All-CBBN Girl Squads (2009-10 season)

Pasco's Danielle Walter, headed to Gonzaga, was the Columbia Division MVP as the all-CBBN teams were announced.

Wa-Hi's Jamie Weisner, a soph, was the Cascade MVP.

Columbia Division

First team -- Danielle Walter, sr., Pasco; Jordan Loera, jr., Moses Lake; Heather Worley, sr., Southridge; Dani Hallberg, sr., Wenatchee; Jamie Lyons, sr., Southridge; Reina Malito, sr., Kennewick; Michaela George, soph., Wenatchee.

Player of the year -- Danielle Walter, sr., Pasco. Co-coaches of the year -- Ron Stone, Wenatchee and Scott Stiles, Southridge.

Second team -- Kayla Bernsen, jr., Moses Lake; La'Quilla Upton, sr., Southridge; Lexxi Hallberg, soph., Wenatchee; Jenna Wallace, sr., Southridge; Taryn Cobane, jr., Davis.

All-Defensive team -- Jordan Loera, jr., Moses Lake (MVP); La'Quilla Upton, sr., Southridge; Heather Worley, sr., Southridge; Danielle Walter, sr., Pasco; Haylee Douglass, jr., Wenatchee; Michaela George, soph., Wenatchee; Reina Malito, sr., Kennewick.

Cascade Division

First team -- Jamie Weisner, soph., Walla Walla; Mikaela Rivard, jr., Chiawana; Haley Curtis, sr., West Valley; Laura Hughes, sr., Hanford; Hayley Hodgins, jr., Chiawana; Khadidja Toure, soph., Kamiakin.

Player of the year -- Jamie Weisner, soph., Walla Walla. Coach of the year -- Jill Meliah, Walla Walla.

Second team -- Megan Sax, sr., Richland; Jill McDaniels, sr., Walla Walla; Jalyn Von Oelhoffen, soph., Richland; Sadie Sparks, soph., Chiawana; Kendra Scott, sr., Eastmont; Jessica Bush, sr., Eisenhower.

All-Defensive team -- Haley Curtis, sr., West Valley (MVP); Megan Sax, sr., Richland; Alicia Baker, sr., Walla Walla; Khadidja Toure, soph., Kamiakin; Hayley Hodgins, jr., Chiawana; Shelby Ellsworth, jr.,

GIRL'S BASKETBALL PREDICTIONS (2009-10 SEASON)

Here is a team-by-team overview of the 2009-2010 Columbia Basin Big Nine girls basketball season:

Unlike a year ago, when the strength of the CBBN lay in the Columbia Division, this year the queens of the conference reside in the Cascade.

Besides Chiawana and Richland, which should duke it out for 4A honors, both West Valley and Hanford will contend for division honors and 3A state berths.

Cascade Division

Chiawana has three players who enjoyed major roles in helping Pasco win 26 straight games before flaming out at the 4A state tournament.

Junior guard Hayley Hodgins shot 46 percent from 3-point range a year ago. Sophomore Sadie Sparks is a raw talent who has the potential to be the league's next star, while junior Shelby Ellsworth needs only to add consistency to her game.

"Shelby will be our utility player," said coach Steve Davis. "She has to play every position for us and play them well."

Richland underachieved a year ago, but led by Davis' wife, Kristen -- who coached Southridge the previous five years -- and top assistant Debbie Roueche, figure the Bombers to get whipped into shape this year.

They definitely have the talent to be among the league leaders. Like Chiawana, they'll be led by a strong group of underclassmen led by juniors Katie Mahoney and Mandy Machinal, and sophomore Jalyn von Oelhoffen -- although unlike the Riverhawks, Richland will benefit from senior leadership from players such as Megan Sax.

Walla Walla lost two of its three big guns in Mikaela Rivard (transfer to Chiawana) and Hope Klicker, but the Blue Devils still have All-Area second-teamer Jamie Weisner (15 points, 12 rebounds) and defensive fireplug Alicia Baker.

West Valley brings back the division's top defensive player, senior Haley Curtis, while Hanford has Eastern Washington signee Laura Hughes leading a young squad

Kamiakin lost division MVP Tina Miller, but quite a few underclassmen saw plenty of playing time last season thanks to injuries. Senior G Jori Skorpik returns from a torn right ACL and should give the Braves a boost.

Eisenhower should be improved under first-year coach Dennis Richardson, building around senior Jessica Bush. Eastmontwas a surprise regional qualifier a year ago but graduated all-league first-teamer Brooke Randall.

Columbia Division

Wenatchee failed to reach the postseason a year ago despite finishing above .500 overall. The Panthers return four starters, including the school's career scoring leader in Dani Hallberg and Haylee Douglass, who'll miss the first part of the season because of an injury.

Southridge started last season strong, including an upset of Moses Lake, but dropped four of its last five to miss out on regionals. Scott Stiles takes over for Kristen Davis and inherits a strong senior group led by first-team all-leaguer Heather Worley and second-teamer Jamie Lyons, as well as defensive whiz La'Quilla Upton.

Moses Lake finished sixth at state a year ago, but that was with a terrific trio of Carly Noyes, Kelly Sutherland and Jordan Loera leading the way. Only Loera is back, but the Chiefs got a boost when 6-3 junior Kayla Bernsen transferred in from Connell. If she can give ML a solid post presence, the Chiefs could be the league's surprise team.

Pasco was decimated by the addition of Chiawana, but the Bulldogs' cupboard isn't completely bare -- not when they still have senior G Danielle Walter, who signed with Gonzaga last month. Walter, who tweaked an ankle during the first week of practice, will have to carry an inexperienced group led by first-year coach Aaron Barcot.

Kennewick is led by oft-injured point guard Reina Malito, who's back after missing the final nine games a year ago because of a foot injury.

Sunnyside returns four starters from a year ago and will be a dangerous team to overlook. Davis'two best returners are both underclassmen -- junior Taryn Cobane and sophomore Kaitlin Kaluzny.

2009-2010 CBBN GIRLS ALMANAC

Here is the Columbia Basin Big Nine girls basketball almanac for the 2009-2010 season:

ALL CBBN RETURNERS

Columbia Division

First team -- Danielle Walter, sr., Pasco; Jordan Loera, jr., Moses Lake; Heather Worley, sr., Southridge; Dani Hallberg, sr., Wenatchee.

Second team -- Jamie Lyons, sr., Southridge.

Honorable mention -- Reina Malito, sr., Kennewick; Michaela George, soph., Wenatchee; Sadie Sparks, soph., Pasco.

All-Defensive team -- Jordan Loera, jr., Moses Lake; Haylee Douglass, jr., Wenatchee; La'Quilla Upton, sr., Southridge.

Cascade Division

First team -- Hayley Hodgins, jr., Chiawana; Mikaela Rivard, jr., Chiawana; Jamie Weisner, soph., Walla Walla; Haley Curtis, sr., West Valley.

Second team -- Laura Hughes, sr., Hanford; Jalyn von Oelhoffen, soph., Richland; Jessica Bush, sr., Eisenhower.

Honorable mention -- Megan Sax, sr., Richland; Brittany Gaut, sr., Eisenhower.

All-Defensive team -- Haley Curtis, sr., West Valley (MVP); Alicia Baker, sr., Walla Walla; Megan Sax, sr., Richland; Laura Hughes, sr., Hanford.

Returning Leaders

G Pts Avg

Hayley Hodgins, Pas 19 349 18.4
Dani Hallberg, Wen 20 345 17.3
Jamie Weisner, WaHi 20 309 15.5
Laura Hughes, Han 20 307 15.4
Mikaela Rivard, Chi 20 283 14.2
Heather Worley, Sou 20 280 14.0
Reina Malito, Ken 13 161 12.4
Jalyn von Oelhoffen, Ric 19 231 12.2
Jamie Lyons, Sou 20 227 11.4
Jessica Bush, Ike 18 197 10.9
Danielle Walter, Pas 18 195 10.8
Michaela George, Wen 20 213 10.7
Kristine Van Alstine, Ike 19 179 9.4
Haley Curtis, WV 20 175 8.8