s trophy count to an impressive four — one more than the three garnered by the 2A and 1A squads from the Northwest Conference. So, can the league repeat its postseason success? It’s very possible. Both Arlington and Stanwood enter the season as serious contenders to make a deep run at the state tournament. Snohomish has a bit to prove after a 1-4 start, but the Panthers always seem to be in the mix when the postseason comes around. Up-and-comers Everett, Meadowdale and Lynnwood could each figure into the 3A conversation as well, and a young Archbishop Murphy squad could surprise just as it did a season ago in 2A.

Is Lynnwood nearing a return to prominence?

There aren’t many programs that achieved the level of success the Royals did from 2010-17. Lynnwood reached the state regionals seven times, earned four state trophies and won a state championship during the eight-season stretch. Of course, future Oregon State University star and WNBAer Mikayla Pivec had a large role in that run, including the state title in 2015 and third-place finishes in 2014 and 2016. The Royals placed sixth at state the season after Pivec’s graduation but haven’t advanced past the district tournament since. That brief hiatus from the state tournament could certainly end this season with Lynnwood sporting a very strong junior class. The Royals return two of the area’s top players in junior point guard Aniya Hooker and junior swingwoman Kayla Lornez. They also receive a boost with junior guard Dina Yonas returning after missing her sophomore season due to injury and the arrival of junior transfer Teyah Clark. In total, Lynnwood returns eight varsity players from a squad that went 9-9 and finished one win shy of advancing through the district tournament and into the state regionals.

How will 4 local teams fare in return to league play?

It’s become fairly common in Snohomish County over the past several years for teams to forgo a league schedule to play a competitively balanced slate in football. Oftentimes that decision is made so a struggling program can attempt to rebuild the and avoid the lopsided defeats that are common between the top and bottom teams in league play. Four local girls basketball squads became part of that trend last season, as Cascade, Mariner, Marysville Getchell and Marysville Pilchuck all elected to play in competitively balanced Polk Division. It led to Mariner posting a winning record at 9-6 and Getchell finishing near .500 at 8-10, and although Cascade and MP won just three games apiece, many of their losses were by much closer scores than years past. All four teams are back to normal conference schedules this winter with the hopes of being more competitive. So far, the decision has seemed to pay off for Getchell, which is off to a 4-2 start.