Though the weather has chilled Scioto County this week, the SOC races are anything but "on ice."

Conference title battles are heating up with every shot, pass, steal and stop meaning more with each passing quarter.

While some teams have already been eliminated from the conference title bouts, they're still playing for pride, to be a spoiler and to get into better position once the tournament rolls around.

Aside from all teams making it to the postseason, there are no free passes in high school hoops.

With five teams within reach of the top spot in the SOC II, it's never been more true to say that it's anyone's ball game.

Wheelersburg, Oak Hill and Valley are tied at the top with 7-2 records, while Waverly and Minford sit a game behind.

Valley has surprised many this year, defeating both Oak Hill and Wheelerburg when they traveled to Lucasville. Cameron Arbaugh's last second shot against the Pirates rocked the SOC, and breathed life into a number of competitors.

The Indians have a pair of tough conference games ahead at Oak Hill and Minford, as well as a chance for revenge against a Waverly squad that knocked them off Jan. 13.

In addition to its re-match with Valley, the Oaks may have the toughest road, facing all four of the other teams fighting for the title. All of these opponents except Wheelersburg must travel to Jackson County for games.

Speaking of the Pirates, they may have the easiest road with Minford, Oak Hill and Waverly all traveling to Wheelersburg Two of their three remaining road contests are against the teams in the bottom third of the SOC.

With arguably the SOC's best player, Andy Stegman, and a tough-minded team, the Pirates are a team no one wants to play.

Don't sleep on Northwest as spoilers, though. They had the Pirates on the ropes in Wheelersburg, before a late bucket swung the game in the Pirates' favor.

The Mohawks get a second chance at the Pirates and Minford at home, and have a trip to Waverly looming.

Minford's Jan. 20 win over Waverly put the Falcons and Tigers in a fourth-place tie.

All five of the top teams control their own destiny. If they win out, they clinch at least a share of the title.

While the SOC I race contains less teams in the mix, the tension is still there.

Eastern Pike and Western Pike sit tied atop the SOC I at 7-1.

The Eagles suffered an overtime defeat against Symmes Valley Dec. 19.

Eastern rebounded and has not lost a conference game since. The big game was a 70-60 overtime win over Western in Beaver on Jan. 13. Eastern's Bryan Osborne scored 36 points in that contest, and has the Eagles in position to grab a conference title.

East (5-3) and Symmes Valley (4-4) are still mathematically in the hunt, but will need help from the two teams up north to jump back into the picture.

The Tartans could make a move with both Eastern and Western traveling to Sciotoville for games before the year is over.

If they don't take advantage, the Feb. 13 game between the Indians and Eagles could serve as a conference championship game.

Portsmouth has fallen on some hard times since its 5-0 start. The Trojans have dropped five of six contests, with all five losses being in SEOAL South Division play.

The Trojans have all the weapons in place to make a run and get back to .500 before the Day of Champions on Feb. 21, but must play nine total games in the next 20 days to get to that point.

In the SVC, Piketon was dropped out of first place with a ten point loss to Huntington before they bounced back to knock off Westfall for the second time this season, jumping back into a first-place tie with the Mustangs.

The Streaks, with a backcourt featuring Cody Smith and Jordan Brabson, have the guard play to not only win in February, but in March as well once the tournament rolls around.

Of their four remaining conference games, the state's tenth-ranked Division III team faces just one team (Adena) with more than four wins on the year.

With all the uncertainty surrounding the races, one constant remains. We'll be there to keep you informed and bring you the results as they come.

Without further hesitation, here are the updated standings.

Go (your team here)!

CHRIS DUNHAM can be reached at chrisdunhamjr@aol.com

Standings

SOC I

Team Overall Conference

Western Pike 8-4 7-1

Eastern 8-4 7-1

East 7-5 5-3

Symmes Valley 5-8 4-4

Clay 3-10 3-5

Notre Dame 4-8 3-5

Green 2-9 2-6

New Boston 1-10 1-7

SOC II

Team Overall Conference

Oak Hill 12-2 7-2

Valley 11-3 7-2

Wheelersburg 10-3 7-2

Minford 10-4 6-3

Waverly 8-4 6-3

Northwest 4-7 2-7

South Webster 2-10 1-8

Portsmouth West 2-10 0-9

SEOAL South

Team Overall Conference

Chillicothe 9-3 6-2

Ironton 10-4 5-2

Portsmouth 6-5 2-5

Jackson 3-11 2-5

Gallia Academy 5-8 1-6

SVC

Team Overall Conference

Piketon 12-2 8-2

Westfall 11-5 8-2

Zane Trace 9-4 7-3

Adena 10-4 6-4

Huntington 8-6 6-4

Southeastern 4-10 3-7

Paint Valley 4-11 1-9

Unioto 1-11 1-9