Last week we took a stab at predicting the boys teams that will finish the regular season with the best record in the last five weeks. This week, we'll put the girls teams under the microscope.

Sorry my crystal ball has a mileage limit only through St. Charles & St. Louis counties. We'll work on expanding it throughout Missouri in the future.

Here goes ... girls teams with the best records from now through the end of the regular season (in no particular order).

1) Hazelwood Central (12-2) - only losses to IWA. This athletic team has many weapons: Chantiera Johnson (can take over a game), Charlonda Bozeman and Breanna McLaughlin. This team is really strong on the boards yet is fast enough to get up and down the court. Elite Eight status is a must for this team.

2) Parkway South (15-3) - Arriana Walker's one-game absence illustrated her tremendous contribution offensively and defensively to the Patriots. Inside force Ebony Davis and outside bomber Caitlin Wagner provided nice complements for Walker.

3) Kirkwood (10-7) - Ron Sanford's team is going younger. Frosh Lianna Doty leads the Pioneers in scoring as she emerges as the "go-to" person in this offense. Kirkwood has three early season losses of four or less points this year. In the past week, the team won games by 3 points and 1 point, so experience and lineup adjustments are already paying dividends.

4 and 5) St Joseph Academy (10-6) and Incarnate Word Academy (17-1) - These two powerhouse programs face each other on Saturday. ( Hear the game on Prepcasts) Other than that game, each team should glide into districts, where they will tangle with each other again. Liz Hitchens has surfaced as IWA leader while the Angels have Frosh Maddie Stock to help at the guard spot in a senior-led team.

6) Jennings (9-6) - Overshadowed by the usually strong boys team at Jennings, this team often gets lost in the background. Soph Yelena Rosado leads a rather short, but scrappy bunch each night on the court.

7) Notre Dame (9-7) - Megan Brady's Bunch is riding a three-game win streak after toughening themselves in late December and early January with some of the best teams in town. A scuffle with McCluer North occurs this week, and then the Rebels should "turn it on.” Sophomore Michelle Auer leads ND in practically every category this year.

8) Summit (11-5) - Quietly assembling a strong season, the Falcons have balanced scoring, which should be helpful against a variety of opponents. Their toughest opponents on the horizon are the Eureka Wildcats.

9)  MICDS (7-6) - This team has been streaky this year. After an opening season win, the team lost five straight games, and then rolled off six consecutive wins only to have Visitation Academy stop it last week. I'm predicting another long win streak right into districts. Sophomore Delaney Hobbs is the hub of press and offense.

10) Eureka (13-3) - The Wildcats are really tough at home. With two strong opponents (Kirkwood and Parkway North) visiting Eureka, we think that they'll be successful for Coach James Alsup Jr. Allie Hill is a key cog of the Wildcats.

So where are they? Nerinx Hall? St. Charles West? Parkway North? Sorry, just didn't pop up on my crystal ball. Let me know your thoughts at bryan@prepcasts.com.

The mid-year roller coaster affects all teams.

The energy and excitement of the early season games has disappeared and the end of the season still seems eons away.

The teams are doing the same ol’ drills in practice for the 1,000th time, holiday break is ancient history and nonleague games seem less significant now.

This all adds up to some games that are much closer and exciting than they might be later in the year. The better teams often "look by" opponents at this time of year.

As they open the doors for the underdog early in the game, they can't shut the door later as the underdogs smell victory.

Take a look at some of the roller coaster games and excitement this week.

The difference a week makes in mid-season. One week ago, the No. 10 ranked Class 5 Park Hill South Panthers were led by 35 points from Ivo Baltic in their 70-58 win over the Truman Patriots.

This week in the championship of the North Kansas City Basketball Tournament, Baltic had the ball stolen as regulation slipped away by Darrien Harris which was followed by the game-tying basket to send game into OT.

Harris was all over the court in overtime and led the Patriots to a stunning 70-58 win. 

Star junior guard James Hosey led the Pats with 22 points scoring for the game.

Freshman Jordynn Martin led the Lady Lafayette Lancers to a big win over Eureka on Prepcasts.com this week. Not only did she score 17 points, but with the clock ticking down, she drove the lane, drew defenders to her and dished off to Kayla Hall, who scored the game winner.

The Bernie Mules boys team (15-1) put on the clamps in the fourth quarter. The Mules held Puxico to just two points in the final quarter as they won 70-57.

The Kirkwood Lady Pioneers (10-7) survived with a 38-37 over the Marquette Mustangs (5-9) despite 8 of 21 from the free-throw line.

Kevin Walsh scored with four ticks left on the clock to give the CBC Cadets their third win in 10 days over a top 10 team.

CBC (10-8) knocked off the high-flying Hazelwood Central Hawks (13-3) 61-59 with Walsh's basket coming off a nice inside feed from Ryan Pierson.

Hazelwood Central was upended on two straight nights as the Warriors of St Charles West had beaten them the previous night.

The St. Dominic Lady Crusaders had to outscore the Lions of Cardinal Ritter 15-9 in the fourth quarter to keep their unbeaten mark in tact.

The Crusaders sit at 15-0 after the 52-48 win in AAA action.

Two nights earlier, the boys had gone three overtimes in the same matchup -- same result -- St. Dom 64, Ritter 62. (Hear that replay on Prepcasts.com)

What a week of games between these two schools.

Prepcasts.com has boys and girls basketball and wrestling this week on our schedule.

Check it out and stay with the voice of Missouri high school sports: Prepcasts.com.