After capturing third and sixth place finishes respectively in the 2015-2016 WIAA 3A State Girls Basketball Tournament last March, the Lynnwood Royals and Edmonds-Woodway Warriors girls hoop teams are already looking forward to the 2016-2017 season as both squads will compete in the ninth annual Edmonds Summer Shootout starting Friday.

The Meadowdale Mavericks will also field a squad for the weekend tourney; the Mountlake Terrace Hawks are skipping the competition.

The event is the largest prep girls basketball tournament in the state, with 42 varsity teams and 34 JV teams scheduled to participate. Games begin Friday, June 10 at 4:30 p.m. at Lynnwood, Edmonds-Woodway and Meadowdale High Schools, and continue through Sunday.

The Royals have won the past four Edmonds Summer Shootouts and begin their quest for a fifth straight Shootout crown on Friday at Lynnwood High School with a 7:30 p.m. matchup against the winner of the Everett-Redmond clash scheduled for earlier in the evening.

The Warriors will play their opening game of the Shootout on Friday, 5:30 p.m., at Edmonds-Woodway High School against Holy Names. The Mavericks tip off their first game of the weekend Friday, 4:30 p.m. at Meadowdale High School against Woodinville.

In addition to Lynnwood and Edmonds-Woodway, the Shootout will include other top state teams from last spring, including 2A State Champion Shorecrest, 3A State runner-up Arlington, 4A State runner-up Snohomish, and the 4A fifth place finisher Bothell. Other 2015-2016 state tournament qualifiers who will see action this weekend include North Kitsap, Mercer Island, Bishop Blanchet, Gig Harbor, Eastlake and Kentlake.

Admission at any of the three sites is $5 for adults, $3 for students ages 7-18, and free for children ages six and younger.

–By Doug Petrowski