With league play tipping off next week at the 2A level, a group of local teams is about to find out how they’ll fare in a new conference.

Last year, the Pilot Rock boys dominated the Columbia Basin Conference, going 8-0 and claiming the league title. Heppner followed with a 6-2 record.

This year, the Rockets and Mustangs, along with Weston-McEwen and Stanfield, will move to the Blue Mountain Conference, which swaps Culver for Union, Grant Union, and Enterprise.

“Unfortunately, Culver was always near the bottom of the (CBC) standings,” Rockets coach Eric Smidt said. “We’re going to pick up some toughness in the new league, and going over the mountains in the winter to play other teams will be difficult.”

Pilot Rock has had a slow start to their season, standing at 0-4 in nonleague play. They start league Dec. 21, hosting Stanfield.

“Our inexperience is showing. We need to work on our young mistakes,” Smidt said. “Even most of our seniors didn’t play much in high school. We don’t have the talent that we did last year, but I think we will be able to compete.”

Smidt says Heppner will be a team to beat — the Mustangs (3-4) return all but four players from last year’s roster.

“With 11 seniors and two juniors, there will be a little growing pain,” Heppner coach Jeremy Rosenbalm said. “But we’re finally starting to figure out who we are as a team. The boys are ready to work and get better.”

The Mustangws have a few key players to drive the team this year, led by guard Hunter Nichols, forward Cason Mitchell, who played JV last year, and 6-foot-10 center Justin McAninch.

“He’s got some skills, and shows a lot of potential,” Rosenbalm said of McAninch. “I’m able to go deep into my bench every night. We’re pretty big — that’s unusual at the 2A level. Hopefully, it’ll help us to districts.”

Meanwhile, Weston-McEwen (0-6) and Stanfield (2-6) are hoping to find traction before league play begins.

“We’re a young team with four freshmen and two other kids with no varsity experience,” TigerScots coach Brian Pickard said. “It’ll be a process.”

Weston-McEwen’s league play begins Dec. 22 at Enterprise. Pickard says he expects his team to rise to the new challenge.

“Enterprise is very athletic and can bring the pressure. We need to break their traps and move the ball,” he said.

Stanfield head coach Devin Bailey said his team has high hopes for the new conference, but there’s a tough road ahead.

“Even though we’re older, we’re playing like we’re young,” Bailey said. “I’m not too excited about where we’re at, but it’s still early. It’ll be challenging to play each team twice — that’s a lot of games to re-strategize for. It’ll be a competitive league.”