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.

SCAC

BOYS (Standings/scoring leaders)

Halfway MVP: GRANT WARDENAAR, Royal junior. The left-hander, who also quarterbacked the Knights to their sixth straight football championship, has three 40-point games this season. It took Zillah running all-leaguer Memphis Jones, Julian Calzada and several double teams at Wardneaar to slow him to 16 points. Two-time SCAC MVP Dekker Van De Graaf of Zillah was sidelined with an ankle injury, opening up the race.

Halfway Coach of the Year: MARIO MENGARELLI, Zillah. Having guided the Leopards to three championships, Mengarelli is used to coaching to expectations. This season, however, he also had to coach the Leopards with their best player sidelined for four games and working him into the lineup while still a bit hobbled from an ankle injury.

State berths: Two from a district tournament with Caribou Trail League, and the third- and fourth-place district finishers meeting the Northeast’s 1A first- and second-place finishers for two more berths.

Favorites to advance to state: Zillah and Royal, third and fifth, respectively, at last year’s state tournament, should again make it to the SunDome. Chelan is ranked fifth and could be in line for another bid, leaving the likes of Wapato, Connell and Cashmere, vying for the fourth berth.

GIRLS (Standings/scoring leaders).

GIRLS (Standings/scoring leaders)

Halfway MVP: MAKENNA KLITZKE, Zillah junior. The high-scoring forward leads the conference in scoring, and has been consistent – never scoring less than 13 in a contest this season, with a high game of 37 against West Valley at the SunDome Shootout.

Halfway Coach of the Year: JOEL YELLOW OWL, Zillah. Having taken the reins following the passing of Zillah legend and popular coach Brandi Valadez, Yellow Owl was in a delicate situation. He has embraced what Valadez meant to the program and has helped the Leopards continue their rise.

State berths: Two from a district tournament with Caribou Trail League, and the third- and fourth-place district finishers meeting the Northeast’s 1A first- and second-place finishers for two more berths.

Favorites to get to state: Like the boys, Zillah looks the part with Wapato also a strong contender. With no team from the Caribou Trail League of the Northeast 1A having an RPI better than 14th, Royal and Cashmere also have a good shot of making it to the regional round if not the SunDome.