• FAVORITE: Federal Way.
• CONTENDERS: Kentwood, AR.
• SLEEPERS: Kentlake.
• LEAGUE OUTLOOK: As was the case last year, it’s going to be a dog fight every night in the SPSL North. Kentwood won last year’s state title while Federal Way finished third and Auburn Riverside fourth. Federal Way remains the early favorite, but isn’t picked by much ahead of the Conquerors and the Ravens. The biggest reason the Eagles were chosen as the favorite in the preseason coaches’ poll stems from a deep returning cast led by Chantel Dixon (5 ppg.), Tyshana Burgess (14 points, 10 rebounds per game) Talia Walton (9 points, 11 rebounds per game) and Brittany Barrington (11 points, 8 rebounds per game). Barrington is currently out with a knee injury and isn’t expected to return until January. That said, Auburn Riverside is plenty deep in talented returners with guard Mercedes Wetmore (14 ppg.), Kara Jenkins (5 points, 7 rebounds per game) and Kat Cooper (15 ppg.) back in fold. However, the Ravens will have a new look with first-year coach Terrance Johnson, who is taking over for Ed Rosin. Kentwood also will be going at it with a new coach (Dean Montzingo) and will need to replace the scoring punch lost when Lindsey Moore and Jessie Genger graduated. However, talent remains in abundance for the Conquerors, who return lightning-quick guard Kylie Huerta (11.3 ppg.), forward Courtney Johnson (7.3 ppg.), Sanda Milovic (6.7 ppg.) and Liz Mills (6.1 ppg.). After the Big Three, it’s anybody’s game. Kentlake has considerable talent – and size – with the return of Morganne Comstock (6-1, 16 ppg.), Riley Butler (6-3, 6 points, 8 rebounds per game) and Cody Sisco (5-9, 6 ppg.). … The tremendous depth in the league continues at Kent-Meridian, which possesses possibly the area’s most dangerous scoring threat in Briana Shannon (16 points per game last year). … The league doesn’t get any easier with Kentridge, which returns six seniors and a strong mix of veterans and youngsters. The return of captains Megan Merrill, Alissa Martin and Stephanie Keowla can only help the Chargers rebound from last winter’s two-win campaign.
