Girls Hoops Rule Hwy. 62 West

Looking at the current conference standings, one thing is certain: Girls basketball is king (or, should that be "queen") of the Highway 62 West cooridor.

Two girls teams in our coverage area have positioned themselves well for the postseason while others, including all three boys teams, better start stacking up wins in a hurry if they hope to extend their seasons.

Records reflect games played through Jan. 29.

GIRLS

5A-WEST

Vilonia;6-1;13-7

Little Rock Christian;4-2;11-7

Farmington;4-2;7-10

Greenbrier;3-2;8-10

Maumelle;3-3;10-8

Harrison;3-3;10-9

Clarksville;1-4;10-9

Morrilton;0-7;5-9

4A-1

Prairie Grove;10-0;17-3

Gentry;6-3;14-5

Huntsville;7-2;12-7

Berryville;7-3;12-9

Gravette;5-5;12-10

Pea Ridge;2-8;9-14

Shiloh Christian;2-8;4-18

Lincoln;0-10;4-14

BOYS

5A-WEST

Morrilton;6-1;12-9

Harrison;4-2;15-6

Little Rock Christian;4-2;11-7

Maumelle;4-2;14-3

Farmington;2-4;11-8

Vilonia;3-4;11-8

Greenbrier;1-5;8-11

Clarksville;1-5;7-12

4A-1

Huntsville;9-1;20-2

Pea Ridge;9-1;19-3

Berryville;7-3;15-8

Gentry;5-5;12-8

Gravette;5-5;10-11

Shiloh Christian;4-6;7-12

Prairie Grove;1-9;2-17

Lincoln;1-9;7-15

For those who don't keep up with the ever-changing Arkansas playoff picture, the top four teams from each district will earn spots in the regional tournament. Then, the top four teams from each region move on to the state tournament.

Prairie Grove's girls already have punched a ticket to the regional tournament and can claim the No. 1 seed (and another district championship) by winning one of its final four district games. In fact, the Lady Tigers probably did just that by winning at Pea Ridge on Tuesday. (Just to note, we go to press before Tuesday's games, so the paper doesn't hit the street until after those games have been played.)

Still, Prairie Grove has a little work left to do if it hopes to finish perfect in conference play with dangerous games against Gentry on Friday and then at Berryville on Feb. 9.

Because Prairie Grove will host the 4A North Regional in its sparkling new gymnasium, the Lady Tigers are in an excellent position to reach the 4A state tournament in Malvern. They've been to the Final Four in three of the past four seasons under coach Kevin Froud, who humbly credits having solid players, not his coaching, with the program's recent run of success.

Farmington's girls are in a bottleneck for the No. 2 seed out of the 5A-West, where Vilonia is all alone at the top of the standings with a 6-1 record. The Lady Cardinals appear to be peaking at the right time under coach Brad Johnson as they beat Vilonia 36-35 at home on Friday.

That forges a two-way tie for the No. 2 seed (again, before this issue went to press) with Farmington and Little Rock Christian both 4-2 in league play. Harrison isn't too far behind with a 3-2 record.

As far as Lincoln's girls, the Lady Wolves are winless in 4A-1 play and have been mathematically eliminated from reaching the postseason. However, Lincoln will be a team to watch next seasons the Lady Wolves return several key playmakers.

On the boys side of things, Farmington is the lone team from our coverage area with a fighting chance of making the postseason as Prairie Grove and Lincoln would need to win out, and have 5-5 Gentry and Gravette lose out, to get in. There is a slim chance of happening when looking at what's left on those team's schedules, though.

At the moment, Farmington is on the outside looking in and is sitting in fifth place with 2-4 record. However, with eight 5A West games remaining on the schedule, the Cards certainly control their own destiny.

Should either Farmington team make it the state tournament, it will be in Hot Springs.

Sports on 02/03/2016