AQ from SB, Newb River Question

[Scapegote]

So I'm a NL noob (outside of tournaments) and have played limit for years. I was wondering about hands like this when the draws hit, what should I be doing in general. Should I be check-calling, check folding, bet-folding? Obviously I'm not going to fold for a small amount, but what about like this hand where I'm facing an almost pot sized bet.

Looking at the hand I think I should have bet a bit more on the turn. But am lost on river decision.

This was the second hand at the table, I knew one of the players at the table was horrible, but he's not the villian in question. So I have no reads at this point.

Thanks in advance!

Full Tilt Poker, $0.10/$0.25 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 5 Players
LegoPoker (http://www.legopoker.com)Hand History Converter (http://www.legopoker.com/hh)

BB: $44.90
UTG: $23.45
CO: $40.75
BTN: $57
Hero (SB): $27.80

Pre-Flop: A/images/graemlins/club.gif Q/images/graemlins/spade.gif dealt to Hero (SB)
3 folds, <font color="red">Hero raises to $1</font>, BB calls $0.75

Flop: ($2) A/images/graemlins/heart.gif 2/images/graemlins/diamond.gif 3/images/graemlins/heart.gif (2 Players)
<font color="red">Hero bets $1.50</font>, BB calls $1.50

Turn: ($5) K/images/graemlins/club.gif (2 Players)
<font color="red">Hero bets $3</font>, BB calls $3

River: ($11) 8/images/graemlins/heart.gif (2 Players)
Hero checks, <font color="red">BB bets $9</font>

[dshadow35]

You can put in a defensive bet on the river, if you are raised you are most likely beat. Somewhere around $4 to $5 would be good here. It makes it look like a value bet/defensive bet at the same time.