"Parity" is the word out of the Northern Region, since as many as five teams have the potential to win the Northern region championship this year. Last year's champion and state semi-finalist, West Springfield (28-2) is in the hunt, but, not favored. Bill Gibson's will have to adjust to the graduations of Kristin Kunzman, Sara Carey-Prock and Sarah Flanagan. The Spartans have one of the region's top point guards in senior Laura Haskins who has signed to play college ball at Virginia Tech. Haskins will be joined by another starter from last year, 5'11 Katie Chesley. Coach Gibson is in his 19th season and has compiled a 372-92 record over those years.

Edison (21-4) is led by standout sophomore guard Doreena Campbell, who averaged 20 points per game last year. Freshman Adria Crawford is an enforcer who will help put Edison in the hunt for a region championship. Last year, Campbell, led the Eagles to their first district title since 1978 before losing to WT Woodson in the region quarterfinals.

Oakton, the AAA Concorde District regular-season champions, returns all 5 starters from last year's 23-3 team. They are led by All-State, Region Player of the Year, Street & Smith All-American, sophomore, Jasmine Thomas; two-time Defensive Player of the Year, senior guard Samara Stephen-Down; 3-point shooter Whitney Parker; and senior forward Kara Nadeau. Thomas is an offensive scoring sensation and will keep Oakton in contention for the region championship. The team's lack of height may be its "Achilles Heel" as Thomas is one of the taller players on the team at 5-9. Last year, Oakton lost to Westfield in the district tournament finals. A loss to West Springfield (44-34) in the Northern Region quarterfinals prevented them from playing in the state tournament.

Hayfield (16-8) will be in contention, as they are led by 6'3 senior post player Nana Fobi-Agyeman, a JMU signee. Junior Point guard Stephanie Lee and 6' Senior Brittany King also return as do a trio of standout sophomores, Laren Robinson, Brittany Carlock and Lauren Reinshuttle. Robinson is 5'10 and has impressive leaping ability and has developed an excellent offensive game over the summer and even attended "Point Guard College" with UNC's standout point guard Ivory Latta. Last year, Robinson suffered a concussion in a playoff game against West Springfield and was forced to miss the Hawks' first-round regional game against Edison, which they lost 45-39.

The Westfield girls' basketball team (22-5) is led by the regions top perimeter shooter-Mary Lynne Schaefer and a very athletic Jessica Honesty who can play any position and jump out of the gym. Last season, Westfield won the Concorde District title with a win over Oakton in the tournament finals. It was the Bulldogs' first win against the Cougars in three tries in 2003-04. Honesty was last year's leading scorer, and Schaefer is the school's all-time leading scorer. However, the Bulldogs begin the season with a star player sidelined due to injury -- Honesty has a broken foot, and will probably return after the Christmas holidays. If she can return at full strength, expect the Westfield girls to challenge for the Northern Region championship.

W.T. Woodson also has to be considered among the favorites in the Virginia AAA Northern Region for the 2004-05 season. Five of Coach Renee DeVarney's top six scorers from last year's 24-4 squad return, and are led by is 5-10 senior guard A.J. Lemaitre who scored a team-high 17.0 points per game last year. Also back are junior Casi Donelan, who was second on the team in scoring last year with 9.2 points per game, and rising senior point guard Ashley McCulloch. Last year Woodson lost in the Northern Region tournament to West Springfield, finishing at 24-4 on the season.

Last year, Lake Braddock's Bruins lost to Madison in the Northern Region tournament quarterfinal. Center, 6'3 Abby Robertson, point guard Katie Lindemuth and small forward Jenny Paine return to lead the team. Robertson presence on this team is enough not to overlook their potential. She is a UVA recruit and has the potential of leading this team through the post-season. Others to watch include the Langley girls' basketball team which has not missed the Northern Region tournament in Coach Cheryl Buffo's six years of leading the program.

Northern Region's Players to Watch

Jasmine Thomas, soph. (Oakton)

Doreena Campbell, soph. (Edison)

Abby Robertson, sr. (Lake Braddock)

Laura Haskins, sr. (West Springfield)

MaryLynn Schaefer, sr. (Westfield)

A.J. Lemaitre, sr. (W.T. Woodson)

Laren Robinson, soph. (Hayfield)

Maddie Regan, sr. (Jefferson)

Nana Fobi, sr. (Hayfield)

Emily Garner, sr. (Robinson)

Claire Blevins, sr. (Chantilly)

Christen Cushnie, jr. (Madison)

Kim Taylor, jr. (Lee)

Ashley Scott, sr. (Mount Vernon)