Braves: Win and go to state

Bethel’s bid to be in the state 3A girls high school basketball tournament comes down one game this Saturday.

The Braves will face Wilson in the regionals in a loser-out contest that’s scheduled for 6 p.m. Feb. 25 at Rogers High. The winner will advance to the eight-team state tourney next week, while the loser’s 2016-17 season will end.

Lincoln got the better of Bethel again last Saturday with a 51-43 victory in the West Central-Southwest District playoffs. The Abes had already beaten Bethel twice in the regular season, which helped them win the Pierce County League title over the second-place Braves.

Lincoln’s latest conquest of Bethel assured the Tacoma school of a spot in the state tournament, whereas the Braves (19-5) must post one more victory over Wilson to earn a place in the state field March 1-4 at the Tacoma Dome. Bethel has beaten the Rams twice this season -- 64-58 on Jan. 13 and 56-49 Dec. 7.

Bethel clinched at least an appearance in the regionals with victories over Shelton and Mountain View in the first and second rounds of the district playoffs. The Braves are on a two-game losing streak since then, starting with a 54-46 loss to Gig Harbor in the district semifinals.