East Valley schools snared two girls basketball championships last year and were represented in three of five. This year the title holders could double or more.

Hamilton (6A), Mesquite (5A), Seton Catholic (4A), Valley Christian (3A) and first-timer in AIA level competition -- Leading Edge Academy-Gilbert (2A)  -- have the experience and know-how to prevail.

Here's a glance at those schools and others along with some of the top players from the area:

6A: Hamilton, 26-4 last season, sports four of five starters from last year's big-school title team. Senior post Maya Banks along with junior guard Maddie Frederick and seniors Courtney Colleary and Hannah White should make life miserable for opponents most nights. Cardi Harris was solid off the bench last season. Frederick averaged 14 points a game and Banks chipped in nine points and nine rebounds per outing for coach Trevor Neider in his first year leading the Huskies.

How 6A regions with East Valley schools shape up:  The Central should be the most competitive with Gilbert, Desert Vista and Mountain Pointe at the top. The East Valley favorite is Red Mountain with Dobson and perhaps Mesa making a bid. The Premier Region belongs to Hamilton.

6A Conference title contenders: It's realistically a short list -- Hamilton and westside power Valley Vista. To extend it some add Gilbert, Millennium, Mountain Pointe, Desert Vista and Xavier.

Other EV players to watch  in 6A: The Cavinder twins from Gilbert High, Hanna and Haley. Both are sophomores and averaged 14 points a game each last year. They fill it up from beyond the arc. Mountain Pointe senior forward Jenise Strover, a Clemson commit, averaged in double figures scoring and rebounding last year. Red Mountain returns three starters -- sophomore guards Jacquelyn Ries and Samantha Shoemake and junior post Amaya West.. Mesa High graduated two key seniors, but returns senior Diamond Fuller inside -- 15 ppg and 8 rpg. Dobson has four returning starters from a 15-14 team, led by senior post Shauna Bribriescas (11 ppg and 10 rpg). Desert Ridge finished just better than .500 last year and has a solid forward-post in Sentia Bryant, 13 ppg and 12 rpg).

5A: Mesquite grudgingly moves down to 5A this season after finishing runner-up in 6A last year to Hamilton. Coach Candice Gonzales wanted another shot at the big-school title, but schools had no recourse to do that this year. The Wildcats have been competitive year-in-and-year out in 6A. Gonzales has two 1,000-point scorers back for only their junior seasons -- daughter and 5-9 guard Shaylee Gonzales and 5-8 guard Lindsey VanAllen. Gonzales, who plays point, verbally committed to BYU in August. She led the team in scoring (20 ppg), reboundind (8.4)\, assists (4) and steals (4).  VanAllen checked in at 18 ppg and nearly 3 assists. The addition of a legitimate post player -- Lauren Gustin, a 6-2 junior transfer from Utah will cover up the team's lone deficiency from last year. Junior guard Hailey Walker, a transfer from Queen Creek who sat out her sophomore year, will fill in nicely in the lineup.

How 5A regions with East Valley schools shape up:  The San Tan belongs to Mesquite with Williams Field, Queen Creek and Campo Verde scrapping for second place. McClintock may find the going tough in the Metro Region where Maricopa has emerged in recent years as a region and state contender. Poston Butte might be able to make some noise in the Sonoran Region battling Cholla, Desert View, Flowing Wells and Marana. None of tose five teams posted a winning record last season.

5A Conference title contenders: Like 6A, a short list that begins and likely ends with Mesquite. Sierra Linda, Chaparral and Liberty.

Other 5A EV players to watch in 5A: Williams Field junior guard Lacee Jenkins averaged 15 ppg and 4 steals per game last season. 

4A: Seton Catholic, 31-2 a year ago, seeks back-to-back titles, a third title in four years and a sixth in eight years with all its starters returning. That's three seniors --  6-3 forward Jennifer Wirth and 6-3 post LeeAnne Wirth and point guard and 5-8 point guard Liz Holte. The Wirths are committed to Gonzaga and Holter to University of Incarnate Word. Coach Karen Self has one of the more balanced scoring teams around. Barcello averaged 16 ppg, the Wirths 11 ppg, Krick 8 ppg and Holter 7 ppg a year ago.

How 4A regions with East Valley schools shape up: Seton will go unchallenged in the Desert Sky Region. Apache Junction and Combs compete with Coronado, Cortez, Dysart and Washington in the Black Canyon Region.  

Other EV players to watch in 2A: Tempe Prep senior forward Cinta Tonnesen and senior guard Claire Carmody.