Braves: One more go-round with Lincoln before state tourney

After dueling throughout the regular season and the district stage of the post-season, Bethel and Lincoln will face off again – this time to determine how they enter the state 3A high school girls basketball tournament.

Lincoln defeated the Braves 51-43 last Saturday to claim the 3A West Central District title and the district’s top seed in the regionals. Bethel settled for the second seed, setting up another showdown this Saturday at 4 p.m. at Puyallup High School. The winner of their regionals matchup will advance to a second-round game in the state tourney March 1, while the loser will play in a first-round contest Feb. 28.

Lincoln’s Abes have won all three times they’ve faced Bethel – two times during the regular season, which ended with Lincoln first and the Braves second in the Pierce County League, and in the district playoffs.