POLL CLOSED By Ray Hamill — The Big 5 tips off next week in boys basketball, with a pair of games on Wednesday and Friday nights.
And defending co-champs Arcata and McKinleyville will both be in action on the opening night.
The Tigers will begin their conference campaign when they host Del Norte, while the Panthers will have their hands full against a surging Eureka team that has been among the most impressive local programs through the first month of the season.
Last year the race for the championship went right down to the final night of action and we could see more of the same this winter with four of the five teams boasting impressive winning records heading into league play.
So who do Humboldt Sports readers believe will win it all this year?
With a pair of former conference MVPs on their roster — Luke Moxon and Luke Lemke — the Arcata Tigers look like they could be the team to beat.
They have been shorthanded for much of the early season after the school’s football team”s charge towards a state championship, but now that they’re at full strength they’re beginning to build some momentum.
The same can be said of the Eureka Loggers, who have arguably been the most impressive of the five conference teams so far, or at least the most consistent.
The Eureka boys are finding ways to win close games and are playing with a belief and self-confidence we haven’t always seen from the Loggers in recent years.
The Del Norte Warriors also have impressed early in the new season and look like they could contend for the crown as well, with plenty of depth and quality in their lineup.
The Panthers too should be dangerous, and have shown us they’re capable of competing with anyone on their day.
Rounding out the field are the Fortuna Huskies, who struggled for much of December but are beginning to find their feet again with three wins in their last five games.
The Huskies have plenty of talent in their lineup and will relish the underdog role as they get set to tip off conference play.
So who will win this year’s championship?
Let us know who you think will win the conference title in our poll and we’ll publish the results before the Big 5 tips off next week.
Readers can vote up to once a day.
Categories: Arcata, Basketball, Del Norte, Eureka, Fortuna, McKinleyville
