Here's our preview of SPSL girls basketball. The feature story will run in Thursday's paper and online.

SPSL NORTH

CRYSTAL BALL
1. Federal Way (23-6)
2. Auburn Riverside (23-7)
3. Kentwood (27-1)
4. Kentlake (12-11)
5. Jefferson (16-8)
6. Tahoma (6-14)
7. Auburn (7-13)
8. Kentridge (3-17)
9. Kent-Meridian (3-16)
*2008-09 records

STARTING FIVE
G Mercedes Wetmore 5-8 Sr. Auburn Riverside
Washington-commit can score in bunches

P TyShana Burgess 6-0 Jr. Federal Way
Averaged a double-double last season

W Talia Walton 6-2 Jr. Federal Way
Athletic junior can play inside and outside

G Kylie Huerta 5-0 Jr. Kentwood
Don’t let her size fool you, she plays

F Morganne Comstock 6-1 Sr. Kentlake
Committed to play a Eastern Washington

THE SKINNY
Expect Federal Way, Auburn Riverside and Kentwood to fight it out for the SPSL North supremacy. The top-ranked Eagles have loads of experienced players back from the team that placed third at state. P Tyshana Burgess (14 ppg, 10 rpg), W Talia Walton (9 ppg, 11 rpg), G Dara Huertas-Vining (8 ppg) and G Chantel Dixon (5 ppg, 2 apg, 2 spg) give Federal Way the deepest starting five in the league. G Brittany Barrington (11 ppg, 8 rpg) tore her ACL in the spring and might not play this season. … Auburn Riverside has its third coach in three seasons and making that adjustment again might be difficult. The Ravens will be able to rely on Washington-signee G Mercedes Wetmore (15 ppg), Idaho State-signee W Kara Jenkins (7 ppg, 6 rpg) and W Kat Cooper (14 ppg). …Defending state champion Kentwood has not lost a league game in four seasons, but the Conquerors lost their coach and three starters, including State Player of the Year Lindsey Moore, from last year’s squad. G Kylie Huerta and F Courtney Johnson are tough players that won’t back down and keep the Conks at the top. … Kentlake returns six players that saw considerable action last season, including F Morganne Comstock, who committed to Eastern Washington, and C Riley Butler, who will play at Seattle Pacific. … With four returning starters from a team that scored the fourth-most points in the league last season, Tahoma shouldn’t have trouble scoring. The Bears have an up-tempo style and good size to match in 6-2 F Sierra Haverfield (10 ppg, 6 rpg, 2 bpg). … Jefferson has three returning starters – G Hannah Kiyohara, PG Karen Carpenter and F Unique Taufa’asau – from the team that finished one game from qualifying for the state tournament last season. Sophomore F Christy Kullberg will try to help fill the void inside left by the graduated Stacy Albrecht, who led the league in rebounding.

SOUTH DIVISION

CRYSTAL BALL
1. Graham-Kapowsin (19-6)
2. Rogers (15-9)
3. Puyallup (14-10)
4. Bethel (9-15)
5. Emerald Ridge (12-9)
6. Decatur (10-10)
7. Curtis (4-16)
8. Beamer (3-15)
9. Spanaway Lake (2-18)
*2008-09 records

STARTING FIVE
G Nichole Jones 5-9 Sr. Rogers
Capable of scoring 20 points in any game

G Kylee Parker 5-7 Sr. Graham-Kapowsin
Three-year starter adept at running the offense

F Charlene Pleasance 6-1 Jr. Emerald Ridge
Averaged 11 ppg last season, could develop into force

F Kayla Reno 5-11 Sr. Graham-Kapowsin
Great volleyball player talented on the hardwood, too

G/F Sherelle Williams 5-8 Sr. Rogers
She’ll play inside and outside for the Rams

THE SKINNY
Defending SPSL South champion Graham-Kapowsin graduated eight seniors, but the Eagles have two first-team all-division players back in PG Kylee Parker and P Kayla Reno, plus G Sydney Menefee. Those three will keep G-K near the top of the standings and in contention for another league title. … Amy Looker officially took over coaching duties at Rogers three weeks ago. She inherits two returning starters in first-team all-division G Nichole Jones and the versatile G/F Sherelle Williams. … Puyallup missed the state tournament for the first time in three years last season and will try to begin a new streak this winter. … G Abby McFaul and F Kayla Lipston will guided a Decatur team that has the pontential to crack the top half of the league. … GC Hillburn is the new coach at Emerald Ridge. The Jaguars lost all-league post Shannon Byrne, but return PG Audrey Sullivan (9 ppg) and F Charlene Pleasance (11 ppg). Hillburn said he expects G Taylor Buie and G Stephanie Riley to contribute and help Emerald Ridge make its first district tournament appearance since 2003. … Curtis should improve on last season with three returning starters – G/F Lauren Peterson, P Emily Cotter and G Alyssa Cheesman – and top reserve Chloe Roisum. The Vikings will go as far their pressing defense can take them. … Spanaway Lake will rely on juniors Emma Livernash and Chakeyla Cobb to help the Sentinels climb the standings. … The SPSL South was shut out of the state tournament last season for the first time more than two decades.

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