The high school basketball season has moved past the halfway point, and there is a month left in the regular season.
If you want to look at current standings and team-by-team schedules and results, they are all available on The Columbian’s preps blog at 360preps.com.
But to make things easier, here is a quick overview of the league races to the postseason for all area leagues at the midway point.
Frontrunners: Camas (2-0), Battle Ground (2-1), Union (1-2).
What they are playing for: The top three teams advance to the bi-district tournament. However, only the No. 1 seed moves into the double-elimination part of the bracket. The No. 2 team gets a home loser-out game to open and the No. 3 team goes on the road for a loser-out game.
Game to watch: In this hyper-competitive league, every league game is pivotal, especially if Skyview (0-2) can knock off Camas on Friday. But if Camas can improve to 3-0, then the Feb. 7 game at Battle Ground moves to the top of the list.
Frontrunners: Mountain View (5-0), Kelso (3-1).
What they are playing for: The top three teams advance to the bi-district tournament. However, only the No. 1 seed moves into the double-elimination part of the bracket. The No. 2 team gets a home loser-out game to open, while the No. 3 team must win a play-in game to reach the 16-team bracket.
Game to watch: The Jan. 31 matchup between Mountain View and Kelso in Kelso could determine the league champion.
Frontrunners: R.A. Long (7-0), Mark Morris (7-0), Woodland (5-2), Ridgefield (4-3), Columbia River (4-4).
What they are playing for: The top four teams earn berths into the double-elimination district tournament. And Monday’s game created a clear gap between the top 5 and the rest of the league. The fifth-place team must win a play-in game to advance to district.
Game to watch: There are two. The first is Wednesday when Mark Morris hosts R.A. Long. The second is when those two teams conclude the league schedule at R.A. Long on Feb. 6.
Frontrunners: La Center (2-1), Seton Catholic (2-1), King’s Way Christian (2-1), Castle Rock (1-2), Columbia-White Salmon (1-2), Stevenson (1-2).
What they are playing for: The top four teams earn berths into the double-elimination district tournament.
Game to watch: Um, all of them. League teams are only one-third of the way through the league schedule, and any one game can mix up the league standings.
Frontrunners: Camas (3-0), Skyview (2-1), Union (1-2).
What they are playing for: The top three teams advance to the bi-district tournament. However, only the No. 1 seed moves into the double-elimination part of the bracket. The No. 2 team gets a home loser-out game to open and the No. 3 team goes on the road for a loser-out game.
Game to watch: Camas, Skyview and Union appear headed to bi-district spots. It just now is a matter of which spots. Camas hosts Skyview on Jan. 31, then plays at Union on Feb. 3.
Frontrunners: Evergreen (4-1), Prairie (3-1), Kelso (2-2), Heritage (2-2).
What they are playing for: The top three teams advance to the bi-district tournament. However, only the No. 1 seed moves into the double-elimination part of the bracket. The No. 2 team gets a home loser-out game to open, while the No. 3 team must win a play-in game to reach the 16-team bracket.
Game to watch: It’s another league in which most every game can bring drama. But for now, we will circle the Feb. 3 matchup when Evergreen hosts Prairie.
Frontrunners: Entering Tuesday, Columbia River (8-0), Mark Morris (6-1), Woodland (5-2), Ridgefield (4-3), Washougal (4-3).
What they are playing for: The top four teams earn berths into the double-elimination district tournament. Like in the boys standings, there is a gap between the top 5 and the rest of the league. The fifth-place team must win a play-in game to advance to district.
Game to watch: Jan. 20, when Columbia River travels to Longview to play Mark Morris.
Frontrunners: Seton Catholic (2-0), King’s Way Christian (2-0), La Center (1-1).
What they are playing for: The top four teams earn berths into the double-elimination district tournament.
Game to watch: With a 10-1 overall record and two lopsided league wins, Seton Catholic looks to be the team to beat. The Cougars can cement that tag with a win at King’s Way Christian on Friday.
Tim Martinez is the assistant sports editor/prep coordinator for The Columbian. He can be reached at 360-735-4538, tim.martinez@columbian.com or follow his Twitter handle @360TMart.
