SW Oregon advancing on Clark's top spot

NWAACC Men's Basketball

Standings | Statistics | Results | Schedule | Polls | Previous Rankings

A few weeks ago, the rankings started off with a look into the Championship histories on the women's side. The East and South have dominated for well over a decade, but we've enjoyed considerably more parody with the men. The only region who has "lacked" in relative terms, is the Northern Region. It's an ironic twist, given the amount of attention the northern teams have gotten in the last few years from these rankings and the coaches, but the North has only won two titles since the early 1990s: Peninsula in 2011 and Bellevue back in 1993. Right now, the North is a little on the outside looking in, as Clark (West), SW Oregon (South) and Big Bend (East) seem on a collision course for one another by the season's end.

Your responses, sports takes, arguments and venting are welcome here, as the original intent behind this system was to generate discussion. Your input is always greatly appreciated, and you can reach me in a number of different ways throughout the season by commenting on each story, sending me an email, or contacting me via twitter @JowardHoward.

The Coaches Poll, released on Jan. 7, are in italics below each team's ranking. Here are the top eight men's teams to start out 2013:

                                                                                                                         

1. Clark (11-1, 3-0 West)
No. 1 Coaches
Last set: No. 1, No. 2 Coaches

The deeper we get into this season of NWAACC men's basketball, the better Clark looks. Their only loss remains an early preseason loss to Peninsula, and by just one point. Lately, they've displayed that they're able to win in just about every setting. They outlasted former No. 2 Mt. Hood and downriver rival Lower Columbia at home, but they also took care of business against Green River and No. 6 Pierce on the road. The latter of the two, a 66-63 victory (box) over the Raiders, was the closest game they've had since the loss to Peninsula in late November. The West being somewhat of a top-heavy region, Clark has three big games to watch the rest of the way: a pair of home games against Pierce and Highline, and a road game against Highline in the regular season's finale. Behind the scoring prowess of forward Sean Price and a nine-game winning streak, the Penguins are rolling toward another region championship, but remember: you could win the region by four games, but without momentum heading into the tournament, you're in trouble.

                                                                                                                          

2. SW Oregon (14-3, 3-0 South)
No. 2 Coaches
Last set: No. 4, No. 6 Coaches

This is starting to look like SW Oregon's year in the Southern Region. Mt. Hood has faltered, giving the Lakers the region's best percentage record thanks to a 3-0 start to region play and a six game winning streak overall. That streak includes a gripping 81-80 victory (box) over No. 5 Mt. Hood on Jan. 4, the same margin that separated the teams at halftime. SW Oregon got outrebounded by 20 and still won, thanks to extremely efficient play on the break resulting in 26 points scored off Saint turnovers. Perhaps even more impressive is that the Lakers don't really have one standout scorer, they have two. Both DJ Anderson and Dexter Williams Jr. average around 19 points a game, and in many cases, they have an incredible amount of support from their compatriots. The Lakers' hold on the region lead will certainly get tested on Jan. 18 - they'll be visiting Chemeketa, who is on a four game unbeaten streak of their own.

                                                                                                                         

3. Big Bend (13-3, 2-0 East)
No. 3 Coaches
Last set: No. 3, No. 4 coaches

 The league's streak and last-five stats for Big Bend are a little deceiving. Their only lost in their last seven games was to Capiliano, an NCAA DII school, and before that, to No. 1 Clark in mid-December. Since just about everybody is losing to Clark these days, you can't really fault Big Bend for that one, but taking a closer look at that match up, it was a game the Vikings really should have won. Star guard Brendan Westendorf was just 1-8 from long range, and though Big Bend got muscled by Sean Price in the paint, they still only lost by seven. At the moment, it doesn't look like many teams from the East are of the Vikings' caliber - only Spokane and possibly Treasure Valley will pose a threat to Big Bend, and the Vikings will get to play Spokane at home to close the regular season. I'll pencil them in as region championships, provided Westendorf, who leads the league in scoring, stays healthy and he gets support from his teammates.

                                                                                                                        

4. Spokane (12-4, 2-0 East)
No. 7 Coaches

Last set: No. 5, Unranked Coaches

The Sasquatch, not to be quickly counted out of the Eastern Region race, are on a hot streak of their own. They've only had one loss to NWAACC competition since early December - a tough, one point loss to Lane on Dec. 21. Like Big Bend, Spokane hasn't seen a stiff challenge from their region so far, outpacing Wenatchee Valley 104-68 (box) and Yakima Valley 93-77 (box) thanks to some strong interior defending from Kwinn Hanson, who leads the team in blocks with a swat per contest, and is fifth in the league in scoring. In fact, the Sasquatch are second in the league in blocks, tossing away more than four of their opponents' shots each game. They have the tools to beat a team like Big Bend, who struggled to stop the post scoring of Clark in mid-December, but can they slow the perimeter game of Brendan Westendorf? We'll find out on Jan. 25. Keep you eyes peeled.

                                                                                                                         

5. Mt. Hood (12-4, 1-2 South)
No.  5 Coaches

Last set: No. 2, No. 1 Coaches

 My, how the mighty have fallen. Three losses, all of them in narrow fashion, graced the Saints' start to 2014, including back-to-back losses in their first two games of Southern Region play. Now, since two of the three teams ahead of them in the South have beaten the Saints, they'll need both Chemeketa and SW Oregon to lose - and lose to THEM, in addition - in order for Mt. Hood to win the south. What has happened to the Saints, though? Their 10-game winning streak into the middle December got them a No. 1 ranking from the coaches (maybe it's cursed), but they've fallen off without losing one of their major pieces for any length of time. On the face of things, it looks like their somewhat sloppy play is catching up to them. Between their three losses, the Saints averaged 18 turnovers - two higher than their average - and gave up 12 more points off turnovers than they made themselves. Given that they lost the three games by a total of 10 points... you get the idea.

                                                                                                                          

6. Pierce (10-4, 3-1 West)
No. 4 Coaches

Last set: Unranked, Unranked Coaches

It's been rounded a little, but here's an impressive stat right off the bat with Pierce: they average 21 assists on 33 made baskets every game. That's some really impressive ball movement, and given that they average less than 15 turnovers a game, they do it extremely well. Also impressive is that the Raiders don't get assists like many teams do. It's easy to pick up an assist when the play is to swing the ball around the perimeter to find an open three-point shooter. They're normally spotted up and shoot as soon as they catch the ball. Doing it from inside the three point line is more difficult, and that's exactly what Pierce is able to pull off. Of the ranked teams, only Mt. Hood has taken less treys than Pierce, and the system almost worked well enough to knock off No. 1 Clark, but a late rally fell short as the Raiders lost 66-63 (box). They'll get another chance, but not till Feb. 8.

                                                                                                                         

7. Bellevue (9-7, 3-0 North)
Unranked Coaches

Last set: Unranked, No. 4 coaches

By the numbers, Bellevue has the best defense in the league. They're the only team to give up less than 70 per contest, but as they only score 75 on a given night, the margin still isn't that great. That said, they've been excellent as of late, winning their last six games against fellow NWAACC competition after falling to Big Bend on Dec. 15. They held fast-paced Shoreline 26 points below their average, and a few nights later, got just enough to outlast No. 8 Everett 77-73 (box) at home on Jan. 11. They're another team that takes great care of the ball, averaging just over 13 turnovers a game.

                                                                                                                         

8. Everett (11-6, 2-1 North)
Unranked Coaches

Last set: No. 2, No. 1 coaches

The Trojans won five in a row before falling in a tough contest to No. 7 Bellevue on Jan. 11, and unlike many of the teams ranked in the top eight, Everett isn't afraid to shoot from down town. At all.
And they don't shoot an excellent percentage from long range, they make up for it in attempts. They're second in the league in three-point attempts per game, and so far, it seems to be working. The Trojans put up just over 92 points a game, good for fourth in the league, but then the stinker: they give up 87 points a contest, which is the worst of any team with a winning record. And unfortunately, history seems to point out that teams who run and score, but struggle to keep opponents from reciprocating, tend to fade as the championship tournament stretches on. If Everett can buckle down a little, however, they'll be a force in the Northern Region.

                                                                                                                        

Columbia Basin women back at No. 1

NWAACC Women's Basketball

Standings | Statistics | Results | Schedule | Polls | Previous Rankings

Oy, talk about an interesting week for Clackamas fans. First you get an unbelievable blowout of the defending champs, then you fall to Portland, who hasn't ever made it to the tournament. Now, it looks like the team from across the river in Vancouver - that's Clark, people - might have an edge on the Cougars, but was it just a fluke? We'll find out, as Clackamas will play SW Oregon (12-5), Chemeketa (10-6) and No. 6 Umpqua (10-5) before the next rankings are posted. 

Also, your responses, sports takes, arguments and venting are welcome here, as the original intent behind this system was to generate discussion. Your input is always greatly appreciated, and you can reach me in a number of different ways throughout the season by commenting on each story, sending me an email, or contacting me via twitter @JowardHoward.

The Coaches Poll, released on Jan. 8, are in italics below each team's ranking. Keep in mind that the coaches poll was done before games on Jan. 8, and the Power Rankings tabulated afterward.

                                                                                                                        

1. Columbia Basin (11-3, 1-0 East)
No. 1 Coaches
Last set: No. 2, No. 2 Coaches 

Aaaaand they're back. Five in a row will do that for a team, especially when the sixth - the Hawks' last loss - was to No. 3 Clackamas by just four points. That 59-54 (box) loss on Dec. 14 was the only loss to NWAACC competition that Columbia Basin has suffered, the other two coming at the hands of North Idaho, each by a fairly wide margin. And as I've mentioned before, these Hawks can score - they're still averaging 82 points a contest, good for second best in the league, and they shoot a blistering 46% from the floor. Much of that has to do with their shot selection, which heavily favors higher percentage shots from the paint instead of the traditional perimeter-based women's team. 

                                                                                                                         

2. Clark (10-2, 2-0 West)
No. 3 Coaches
Last set: No. 6, No. 6 coaches

Early on, when Clark lost two of their first four games, it was easy to count the Penguins out. They'd been blown out by former No. 1 Blue Mountain, and trounced by former No. 1 Clackamas, but behind all that, something was brewing. They won a game, and then another. They waltzed past Mt. Hood by double-nickles (that's 55, if you don't speak the lingo), and then they knocked off Blue Mountain. At that point, you start to wonder - is Clark for real? They're a little shaky in their new-found spotlight, but yes. Clark holds a league-best eight-game winning streak and are third in the league in scoring, averaging just under 82 points per game. They shoot a stupidly-good 48% from the field (best in the league) and are simply ridiculous from long range. So ridiculous, in fact, that they lead the rest of the NWAACC by four percent (check it out) from beyond the arc. Look out, Western Region.

                                                                                                                         

3. Clackamas (12-3, 1-1 South)
No. 2 Coaches
Last set: No. 1, No. 3 Coaches

Had the rankings come out a day earlier, the Clackamas bio would have spoken mostly about the dominant performance by the Cougars over visiting rival Lane. And that will get mentioned, as it's an impressive feat: Lane isn't often beaten by 18 (box), but we're not just about the positive things here. Now for the bad and the ugly. The next game, Clackamas turned around and laid an egg, losing 73-65 (box) to unranked Portland. This has nothing to do with the depth of the South. Portland won't be making the playoffs any time soon, Clackamas beat themselves. You can't have two of your leading scorers combine for 4-21 from the field and continue to shoot three-pointers: 48, in fact. Clackamas is right on the edge percentage-wise (34%, 177 3PM) where it's okay to shoot from distance, but if teams can shut down the three-point line, Clackamas has a long way to fall.

                                                                                                                         

4. Lane (14-4, 1-1 South)
No. 6 Coaches
Last set: No. 4, No. 5 coaches

First, that ugly we just mentioned: a nasty, 82-64 (box) loss to No. 3 Clackamas. Along with a 93-75 (box) loss to Wenatchee Valley on Dec. 29, It's easily the worst loss from Lane in recent memory, and having it come to their rival from up north makes it that much more painful. Normally, the concern after a loss like that is a post-game hangover, and not what you're thinking. It's easy for one hard loss to turn into a pair, then a trio and before you know it, you haven't won for two weeks. To Lane and head coach Greg Sheley's credit, they got right back on the horse. Umpqua was looming, either licking their chops or grimacing at the prospect of facing a likely-to-be-pissed group of Titans, and it so happened to be the latter. Lane buttoned down in the second half and held on - though by a hair's breadth - to beat Umpqua 94-93 (box). They keep their spot this week, but a night off is rare in the South.

                                                                                                                         

5. Blue Mountain (11-3, 0-1 East)
No. 4 Coaches
Last set: No. 3, No. 4 coaches

Blue Mountain had an absolutely brilliant start to the season, winners of their first nine, and the wheels have somewhat come off since. They dropped back-to-back games to now No. 2 Clark and No. 6 Umpqua, and started off Eastern Region play by falling to unranked Walla Walla 84-74 (box). Perhaps their offensive pace in combination with a relatively low shooting percentage has begun to haunt them. For some reference, the Timberwolves average just barely over 60 shot attempts per game. That's near dead last (third, in fact) in the league, and if they're hitting the shots they take, that's not a problem. Running teams can miss shots because they get more attempts, but a slow-paced, defensive minded team has to shoot a high percentage to survive. That hasn't been happening as of late, as the Timberwolves have averaged 37% - below their season average of 40 - over their last four games. To be fair, they're missing a big gun in post Danah Haley, who led the team in blocks and rebounds while pouring in 13 points a game before a season-ending injury against Clark on Dec. 22, but without Haley, the Timberwolves aren't as potent.

                                                                                                                         

6. Umpqua (10-5, 1-1 South)
No. 5 Coaches
Last set: No. 5, No. 8 coaches

Dropping the Riverhawks feels a little unfair, given that their only loss in the last week was a 94-93 squeaker (box), but taking a closer look at the reasons why can shed some light on Umpqua's fall. Ashli Payne went for 38 points on 14-25 shooting with five treys, the Riverhawks shot 38% from downtown - and still lost. And that's completely due to getting worked by Lane in the post. The Titans are a good rebounding team with a strong inside presence, but so is Umpqua. It's been a stalwart of Riverhawk teams for years, and so any time an Umpqua squad gives up 27 second-chance points it's fairly noteworthy.


                                                                                                                         

7. Big Bend (11-4, 1-0 East)
Unranked Coaches
Last set: No. 7, Unranked coaches

The Runnin' Viks, often in the shadow of their mens' team as of late, don't seem to get much credit around the league. To some extent, I see where that hesitation lies. Big Bend doesn't have an awesome resume of wins. They have plenty, don't get me wrong, but not many that really stick out. There's a reason, though, that they shouldn't be ignored - they take darned good care of the ball. They might not be an excellent shooting team, fairly middle-of-the-pack at 40%, but the Vikings make up for it by making the most of their possessions. They're the best team in the league when it comes to taking care of the ball, giving up the rock only 14.7 times a contest. That, in addition to leading the league in pace (79 shots per game) allows them to average almost 82 points each outing (5th best) while shooting a pedestrian percentage from the floor. Well done, Golden St- I mean...

                                                                                                                         

8. Bellevue (9-6, 2-0 North)
Unranked Coaches
Last set: Unranked, Unranked Coaches

If the NWAACC North were to play in the NBA, they'd look something like the Atlantic division: Bellevue is second (overall percentage) in the region, but wouldn't even make the post season in any of the other regions. Not to knock on the North, simply look at the numbers. Bellevue is worth mentioning, though, because they've picked up a solid string of victories as of late. They blew past a solid Eastern Region team in Spokane 60-48 (box) on Dec. 29, part of a four game-winning streak culminating in a blowout of Shoreline (box) to kick off Northern Region play. If Bellevue can pick up some speed in league ahead of a post-season berth, they'll make teams think twice.

                                                                                                                        

Clark hops to top ahead of region play

NWAACC Men's Basketball

It's funny how a two-year league like the NWAACC can change so quickly. Chemeketa, who won the 2013 title in thrilling fashion over Edmonds, went 4-8 in the preseason. Edmonds is just 8-5. 2012 champion Tacoma is 5-5 in their first year without former head coach Carl Howell, and Clackamas, who won the championship in 2009 and 2010, is just 6-7. That opens up the door for some new challengers and new head coaches. Portland, Treasure Valley and Clark's skippers are all fairly fresh, and though only Clark is leading their respective region, each team has a solid chance to make the postseason tournament as league play begins.

An added note for those who missed the initial set - a quick update on the rankings' author: Joward (me) now works for a little newspaper in Columbia County, Oregon. High school athletics are the game (literally), but the rankings will continue throughout the season, most likely every two weeks to coincide with the coaches poll. The NWAACC has graciously agreed to package the Power Rankings along with the coaches polls on their website for review.

Also, your responses, sports takes, arguments and venting are welcome here, as the original intent behind this system was to generate discussion. Your input is always greatly appreciated, and you can reach me in a number of different ways throughout the season by commenting on each story, sending me an email, or contacting me via twitter @JowardHoward.

The Coaches Poll, released on Dec. 24, are in italics below each team's ranking. Here are the top eight men's teams to start out 2013:

                                                                                                                         

1. Clark (8-1)
No. 2 Coaches
Last set: Unranked, No. 10 coaches

The Penguins had one of the most difficult schedules in the league over the past two weeks: taking on then-No. 1 Big Bend, then-No. 2 Whatcom and Lane at the Everett Crossover, and then hosting No. 2 Mt. Hood at home on Dec. 28, and Clark came through completely unscathed. They were the first team to knock off the Vikings, pulling away in the second half and beating Big Bend 79-72 (box). On the very next night, Clark held Whatcom to 38% shooting (box) and flattened Lane in the crossover tournament final. Then they turned their eyes to Mt. Hood and broke the Saints' 10-game winning streak with a 95-89 victory (box) in which they efficiently capitalized on MHCC's 13 miscues snagged 22 points off turnovers. They rebound well, they take high-percentage shots from inside the three-point line, and they're among the league's best from the field. Can Clark shake off the curse from their first-round upset in 2011? Maybe.

                                                                                                                          

2. Mt. Hood (11-2)
No. 1 Coaches
Last set: Unranked, No. 5 coaches

If not for a wild comeback from Yakima Valley in which the Yaks overcame a 13-point halftime deficit to win by two, 95-93 (box), Mt. Hood could very well be 12-1. Regardless, 11-2 is their best start in recent memory, and their only loss in the last few weeks was to Clark, who seemingly can't lose. The Saints picked up a solid overtime victory over No. 6 Treasure Valley on Dec. 22 before their loss to Clark, their 10th in succession, but something still isn't quite right. Other than the win over TVCC and an early-season victory over Spokane, the Saints feel a little unproven. However, they can hang with the league's best, and with Chemeketa struggling to start things off in the Southern Region, it may be time for the tables to turn in Mt. Hood's favor.

                                                                                                                         

3. Big Bend (11-3)
No. 4 Coaches
Last set: No. 1, No. 2 coaches

It's impossible to mention Big Bend without leading with the play of sophomore guard Brennan Westendorf. Through 14 games, he easily leads the league in scoring with 31 points per contest. Of course, that was greatly helped by the 55 points, nine boards and six assists in a 160-99 (box) victory over Shoreline on Dec. 14. It's yet another of those are-you-kidding-me performances from Brennan, who went 20-22 from the field and 7-8 from downtown... in just 28 minutes. However, he can't do it ALL by himself, as performances like that won't happen every night. When the Viks get pedestrian games from their bench and the rest of the starters, they're beatable. No. 1 Clark showed when they handed BBCC a 79-72 loss (box) on Dec. 20. A (relatively) lackluster game from Westendorf against No. 5 Highline ended in a 78-75 loss (box), pointing out a few weaknesses, but taking advantage of them is much, much more difficult than it sounds.

                                                                                                                        

4. SW Oregon (11-3)
No. 6 Coaches

Last set: No. 4, No. 9 coaches

Going back in to November, the Lakers have only lost to NWAACC competition twice, giving up a 105-99 game (box) to Everett and dropping a recent 105-102 contest (box) to No. 7 Spokane. Like Mt. Hood, SW Oregon feels a bit unproven thus far, and that should all change in a hurry on Jan. 4 when the two Southern Region squads will match up in Gresham to kick off region play. And what a contest - the Lakers are third in the league in scoring with 94.5 points per game, and though their assist numbers aren't great, they're (this is poetic) third in the league in offensive rebounding. They're second in the league in shot attempts for teams who have played 14 games, and the interesting thing is, they're middle of the pack in steals. That means one thing -  the Lakers excel second-chance points.

                                                                                                                         

5. Spokane (9-4)
Unranked Coaches

Last set: Unranked, Unranked coaches

Disregard a trip-up to North Idaho and a narrow 70-69 (box) loss to unranked Lane, and the Sasquatch have had a solid month. Spokane was able to take down No. 4 SW Oregon 105-102 (box) and No. 8 Whatcom 84-81 (box), thanks to a couple of big games from sophomores Chaase Haack and Kwinn Hansen, a pair of local products. With the league being so guard oriented (see, Mark McLaughlin, Kyle Impero, Brennan Westendorf, JT Terrell, Brady Bagby...) a scoring center like Hansen is somewhat of a luxary. In fact, several championship teams in the past, including Clackamas with Cheheles Tappscott, Peninsula with DeSean Freeman in 2011 and Chemeketa with Trevor Phillips in 2013 -- they all had a scoring threat in the post. That's not an endorsement of Spokane to win the 2014 title, but it makes them a candidate to succeed in the East.

                                                                                                                          

6. Treasure Valley (7-4)
No. 3 Coaches

Last set: No. 7, No. 3 coaches

The 7-4 record is fairly misleading, right off the bat. Sure, TVCC lost their last games, but take a second look at the opponents: a pair of Idaho JC schools and No. 2 Mt. Hood. And the loss to the Saints was a nail-biter, with Mt. Hood prevailing 75-73 (box) in overtime. The Chuckars actually trailed at halftime, outscoring the Saints by two in the second half to force the extra period, and a game like that will pay huge dividends when Treasure Valley squares off against No. 3 Big Bend on Jan. 18. For now, it looks like the Chuckars have the firepower at guard to keep up with anybody, thanks to the 17 nightly points from sophomores John Fletcher and DeSean Mattox. Will they overtake Big Bend in the East? Probably not, but Treasure Valley has a solid chance to catch No. 7 Spokane and Yakima Valley, securing a postseason berth in Head Coach Ryan Zimmerman's second season.
                                                                                                                         

7. Highline (9-2)
No. 7 Coaches

Last set: Unranked, No. 4 coaches

Though the Thunderbirds have stumbled twice in the last few weeks, it's hard to ignore the glaring victory that stands as a milestone for Highline this preseason: the Dec. 13 victory over No. 3 Big Bend. Highline was able to hold Westendorf, the lights-out scoring talent, to just 15 points and forced him in to 8 turnovers. The Thunderbirds disrupted BBCC's high-octane offense and held the Vikings to just 37% from the field - 13% lower than their average. Highline is another one of those teams that wins by committee, thanks to having five players average in double figures for scoring and using their depth to carry the team when the starters are off the floor. Take HCC's win over Big Bend for example: only one player saw more than 30 minutes on the court, Doug McDaniel, and he finished with zero points and nine boards. They should do well in the West, but they seem to lack a big-time scorer, which is a solid asset in crunch-time. Thankfully Highline won't have to see No. 1 Clark for a month or so.

                                                                                                                         

8. Whatcom (7-3)
No. 4 Coaches

Last set: No. 2, No. 1 coaches

Through the first seven games of the preseason, the Orcas looked excellent, perfect in each one of their contests. Then that success hit the fan, and Whatcom plummeted, losing three games in a row to close out the year before region play begins. Time will tell whether they can pick things up again, but even with their slide as of late, Whatcom continues to lead the Northern Region behind the scoring prowess of one Kyle Impero, who is among the league's best at just over 27 points per game. The problem is, they need quite a few minutes from Impero in order to be successful, and that's a model that can't keep pace down the stretch. The Orcas will need a little more scoring from the rest of their starting five - all of which average in double figures already - in order to win the North. That road starts immediately with a game against Peninsula on Jan. 4.

                                                                                                                        

Clackamas, Columbia Basin lead rankings entering league play

NWAACC Women's Basketball

For those who balk at the smaller number of Western and Northern region teams to make the rankings, look at history for a second: Off the top of your head, can you name the last team NOT from the Southern or Eastern region to win an NWAACC title? Probably not, as it was in 1998 that Skagit Valley took the championship, one of three the Cardinals won in a period of six years. The South has taken eight titles since then, four of those belonging to Lane. Columbia Basin won three championships under Head Coach Cheryl Holden, who has never lost in the finals. All that taken into account, it's no surprise that the North and West have one representative each, with the heavyweight programs Clackamas, Columbia Basin and Lane dominating the top - the teams who combine for every championship since 2004 with the exception of 2010-11. In order to line up with the coaches poll, the rankings will also be released next week before switching back to the bi-weekly schedule.

An added note for those who missed the initial set - a quick update on the rankings' author: Joward (me) now works for a little newspaper in Columbia County, Oregon. High school athletics are the game (literally), but the rankings will continue throughout the season, most likely every two weeks to coincide with the coaches poll. The NWAACC has graciously agreed to package the Power Rankings along with the coaches polls on their website for review.

Also, your responses, sports takes, arguments and venting are welcome here, as the original intent behind this system was to generate discussion. Your input is always greatly appreciated, and you can reach me in a number of different ways throughout the season by commenting on each story, sending me an email, or contacting me via twitter @JowardHoward.

The Coaches Poll, released on Dec. 24, are in italics below each team's ranking. Here are the top eight women's teams to start out 2013:

                                                                                                                        

1. Clackamas (11-2)
No. 3 Coaches
Last set: No. 2, No. 2 Coaches 

Before the "homer-haters" come out of the woodwork, I have a bit of scoreboard pointing to do. Just take a look at the Cougars' record over the last few weeks: They became the only NWAACC team to knock off No. 2 Columbia Basin, and their only losses are to No. 3 Blue Mountain 81-79 (box) in overtime and No. 4 Lane 76-70 (box). That's a record they can live with, and if they can get through the Southern Region close to unscathed (after two more bouts with Lane) it'll be difficult to NOT rank them at the top. Unlike Clackamas teams from the past two years, the Cougars don't sit in the top three in scoring, but Clackamas has held tightly to another standard of theirs - get in the passing lanes and score on the break. Balanced scoring and excellent ball movement thanks to Laci Effenberger's league-leading 6.62 assists per game make Clackamas a dangerous, dangerous group. And speaking of that tough southern region, they kick off league play with a zinger: a home game with Lane that could very well decide how the top of the rankings stacks up next week.

                                                                                                                         

2. Columbia Basin (10-3)
No. 2 Coaches
Last set: No. 3, No. 1 coaches

During the year that the Hawks took their latest NWAACC title, their calling card was defense. It was commonplace to see them hold teams well under 50 points a game, often times into the 30s while only scoring 50 or 60 points themselves. This year is a bit of a different story, as CBC has broken the century mark thrice, and average second in the league in scoring with 82 points per game. They've won four in a row following a narrow 59-55 loss (box) to No. 1 Clackamas, but now they have to text their skills against the Eastern Region, which has taken the championship five of the past nine years - the other four all going to Lane. This year, the Hawks will have a serious challenger in Blue Mountain, who they will face in their second league game on Jan. 11.

                                                                                                                         

3. Blue Mountain (11-2)
No. 4 Coaches
Last set: No.1, No. 4 Coaches

It might have been a bit of a hangover after the Timberwolves' thrilling victory over No. 1 Clackamas, but Blue Mountain has looked a little more beatable in the last few weeks. No. 6 Clark brought their nine-game winning streak to an end, knocking off Blue Mountain 77-72 (box) on Dec. 21, and the Timberwolves followed up with a 78-69 (box) loss to No. 5 Umpqua a few days later. That's a pair of losses to a pair of good teams, but the unbeatable aura has faded as BBCC enters Eastern Region play, but they have a solid advantage. Unlike most women's basketball teams, BBCC doesn't shoot much from beyond the arc. In fact, the Timberwolves only have one player who has attempted more than 100 three-pointers, and she has more than half of the team's total attempts. Instead, they focus on higher-percentage shots and getting to the free-throw line. Those numbers will benefit them once the tournament rolls around: three-pointers and fast-break buckets become harder to get when you're playing your fourth game in as many days.

                                                                                                                         

4. Lane (13-3)
No. 5 Coaches
Last set: Unranked, No. 3 coaches

First in scoring, first in free-throws made and attempted, third in rebounding, second in blocks... the stats speak for themselves when it comes to Lane, which has nearly out-championship'ed the rest of the league (meaning the Eastern Region) in the last decade. Freshman forward Shelby Snook is second in the league in scoring with 20 ppg while having done nearly all her damage from the paint and the free throw line, but that's the tune that Lane plays. Remember Megan Shields from last year's title team? Yeah. Same story, and the Titans already have a win over No. 1 Clackamas, a gutsy 76-70 (box) victory over their Southern Region rival at the Pierce tournament in mid December. Lane might have been ranked first, but a confusing outing on Dec. 29 at the Chemeketa Classic saw the Titans get steamrolled by unranked Wenatchee Valley 93-75 (box), a game in which they put the Knights at the line and gave up 27 points, free of charge. It helps when the team hits 82% of their free-throws, but the sheer numbers could be a bit of a weakness against a ranked opponent.

                                                                                                                         

5. Umpqua (9-4)
No. 8 Coaches
Last set: No. 4, No. 5 coaches
 

Nothing Umpqua did in the last few weeks - or all season, for that matter - has been a huge surprise. Their only losses have been to No. 1 Clackamas and No. 4 Lane, and they've beaten everybody they were expected to... with one exception. On Dec. 27, the Riverhawks beat then-No. 1 Blue Mountain 78-69 (box), handing the Timberwolves their second consecutive loss. A win like that more than pads Umpqua's resume, and several things stick out. Firstly, Umpqua is a big team, and their size goes a long way toward keeping a paint-oriented team like Blue Mountain from getting comfortable. They managed to push the Timberwolves out beyond the arc, where they were 6-25 overall, a stat that will lose you a fair number of games. The biggest stat, though, was that the Riverhawks were almost dead on with their averages. Basically, they played their game and were able to throw BMCC off at the same time. They also came within two points of knocking off Clackamas, so don't begin to count Umpqua out in the South.

                                                                                                                         

6. Clark (8-2)
No. 6 Coaches
Last set: No. 8, No. 10 coaches

As impressive as the win for Umpqua over Blue Mountain was, they weren't the first to plow that ground. That honor goes to Clark, who knocked the Timberwolves from the unbeaten ranks on Dec. 21, extending their unbeaten run to six with a 77-72 (box) victory in the final of the Centralia Crossover. Perhaps the most impressive part of the win was the fact that they were down five at halftime, and outscored one of the league's best by ten in the second half, or that this is Clark's second close game (box) with Blue Mountain this season. In fact, the Penguin's only lop-sided loss was to No. 1 Clackamas, a sloppy, poor shooting night in which Clark went 2-13 from three-point range - that's 15% - and lost 68-53 (box). With that stat cleaned up, the Penguins have a chance at winning both the games they lost, and make a strong case to win the relatively weaker Western Region as they enter league play this week.


                                                                                                                         

7. Big Bend (10-4)
Unranked Coaches
Last set: Unranked, Unranked coaches

Taking a look at the Eastern Region, things are tight. The top three teams are within 1.5 games of one another, and to hang with teams like Blue Mountain and Columbia Basin puts Big Bend in good company at 10-4 overall. The biggest anomaly on the Runnin' Viks' schedule is their loss to Highline, a game in which they allowed their opponent to shoot 50% from the field and gave up 23 points at the free throw line. And before the Highline, who narrowly missed the rankings, gets upset, look at BBCC's record: They hung tough (really tough) with No. 5 Umpqua before losing 69-62 (box) after being down by just two at halftime, and have a handful of 40-plus point victories under their belt. They're third in the league in scoring, have solid rebounding numbers and are among the league leaders in assists, but it remains to be seen how that will hold up once they get into region play. They won't be playing competition like Green River or S. Puget Sound for the rest of the year.

                                                                                                                         

8. Skagit Valley (8-4)
No. 7 Coaches
Last set: Unranked, No. 12 Coaches

As the lone representative from the Northern Region, SVC won seven games in a row before dropping back-to-back contests on Dec. 29 and 30. The Cardinals are one of two teams from the struggling North to boast a winning record throughout the preseason, and were able to knock off No. 7 Big Bend before the Vikings got revenge on the second day of the crossover tournament at December's end. Skagit Valley also picked up a solid win over Chemeketa, holding off a Storm rally to prevail 58-54 (box) on Dec. 22. The Cardinals are lead by Sydney Brown, who is tied for second in the league for three-point percentage at 41% from beyond the arc, but SVC has gotten balanced scoring from their three leaders, all of which average between 10 and 11 points per game. They're also among the best in the league from the free-throw line, which, if you've read your way through the rankings so far, will win a team quite a few contests.