E. Burke, Hickory will open league play as favorites

BOYS

CATAWBA VALLEY ATHLETIC 2A

Defending conference champion: West Caldwell, finished one game ahead of East Burke.

Defending conference tournament champion: West Caldwell, defeated East Burke 51-42.

2010-2011 highlights: West Caldwell finished 13-1 in the league to win it and East Burke was 12-2. Third-place Newton-Conover was three games back of East Burke at 9-5. … Five teams – West Caldwell, East Burke, Newton-Conover, Draughn and Bunker Hill – made the state 2A playoffs and only West Caldwell got out of the first round. … Mountain Heritage knocked West Caldwell out in the second round.

This year’s favorites: East Burke, West Caldwell, Draughn.

Players to watch: Clay Byrd, Jr., G, E. Burke; Hayden Deal, Jr., F, Bandys; Mehki Dula, Fr., F, W. Caldwell; Jason Gantt, Sr., G, Maiden; Kevin Halloway, Sr., C, Newton-Conover; Trever Hyatt, Jr., G, E. Burke; Chris Michaux, Sr., G, W. Caldwell; Lee Mitchell, Sr., G, Newton-Conover; Prescott Pinnix, Sr., G, Draughn; Jacob Young, Jr., G, E. Burke (returns from broken arm next week).

New head coaches: Hank Newson, W. Caldwell; Steve Shuping, Draughn;  Mark Story, Bandys; Jonathan Tharpe, Newton-Conover.

Milestones: West Caldwell has won two straight titles, 13 in the last 18 years and has reached the postseason 31 consecutive seasons. … Jon Hancock, in his fifth season as head coach at East Burke, needs seven more wins to reach 250 for his career, which includes stints at Lincolnton and Forestview. … East Burke is going for its 13^th straight trip to the state playoffs…. Mark Story can become the third former Bandys player with a win as boys’ head coach at his alma mater. The other two are cousins Aron Gabriel, whose first came in 1997-98 and and Bradley Gabriel, whose first came in 2007-2008.

Overview: With two proven scorers back in Clay Byrd and Trever Hyatt, East Burke is considered the favorite. The Cavs will be even better when injured forward Jacob Young returns to the lineup. … West Caldwell has a new head coach for the first time since the 1992-93 season and will be relying on a freshman, Mehki Dula, in a key role. … Draughn, also under a new head coach, is probably has the second-best nucleus of returning players with significant playing time last year. … A potential sleeper, especially if it beats any of the top three early, is Maiden.

NORTHWESTERN 3A-4A

Defending conference champion: Hickory, finished two games ahead of Watauga.

Defending conference tournament champion: Hickory, defeated St. Stephens 64-59.

2010-2011 highlights: Hickory went 11-1 in the league -- losing only at Watauga -- and finished two games up on the Pioneers (9-3) with St. Stephens next at 8-4. …Hickory reached the West Regional and was eliminated in the first round by Hunter Huss. … Huss also beat St. Stephens in the second round and Hibriten in a sectional title game.

This year’s favorites: Hickory, Hibriten, Fred T. Foard, St. Stephens.

Players to watch: Alek Ayer, Sr., F, Alexander Central; Zach Bumgarner, Sr., C, St. Stephens; Mike Burgess, Sr., G, Hibriten; Raheim Connelly, Jr., G, Hickory; Tyler Crouch, Sr., F, Alexander Central; Zach Houston, Jr., G, St. Stephens; Matt Mohon, Sr., F-C, Alexander Central; Jake Pifer, Sr., G-F, Watauga; Jordyn Propst, Jr., G, S. Caldwell; Tre Robinson, Sr., F, Fred T. Foard; Kei-Shea Sims, Sr., G, Hickory; Dillon Spencer, Sr., G-F, St. Stephens; Jordan Turner, Jr., G, Fred T. Foard.

New head coaches: Rob Bliss, Fred T. Foard; Murphy Post, St. Stephens.

Milestones: Hickory is going for its fifth consecutive conference title and 11^th straight trip to the state playoffs. … A playoff berth would be St. Stephens’ sixth straight, the school’s best run in the last 30 years. … Hibriten is vying for a ninth straight state playoff berth, all under head coach Roger Burgess. … Alexander Central head coach Ed Wills is closing in one 100 wins there. He was seven shy on opening night. … Watauga head coach Rob Sanders gained career win No. 100 last Friday in a victory over Avery County. … Former East Burke head coach Rob Bliss, now at Fred T. Foard, needs nine more wins to reach 250 for his career.

Overview: Hickory has gone 56-3 in league games while winning four consecutive titles and is, as always, the target of every other team in the conference. … Hibriten did not play well early last season but is off to a 4-1 start. … The surprise team so far is Fred T. Foard. After going 3-20 last season, the Tigers are 6-0 under new head coach Rob Bliss. ... Murphy Post takes over as head coach at St. Stephens, where the Indians are seldom flashy but consistently solid because of their team approach. … Another probable contender (rising above being called a sleeper) -- Watauga.