Five Games to Watch This Week in O'Fallon

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 in O'Fallon: 

• 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: (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: (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.