CHATTER: T.O.'S KAHLE TO VIE FOR JUNIOR TITLE.

Byline: Rich Hammond Staff Writer

One year ago, Danielle Kahle got a chance to shine on a national stage without leaving her hometown, winning the novice competition of the U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Staples Center.

Kahle will get another chance to expand her reputation as one of the United States' top young skaters next week, when she moves up to the junior level at the U.S. Championships in Dallas beginning Sunday.

Kahle, a 13-year-old resident of Thousand Oaks, will compete against 13 of her peers at the junior level, which is one below the level at which national stars such as Sarah Hughes and Michelle Kwan compete.

It's tough to say exactly from where Kahle's competition will come because the top two finishers in last year's junior competition, Louann Donovan and Jennifer Don have moved up to the senior level.

The top returning junior is Adriana DeSanctis, who finished fourth last year.

Lisa Dannemiller, who finished third in the novice competition last year, moved up to juniors with Kahle.

Kahle represents the All Year Figure Skating Club and is coached by, among others, Frank Carroll, who previously coached Kwan. Kahle qualified for the U.S. Championships with a second-place finish at the Pacific Coast Championships.

Kahle also will compete against Emily Hughes, the 18-year-old sister of the Olympic gold medalist.

The challenge will be tougher for 14-year-old Granada Hills resident Beatrisa Liang, who will compete at the senior level against the country's top skaters.

Liang finished ninth at the senior level last year and will be up against big names such as Hughes, Kwan, Sasha Cohen and Angela Nikodinov, the top four finishers at last year's U.S. Championships. ...

The Burbank High boys' basketball team has forfeited five of its six victories because of an ineligible player, school assistant principal Helen Quayle said.

Kevin Greene, who no longer is on the team, was not eligible to participate. Quayle said she sent a report detailing ``falsified enrollment documents'' to the Southern Section on Wednesday morning.

Burbank won five of its first six games but has lost several players since grades were posted after the fall semester. With the forfeits, the team is 1-11. ...

Kate Beckler, a former Daily News Player of the Year at Alemany High of Mission Hills, is enjoying success as a junior guard on the Rice University women's basketball team.

Beckler has started four of the Owls' 10 games but is third on the team in scoring with 7.3 points per game. She has also made 41 percent of her 3-point attempts and is tied for second on the team with 23 assists.

Staff writer Gerry Gittelson contributed to this report.