Here they are, five teams that have caught my attention over the past two weeks:

1. Meeteetse girls basketball: Finally, the losing streak is over for the Longhorn girls. It had reached 47 games and spanned parts of three seasons, but finally, Meeteetse was on the winning end, beating Chugwater 37-32 to break the streak. Since then, the Longhorns have won two more games and and are 3-3 overall. So, my trivia question for you now is this: Which girls team now has the longest active losing streak?

2. Meeteetse boys basketball: While we're at it, let's stay in Park County, where the Longhorn boys have quietly put together a 7-0 start. You could call this the potatoes portion of the Longhorns' schedule; the meat will come later. And starting off with back-to-back games against Wind River and St. Stephens after Christmas break will certainly test the Longhorns' early success.

3. Powell wrestling: With Star Valley gone, someone had to step up and fill the void in Class 3A. So far, it's been the Panthers, who have looked sharp this month and finished second to 4A power Natrona at the Worland Duals last weekend. Of course, Wheatland, Douglas, Torrington and the rest of the 3A bretheren are not-so-quietly waiting in the wings....

4. Newcastle boys basketball: There is a lot to like about the Dogies. A lot. Athletic, experienced and on a bit of a roll, Newcastle went 3-0 last week, and in the process knocked off Class 2A's top-ranked team, Sundance. That's no small feat. Watch out, the Dogies are for real.

5. Lusk wrestling: The way the Tigers blitzed the Wright Duals was almost scary. No surprise, though. Lusk is consistenly one of the top teams in 2A, and this year is no exception.

There it is, a simple cross-section of some teams that are looking good early in the season. Feel free to add to the list by posting a comment below.

Posted by patrick.schmiedt@trib.com