The three conferences in the Stat Hound footprint are either nearing the midway point of conference play (CBBN), making the turn and starting the second half of league matchup (SCAC) or a game into the back half of the conference contests (CWAC).

Calling that the midpoint of the season, here’s a review of what we’ve seen so far – with our Halfway Honors – and what will shape the race to district play, which starts in roughly four weeks.

CBBN

BOYS (Standings/scoring leaders)

Halfway MVP: PARKER MILLS, West Valley senior. We’re going to defer to the senior on this one, as the MVP easily could be Rams star sophomore Austin Birley, whose slashing and finishing-at-the-rim skills are unmatched. What makes Mills the winner is his old-school post skills. While he can pop the occasional jumper, his back-to-the-basket abilities are a lost art. The future college football lineman is nearly unstoppable when he gets it down low.

Halfway Coach of the Year: TYSON WHITFIELD, West Valley. Offense comes easy to Rams, but after back-to-back losses to 4A contenders Chiawana and Glacier Peak, the defense has been ramped up. In the first seven games of the season (the last two being losses), West Valley gave up 68 points or more in all but one game. In the four games since, no opponent has scored more than 66.

State berths: Two.

Favorites to advance to state: West Valley and Moses Lake. With their firepower and renewed defensive focus, the Rams likely are playing seeding. Moses Lake has shown enough to be the top contender among the remaining six teams.

GIRLS (Standings/scoring leaders)

Halfway MVP: CHEYENNE HULL, Davis junior. The reigning 4A Player of the Year is again leading the conference in scoring and has the Pirates atop the polls. In an embarrassment of riches for the Pirates, Hull in the linchpin of an offense that includes fellow juniors Isa Garcia, Averie Brandt (the sharpshooters of the team), wing Kobe Johnson and center Paige Gasseling, along with senior Deets Parrish, who is back from injury.

Halfway Coach of the Year: AKIL WHITE, Davis. Sure, with the talent the Pirates have they should be winning, but White’s we’ll-play-anyone-approach also should be commended. Davis played in the loaded POA Holiday Classic in Portland, took on Oregon’s defending 6A champion Tualatin on the off-day of the POA and last week added Class No. 1 Zillah for a Jan. 21 nonleaguer.

State berths: Two.

Favorites to get to state: Davis, and the Hot Hand. Defending 4A champion Davis is looking at a top seed in Tacoma – if not the No. 1 overall – while the second bid to the regional round could be who has a big game at the right time, whether that’s West Valley sophomore Sloane Kneisler, Sunnyside senior Lili Briones or freshman Julissa Tabares, or the grind-it-out out style first-year coach Brian Cliett has employed at Eisenhower.