Winter Sports Season Marches on With Marquee Matchups

It may be hard to believe, but the winter sports season is already 10 weeks old.

As the long season continues on, now is the time when teams begin to pull ahead. The conference races are already starting to shape up, and that will continue this week. It's not quite the playoffs, but they're getting closer.

Here are some games to watch this week around St. Charles County. 

• Who: (Wrestling) Timberland vs. Washington
• When/Where: 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 25, at home
• Why the big deal?: Timberland's wrestling team will hit the mats for a one-on-one dual against Washington. The dual will be chance for the freshman, JV and varisty teams to compete at the same meet. 

• Who: (Boys basketball) Holt vs. Pattonville
• When/Where: 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 23 at the Fort Zumwalt North Invitational
• Why the big deal?: Holt's boys basketball team will get a chance to improve on its 9-8 record at the Zumwalt North Invitational. The Indians will open the tourney against Pattonville.

• Who: (Girls swimming) Zumwalt East vs. Timberland vs. Trinity
• When/Where: 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 24, at the  
• Why the big deal?: The Zumwalt East girls swim team gets to play host for a tri-meet on Tuesday. The Lady Lions will welcome Timberland and Trinity to the pool at the Rec-Plex for a a three-way meet.

• Who: (Boys basketball) Zumwalt South vs. O'Fallon Christian
• When/Where: 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 23, at the Fox Invitational
• Why the big deal?: Monday will being the Zumwalt South boys trek through the Fox Invitational. The Bulldogs are 7-9 on the season and have outscored the opposition by just eight points (848-840).

• Who: (Boys basketball) Lutheran vs. Orchard Farm 
• When/Where: 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 27, at home 
• Why the big deal?: The Lutheran boys might not be too excited to take a step away from conference play. The Cougars are 4-1 in the AAA this season, but will take on Orchard Farm on Friday night in a non-conference tilt.

Francis Howell Central

• Who: (Girls basketball) Howell Central vs. Nerinx Hall
• When/Where: 5 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 23, at home
• Why the big deal?: The Howell Central girls will host Nerinx Hall on Monday, looking for a chance to improve on its 14-4 record. The Lady Spartans are averaging more than 48 points per game on offense this season.

• Who: (Boys basketball) Howell North vs. Parkway North
• When/Where: 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 24, at the Fort Zumwalt North Invitational
• Why the big deal?: The Knights boys basketball team is just 5-11 on the year, but can greatly improve that record with a good showing at the Fort Zumwalt North Invitational. Howell North will open up play at the tourney on Tuesday against non-conference foe Parkway North.

• Who: (Boys basketball) Duchesne vs. St. Charles West
• When/Where: 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 27, at home
• Why the big deal?: Duchesne sits atop the GAC North with a spotless 3-0 record. On Friday, the Pioneers will put that record to the test in a battle with St. Charles West (0-2 in GAC action).

Orchard Farm

• Who: (Boys basketball) Orchard Farm vs. Barat Academy
• When/Where: 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 23, at Barat
• Why the big deal?: The Orchard Farm boys will get a chance to pick up win No. 10 in the first game of the week. The Eagles (9-5) will hit the road for a non-confernce game against Barat Academy on Tuesday. 

• Who: (Girls basketball) St. Charles vs. Oakville
• When/Where: 7 p.m. on  Monday, Jan. 23 at the Lindbergh Tournament
• Why the big deal?: The St. Charles girls basketball team will start the week off with an opening-round game in the Lindbergh Tournament. The Lady Pirates, 12-5 on the season, will take on Oakville in the opener. 

• Who: (Girls basketball) St. Charles West vs. St. Dominic
• When/Where: 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 26, at home
• Why the big deal?: The St. Charles West girls will have a quiet week with just one game on the schedule. That game, a non-conference matchup against St. Dominic, will be played on Thursday. 

• Who: (Wrestling) Fort Zumwalt North at the Howell North Tournament
• When/Where: 9 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 28, at Francis Howell North
• Why the big deal?: The Zumwalt North wrestling team will hit the mat just once this week, but it won't be for an ordinary dual. The Panthers will head to St. Charles for the Howell North Tournament filled with local schools.

• Who: (Girls basketball) Zumwalt West vs. Incarnate Word
• When/Where: 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 24, at home
• Why the big deal?: The Fort Zumwalt West girls basketball team is riding high this season—the Lady Jaguars are 3-0 in conference play and 15-2 on the year. To open this week, West will host Incarnate Ward in a non-conference game.

• Who: (Girls basketball) St. Dominic vs. Lutheran St. Charles
• When/Where: 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 23, at Lutheran
• Why the big deal?: In what is probably the game of the week, the St. Dominic girls (5-0, 11-5) will hit the road to take on Lutheran St. Charles (5-0, 12-4). The winner of the game will take over sole possession of first place in the AAA.

• Who: (Girls basketball) Christian vs. Timberland
• When/Where: 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 26, at Timberland
• Why the big deal?: The Christian girls will open the week on the road. Christian will head to Wentzville to take on Timberland in a non-conference game.