It seems like you can't hold a girls state basketball tournament these days without inviting Linn-Mar or Washington -- or both.

This is one of those "both" years.

Linn-Mar qualified for the Class 4A state tournament in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010 and again this year. Washington made it to Des Moines in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and again this season.

This is the seventh straight year the Lions or Warriors -- or both -- have played in the state tournament. They've made a total of 10 trips to Des Moines during that span -- five trips apiece -- but ironically they've never played each other in Des Moines during that span.

That could change this week.

If Linn-Mar and Washington both win their opening-round games at the state tournament Wednesday, they'll clash in Friday's semifinals at noon at Wells Fargo Arena.

Getting to the semifinals won't be easy, however.

Washington (19-3) is ranked No.6 in the state, but the Warriors have to play third-ranked Iowa City West (21-2) in the first round Wednesday at 10 a.m. Iowa City West spanked the Warriors, 65-50, in their only meeting on Jan. 4.

Linn-Mar (21-2) is ranked No.2 in the state, but the Lions have to survive a first-round date with 10th-ranked Ankeny (20-3) Wednesday at 11:45 a.m.

The Warriors and Lions split their two regular-season games in the Mississippi Valley Conference, with each team winning a tight game on the other team's home court. If they meet again Friday, the winner will advance to the state finals.

Linn-Mar and Washington have been successful on their previous trips to the state tournament. The Lions won the Class 4A state title last year and are the defending champs (albeit with four new starters alongside Kiah Stokes), while the Warriors were the state runnerup three times in 2005, 2006 and 2008.

If Linn-Mar and Washington meet in the semifinals on Friday, it means the Metro area will have a team in the championship game for the fifth time in seven years.

Top-ranked Des Moines East (23-0) will face No.9 Waukee (19-5) in the first round Wednesday. The other first-round game pits No.5 Southeast Polk (22-2) against No.13 Mason City (19-5).

The championship game is scheduled for Saturday at 8 p.m.

Stokes, a McDonald's All-American, leads Linn-Mar at 25.4 points, 14.9 rebounds and 5.8 blocked shots per game. Maddie Manning paces Ankeny at 16.0 points per game.

Tia Dawson leads Washington at 11.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4 blocks per game. Ally Disterhoft (14.9) and Mckenzie Piper (11.5) lead Iowa City West.