Here’s a look at the matchups for our area teams in this week’s Class 4A and 1A state basketball tournaments.

Class 4A at Tacoma Dome
Girls
Newport (19-5) vs. Kentwood (22-5), 3 p.m.
Tough first round matchup for the Knights, but if they can get past the Conks, they’ll be in business for a run as top-ranked and undefeated Auburn Riverside is on the other half of the bracket.
Kentwood, however, is no pushover. Led by diminutive five-foot point guard Kylie Huerta, the Conks employ the full-court press in spurts and can really make some runs. Huerta averages just under 20 points per game, is quick, has great dribbling skills, and according to our ace sports reporter in Kent, Erick Walker, she can really find her way to the basket in traffic. She was also the SPSL North Co-MVP this season.
Sanda Milovic, Liz Mills and Courtney Johnson all also average double figures for the Conks, who are led by first-year coach Dean Montzingo, who lead the boys team to a state title in 2004.
They won’t be fazed by the big state either – it’s the teams fourth straight trip to the state tournament.

Class 1A at Yakima Sun Dome
Girls
Bellevue Christian(18-5) vs. Chelan (17-3), 4 p.m.
Tough draw for the Vikings. The Goats (yes, that’s actually Chelan’s mascot) were on a roll to start the year 17-1 but lost their last two games before the state tournament. The Vikings also lost their last game, but before that had won seven in a row. Maren Haines is scoring 14.3 points per game for the Vikings, who hope to improve on last year’s seventh place finish.

Boys
Bellevue Christian (17-6) vs. Mabton (13-8), 7:30 p.m.
It’s a battle of the Vikings that Bellevue Christian should win. The Vikings from Bellevue can’t overlook this game though even with the looming specter of playing the winner of the huge Vashon Island/Chelan game in the second round.