Any way you look at it, the C2BL was one, if not the best 2B girls basketball leagues in the state last season.
Four teams won 20+ games and made it to Spokane, including the state champions (Napavine) and the team that placed fifth (Adna), and a fifth C2BL team (Toledo) won 15 games and came up just one win shy of a state tournament berth.
The top of the league projects to be just as crowded this winter, as Napavine and Adna are set for big seasons.
The Tigers are the defending district and state champions, but they are down four seniors from last year’s core, including first-team All-C2BL center Keira O’Neill.
Hayden Kaut, last year's championship game hero, is back, though, as is Taylen Evander, Jessie McCoy, and Hannah Fay, who all had roles on last year’s squad.
The questions this season are in the post. Napavine coach Shane Schutz is comfortable with the younger players the Tigers have ready to step in, though he did say there may be some growing pains along the way.
If there are more growing pains than expected, the Adna Pirates would love to take advantage.
Last year’s core of juniors are back and ready for one final run, including C2BL MVP Karsyn Freeman and first-team All-C2BL guard Gaby Guard.
Danika Hallom, Kendall Humphrey, and Bailey Chapman round out the key returners, and the Pirates also get a boost from McKenna Torrey, who played last season at Mossyrock.
Rainier also made it to state last year and finished second in the district tournament, and the Mountaineers have plenty returning.
Angelica Askey is one of the best pure shooters in the area, while Brooklynn Swenson, Janess Blackburn, and Bryn Beckman round out a talented senior core.
Toledo is also down just two seniors, and the Riverhawks are looking to get back to Spokane for the first time since 2019. They got close last year, making it to the consolation semis before dropping two straight to end their season.
Freshman Ellie Fallon has already made an early statement, while all-league forward Ryah Stanley returns.
Stanley, a junior, and Hope Gould, a senior, are the only two upperclassmen on the Toledo roster, one that features three sophomores, four freshman, and a trio of eighth-graders.
Also looking for more district success is Onalaska, which went two-and-out at the district tournament in February.
Leading the way for the Loggers is sophomore phenom Emalie Jacoby, who, like Fallon in Toledo, has already impressed this winter. Joining the team this season is Delaney and Renzy Marshall, who came over from Mossyrock just in time for basketball season.
Fresh in from a short stint in the 1B world in Mossyrock, which made it to Spokane before losing in the Round of 12 at the 1B State Tournament.
The Vikings are now led by Nick Rashoff, who gets the head coaching job after spending the last six years as an assistant.
Mossyrock still has plenty of talent that will help it compete in the C2BL, including Chesney Schultz, an all-league player in the post last season, and Adyson Barrows, a junior who earned an honorable mention at guard.
Morton-White Pass earned its spot in districts on the final day of the regular season in February, but the Timberwolves were beaten twice at districts to go two-and-out.
Five seniors are back to lead the charge for the T-Wolves this time around, including Kiera Miller, who earned an all-league honorable mention in 2023-24.
Winlock will be looking to continue its rebuild, as it won just two games last season. Natalie Cardenas is the team’s lone senior, while Cali Geehan, Victoria Sancho, and Terri Holley are the Cardinals’ other upperclassmen.
