5A Conference Girls: A Roller Coaster Week Ahead—Who's Climbing and Who's Struggling?

The week ahead in the 5A Conference for girls' basketball is shaping up to be anything but predictable. With some teams already finding their rhythm after four games and others still warming up, the disparities in schedules due to unpredictable winter weather have created a fascinating dynamic. As always, I’m here to cover the teams I know and love, especially as the conference rises to new heights.

5A South

Starting in the 5A South, we’ve got Benton striding confidently with a 3-0 record, having nabbed victories over El Dorado, White Hall (by 5), and Texarkana. They’ll first take on Pine Bluff on Tuesday at home (prediction: Benton) before facing an unbeaten Lake Hamilton on Friday (prediction: Lake Hamilton), where things could get intense.

Lake Hamilton, currently undefeated at 4-0, has been a force to reckon with, securing wins against strong non-conference opponents and conference wins over Pine Bluff and Hot Springs. This week, they also have a non-conference game against Forrest City before their matchup against Benton.

El Dorado finds itself at 2-2, coming off wins against Pine Bluff and Texarkana but suffering defeats to White Hall and Benton. They’ll look to turn things around against Hot Springs on Tuesday (prediction: El Dorado) and then host Lakeside on Friday (prediction: Lakeside).

Lakeside, scintillating in their 4-0 run, has won their games with a level of dominance that sets them apart. They take on a tough Sheridan squad on Tuesday (prediction: Lakeside) followed by El Dorado on Friday (prediction: Lakeside) that promises excitement.

Meanwhile, Pine Bluff is still searching for its first win at 0-4, facing Benton this week (prediction: Benton) before taking a breather on Friday.

Hot Springs, currently winless at 0-3, hopes to snag their first victory against El Dorado on Tuesday (prediction: El Dorado) and then face Texarkana on Friday (prediction: Hot Springs), where they might finally find a spark.

Sheridan stands at 2-1 with promising wins over Hot Springs and Pine Bluff; they’ll face Lakeside on Tuesday (prediction: Lakeside) before taking on White Hall (prediction: White Hall) on Friday, aiming to keep that momentum going.

Texarkana, still looking for their first victory at 0-4, will face a tough challenge against White Hall (prediction: White Hall) before wrapping up against Hot Springs on Friday (prediction: Hot Springs).

White Hall is battling with a 1-2 record, showcasing their ability with a win over El Dorado but losing close ones to Lakeside and Benton. This week, they’ll face Texarkana (prediction: White Hall) and Sheridan (prediction: White Hall), and their performances will be critical.

5A East

Switching gears to the 5A East, Batesville is kicking off its season against West Memphis on Tuesday (prediction: West Memphis) and looking to recover against Paragould on Friday (prediction: Batesville). It’s all about finding their footing in this challenging landscape.

Greene County Tech, with a solid 1-0, has the advantage of momentum from a win over Paragould and faces Searcy on Tuesday (prediction: GCT) and Nettleton on Friday (prediction: GCT), where they aim to assert their dominance.

Marion also kicks off their season with a 1-0 record, winning against West Memphis. They’ll look to keep the ball rolling against Nettleton on Tuesday (prediction: Marion) and Searcy on Friday (prediction: Marion).

Nettleton, yet to kick off their campaign, has a challenging week ahead with a visit to Marion on Tuesday (prediction: Marion) followed by a home game against Greene County Tech on Friday (prediction: GCT).

Paragould is currently winless at 0-1, having lost to Greene County Tech. They face Valley View on Tuesday (prediction: Valley View) and then head to Batesville on Friday (prediction: Batesville), needing two solid performances to spark their season.

Searcy makes their debut this week, facing Greene County Tech (prediction: GCT) and then hosting Marion (prediction: Marion) on Friday in what could be an eye-opening start for them.

Valley View also enters the fray, taking on Paragould at home (prediction: Valley View) and then hosting West Memphis on Friday (prediction: Valley View). Their performances could very well shake up the standings.

West Memphis is still looking for redemption after a close loss to Marion. They’ll be vying for a win against Batesville (prediction: West Memphis) and Valley View (prediction: Valley View), trying to make a statement.

5A Central

In the 5A Central, Beebe (2-0) has made a mark with victories over Maumelle and Greenbrier. They’re set to face Vilonia on Tuesday (prediction: Vilonia), and then Jacksonville on Wednesday (prediction: Beebe), with a chance to solidify their standing.

Greenbrier sits at 1-2, with a win against Mount St. Mary but losses to Beebe and LRCA. They’ll face Jacksonville (prediction: Jacksonville) and Maumelle (prediction: Maumelle) this week, striving for redemption.

Jacksonville comes in with a 2-1 record, having beaten Mount St. Mary and Maumelle. They face Greenbrier (prediction: Jacksonville) and Beebe (prediction: Beebe) for a critical stretch, as they’re aiming to place further up in the ranks.

Little Rock Christian Academy (LRCA) stands tall at 2-0, flaunting wins over Sylvan Hills and Greenbrier. They’ll battle Parkview on Tuesday (prediction: LRCA), then Vilonia on Wednesday (prediction: Vilonia), following their pursuit of continued excellence.

Maumelle is still searching for their first win at 0-3, suffering losses against Beebe, Parkview, and Jacksonville. They’ll face Sylvan Hills (prediction: Maumelle) on Tuesday and Greenbrier (prediction: Maumelle) on Friday, both of which are crucial for their momentum.

Mount St. Mary is another team yet to win, sitting at 0-3. They’ll challenge Sylvan Hills on Wednesday (prediction: Sylvan Hills) and LRCA on Friday (prediction: LRCA) in what could be a tough week.

Parkview, with an impressive 3-0 record, has secured wins against Maumelle, Jacksonville, and Sylvan Hills. They’ll face LRCA on Tuesday (prediction: LRCA) and Vilonia on Friday (prediction: Parkview).

Sylvan Hills is struggling at 0-3, and they have a crucial matchup against Maumelle on Tuesday (prediction: Maumelle) followed by Mount St. Mary on Wednesday (prediction: Sylvan Hills). Getting their first victory is paramount.

Vilonia remains undefeated at 2-0 with wins over Sylvan Hills and Mount St. Mary. They’re set to clash with Beebe (prediction: Vilonia) and LRCA (prediction: Vilonia) this week. Keep an eye on their performance!

5A West

Finally, in the 5A West, Alma is on a warpath with a 1-0 record after a win against Russellville. They’ll face Greenwood this week (prediction: Alma) and then travel to Harrison (prediction: Alma)—definitely a week where they can stake their claim.

Farmington enjoys a similar 1-0 start after winning against Siloam Springs. They’ll look to defeat Harrison on Tuesday (prediction: Farmington) and Greenwood on Friday (prediction: Farmington).

Greenwood, as champions, enters at 1-0 after a win over Van Buren, with Alma as their challenge on Tuesday (prediction: Alma) and then facing Farmington on Friday (prediction: Farmington).

Harrison also stands at 1-0 but recently faced defeat against Mountain Home. They’ll go against Farmington (prediction: Harrison) and then host Alma (prediction: Alma) in back-to-back crucial games.

Meanwhile, Mountain Home kicks off the season with a win over Harrison and will take on Siloam Springs (prediction: Mountain Home) and Van Buren (prediction: Mountain Home) in hopes of making it to 3-0.

Russellville is currently at 0-1 following a loss to Alma. They’ll try to rebound this week against Van Buren (prediction: Van Buren) and then challenge Siloam Springs (prediction: Russellville).

Siloam Springs, like Russellville, sits at 0-1 after falling to Farmington. They also face Mountain Home (prediction: Mountain Home) and then host Russellville (prediction: Russellville).

Van Buren is also looking to get on the board after a loss to Greenwood. They face Russellville (prediction: Van Buren) and Mountain Home (prediction: Mountain Home) as they hope to bounce back.

Looking Ahead

As we gear up for another exciting week in the 5A Conference, the anticipation is palpable! Each team is eager to make their mark on the standings, and with so many competitive matchups on the horizon, anything can happen. We’ve got resilient underdogs looking to shake things up, while seasoned contenders are aiming to solidify their positions and maintain their winning momentum. With every game holding the potential for surprising twists and standout performances, fans should be ready for a thrilling atmosphere. So, grab your popcorn and settle in—it's going to be a fantastic week of basketball action that you won't want to miss!

KFletch 🖤