By ROGER UNDERWOOD
YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC

For most teams it would be a celebration, taking an undefeated team into a state tournament. And to be sure, it will be that for White Swan's girls, their school and their community when the Class 1A state tournament starts Wednesday.

Yet when the Cougars (23-0 and ranked No. 3 statewide) take the SunDome's south court at approximately 7:30 p.m. against Seattle Academy (17-6), their primary concern will be to add to their win total, their legacy and their school's trophy collection.

"This whole thing is real exciting for us," coach Joe Blodgett said Sunday night via cell phone while driving back from the WIAA's tournament draw in Bellevue. "But we've seen the draw, now, and we know we're on the same side (bracket) with Colfax and White Pass. So now we'll do some studying and try to keep this thing going."

Eighth-ranked Zillah, which gave White Swan a stern tussle in the SCAC District championship game Saturday night, will open the tournament at 9 a.m. against Coupeville.

Last season White Swan lost a hard-fought, first-round game to eventual state champion Colfax and then won its next three to finish fifth. This season, most key components of that team are back.

White Swan's Andrea Blodgett leads the Cougars with 14.7 points a game.   SARA GETTYS/Yakima Herald-Republic file

Including mercurial 5-foot-3 senior guard Andrea Blodgett, the Cougars' leading scorer, floor general and best defender. She's also the daughter of Joe Blodgett, an assistant last year who took over for Adam Strom when Strom became head boys coach at Wapato.

"Her biggest attribute," Joe Blodgett said of Andrea, "in addition to her great speed and great vision, is her competitiveness. She just refuses to quit competing, and fortunately that's rubbed off on the other girls."

The coming days will provide Joe Blodgett information on Seattle Academy, whose scoring leader is 5-9 freshman Makenzie Brandon (13.2). In the meantime his focus has been his team, and in that regard he has liked what he's recently seen.

"We went through a spell where we hit a peak midway through the season, and then we had three games a week two times in a row," he said. "After that we hit a little flat spot, but now I think they're playing well and competing well."

Andrea Blodgett, who averages 14.7 points a game, and fellow senior starters Alex Allen (11.4) and Cassey Aranda (11.1) form the core of the Cougars, Joe Blodgett said. But as teams need in a four-day tournament, White Swan has both versatility and depth.

"We have two sophomores, Danielle Blodgett (Andrea's sister) and Shelby Strom, who have been excellent since league play started," Joe Blodgett said, "and another key to our success has been our sixth player, Emi Lawrence. She can replace any of our starters out there on the floor and her defensive presence and hustle have been key for us all season."

For Zillah's Mindi Winters, who like Joe Blodgett is a first-year coach, the tournament offers an opportunity for her team to continue its development as well as its season.

"I feel like we've had some great games in the playoffs," Winters said of her 16-8 squad, "and I really do feel like we're right where we want to be."

Coupeville (11-11) made the tournament last year and placed eighth. The Wolves have a new coach in Geoff Kappes, who succeeded former White Swan girls mentor Greg Oldham, and are led by 6-0 senior Brittany Black (9.8 points, 6.1 rebounds), 6-0 junior Jennifer Bailey (7.7, 6.8) and 5-11 sophomore Shawna West (7.2, 9.2).

Zillah's Rondelle Guthrie looks to pass during a game against Burbank. She leads the Leopards with a 8.9 scoring clip.   KRIS HOLLAND/Yakima Herald-Republic file

The Leopards have no one scoring more than senior point guard Rondelle Guthrie's 8.9 points, but have five players averaging 7.3 or more.

"The thing about my team that I've loved all season," Winters said, "is that we're a very well-balanced team. We've had different girls step up all season, we've had different leading scorers throughout the year and we feel very good about our freshmen and sophomores."

Rosebud Guthrie, a 6-1 freshman, has averaged 8.1 points and 4.8 rebounds since coming up to the varsity and 5-5 sophomore Felicia Gonzalez has proven a valuable backup to Rondell Guthrie.

"It's really been helpful for Rondell to have a strong point guard coming off the bench," Winters said. "And with us you don't know who's going to have a big game. It could be Rondelle, it could be Tefini Uasike, who's sort of a very quiet post who's sometimes had 16 points and 10 rebounds. So I feel really good about that."

As both communities feel about their teams, especially since they're close enough for their fans to watch each game.

"The really good thing about our game," Joe Blodgett said, "is it's a night game at 7:30 and our community will get the chance it deserves to come out and support the team.

"That's especially important in White Swan, where basketball is the primary sport. And our fans appreciate the chance to see a show like these girls are capable of putting on."