SWX Right Now-Sports for Spokane, CdA, Tri-Cities, WABig 9 conference still compromising after latest meeting

YAKIMA, Wash. -- The Columbia Basin Big 9 is still moving toward a resolution to figure out how to make the conference work. Tuesday the eight-person group assigned to figure out the league met in Yakima. They talked about going with a north and south division, but each would decide how their schedule affected the league standings. Proposals included north counting cross-over as league games, but the south would not. Also there is the issue of Sunnyside caught in the middle.

Everyone will go back to their school districts and see what the rest want to do. "I thought at the meeting we made good progress today. We'd all like to keep the league together, of course we've got some different configurations," said Todd Baddley, Richland assistant superintendent.

"There was some movement if you will. People working together to come up with something that they thought would benefit everyone," added Dr. Jack Irion, Yakima deputy superintendent.

Changing the conference by-laws is also a major discussion factor holding back the compromise. Dr. Irion said the decision on the conference should come in the next few days.