State B girls capsules: Davenport hopes to improve on last year’s runner-up finish

2B

(5) Davenport

Record: 21-4, 9-1. NE2BN champ, Dist. 7 third

When: Thursday at 3:45 p.m., quarterfinal

Regional: Beat (4) Ilwaco 65-47.

Key players: Janaye Wilkie, so. (14.2 ppg. 3.2 spg), Sydney Zeiler, sr. (10.9 ppg), Darby Soliday, so. (10.8 ppg, 4.7 apg), Lainy Jacobsen, jr. (10.6 ppg), Ellie Telford, so. (6.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg).

Outlook: Second in state last year.

Quote: “We have a balanced team with not a lot of height, but hope to use our speed and passing to our advantage,” coach Stacia Soliday.

(6) Liberty

Record: 21-4, 9-1 NE2BS champ, Dist. 7 runner-up.

When: Wednesday at 3:45 p.m. vs (11) Willapa Valley.

Regional: Lost to (3) La Conner 54-44.

Key players: NE2BS MVP Maisie Burnham, jr.; Aleena Cook, jr. (2nd team all-NE2BS), Kendyl Fletcher, jr. (hon. mention all-NE2BS).

Outlook: Qualified for state for first time since 2009, when current principal Aaron Fletcher was coach. The last time girls and boys teams both qualified for state was 1994. Would face Davenport in quarterfinals.

(12) St. George’s

Record: 16-9, 6-4. NE2BN third, Dist 7. champ.

When: Wednesday at 7:15 p.m. vs (4) Ilwaco.

Regional: Beat (13) Ocosta 54-39 in loser-out.

Key players: Abby Jones, sr. (16 ppg, 1st team all-NE2BN), Lydia Bergquist (13 ppg, 10 rpg. 1st team all-NE2BN), Cambrie Rickard (9 ppg, 8 apg. 2nd team all-NE2BN).

Outlook: Entered district play as No. 3 seed and upended division winners Davenport and Liberty to claim district championship. Would play (3) La Conner in quarterfinals.

Quote: “We’ve had a very successful postseason run and that has all been based on (the team) really buying into the team-first approach we have worked on this year. Playing in the league we do really helps us prepare for this time of year,” coach Cliff Berdar.

1B

(1) Colton

Record: 20-2, 12-0. SE1B champ, Dist. 9 champ.

When: Thursday at 10:30 a.m., quarterfinal.

Regional: Beat (8) Concordia Christian 76-41.

Key players: SE1B MVP Dakota Patchen, sr.; Emily Schultheis, sr. (all-SE1B), Jordyn Moehrle, sr. (all-SE1B), Rylee Vining, so. (all-SE1B), Maggi Pluid, sr.

Outlook: Colton has won 10 of the last 11 girls state 1B titles, including last year’s 44-37 win over Pomeroy. Four players who played significant minutes in that game return for the Wildcats. Patchen had 17 points in the game and Schultheis added 15.

Quote: “The team coming to Spokane will be a lot of familiar faces as we graduated just one senior off last season’s team. We are just taking it one game at a time as cliché as it sounds,” coach Clark Vining.

(2) Pomeroy

Record: 19-3, 10-2. SE1B runner-up, Dist. 9 runner-up.

When: Thursday at 2 p.m., quarterfinal.

Regional: Beat (7) Taholah 63-32.

Key players: Maddy Dixon, jr. (13.6 ppg, all-SE1B), Emma Severs, so. (12.5 ppg, all-SE1B), Sydney Smith, sr. (10.2 ppg, all-SE1B).

Outlook: State runner-up in 2018, losing title game to Colton. Three starters from that team return – Smith scored 11 points, Severs had 10 and Dixon added nine points and 11 boards. Pomeroy has three losses this season – all to division rival Colton.

Quote: “We are excited to be back to Spokane for the second year in a row, especially after our success at state last year. We feel strong going into the tournament as our entire team is returning this year and we have had a strong showing in league and districts this season,” coach Tai Bye.

(3) Almira/Coulee-Hartline

Record: 22-1, 14-0. NE1BS champ, Dist. 7 champ.

When: Thursday at 12:15 p.m., quarterfinal.

Regional: Beat (6) Sunnyside Christian 48-38.

Key players: Gabi Isaak (19.5 ppg, 10 rpg), Sarah Bradshaw (11 ppg).

Outlook: Faces winner of (4) Mount Vernon Christian/(12) Naselle. Would face Pomeroy in semifinals.

Quote: “We are led by (Isaak and Bradshaw) in scoring, but others contribute with the scoring on any given night. Everybody knows their role and does it well. I’m not sure we will ever ‘wow’ anyone but we try to be consistent and do what we do well,” coach Mike Correia.

(14) Inchelium

Record: 17-8, 10-5. NE1BN runner-up, Dist. 7 third.

When: Wednesday at 9 a.m. vs (6) Sunnyside Christian.

Regional: Beat (11) Entiat 62-38 in loser-out.

Key players: Rylee Desautel, jr.; Meika Heath, sr.; Erika Romero, jr.

Outlook: Have won last six of seven games, including 67-55 win over Wellpinit in district third-place game to reach regionals. Desautel eclipsed 1,000 career points with 34 in the game, and Heath added 19 points with 14 boards. Would face (1) Colton in semifinals.

(15) Selkirk

Record: 15-99, 11-4. NE1BN champ, Dist. 7 runner-up.

When: Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. vs (7) Taholah.

Regional: Beat (10) Puget Sound Adventist 51-28 in loser-out.

Key players: Whitney Dawson, sr.; Jenna Couch, sr.

Outlook: Have won four of last five games. Would face (1) Colton in quarterfinals.