High school basketball in The Huntsville Times metro area this season has been extraordinary. Not only has six-time girls defending champion Hazel Green and the 2022-23 champ Buckhorn boys continued to roll through their schedules, but there were 10 other girls’ teams in the final Alabama Sports Writers Association top 10 polls and eight boys’ teams ranked among the best.

Perhaps the most difficult part of choosing five teams that have best chance to walk away with an AHSAA blue map title trophy this year is narrowing it down to just five. There are plenty of excellent coaches who have their squads in position to make a big splash over the next two weeks.

Here are the five team that stand out the most the rest of the way:

5. Austin boys (27-5)

ASWA Ranking: Class 7A No. 2