Submitted photo – The Eureka Loggers

By Ray Hamill — The results of the Humboldt Sports poll asking readers who they think will win this year’s Big 5 in girls basketball are in.

And fans in the area believe there is an overwhelming favorite to win this year’s championship.

The three-time defending conference champion Eureka Loggers, who are 11-1 this season, received an impressive 46.5 percent of all votes cast, making them the clear frontrunners.

Last year, the Loggers went undefeated in conference play with a record of 8-0 and they have lost just two games in the Big 5 over the past three years. 

This year’s Big 5, however, features five teams with winning records and the conference is a combined 55-20 through the first five weeks of the season.

The McKinleyville Panthers (12-4) are expected to be the Loggers’ biggest challengers in the coming weeks after an impressive preseason, including winning last week’s Enterprise tournament.

The McKinleyville girls, who open conference play at home against Eureka on Tuesday night, received 21.5 percent of the votes.

Many people also feel the Arcata girls can challenge for the title.

Last year’s NorCal Division-4 runners-up received 17.5 percent of the votes cast.

The Tigers are 9-6 on the season and open conference play at Del Norte, also on Tuesday night.

Rounding out the list of contenders, Del Norte received nine percent of the votes cast and Fortuna received seven percent.

Humboldt Sports feels some fans may be sleeping on the Warriors and Huskies, each of whom have also looked very impressive through the early season.

The Del Norte girls are 12-5 and look well capable of beating anyone on their day, as do the Fortuna girls, who are 11-4.

Either way, it should be a very competitive conference this year with no easy games for any teams.

As always, the top three teams in conference will advance to the Dick Niclai tournament, so there’s plenty on the line for all five teams in the coming weeks.

The Huskies have a bye in conference play on opening night and will tip off their Big 5 schedule at Arcata on Thursday night.

A big thank you to all of the readers who took the time to vote in our poll.