A few fortunate girls soccer and football teams are still playing games, but that won’t stop the high school basketball season from beginning on Monday with the first day of practice.

We’re working on our previews of the Narrows League, SPSL North, SPSL South, SPSL 3A, WCC, Nisqually League and Evergreen Conference.

We’re also finalizing our league champion predictions and Top 10 rankings for each classification. Last year, the TNT pegged Federal Way (4A boys), Kentwood (4A girls), Kennedy (3A girls), Squalicum (2A boys) and Vashon (1A boys) as preseason No. 1 teams and all five went on to win a state title. Not a bad effort.

So, what teams are your pick to win it all?

There’s nothing like an old-fashioned, league rivalry — Federal Way vs. Kentwood, Lincoln vs. Mount Tahoma, Puyallup vs. Curtis, anyone? — to warm up a gym in the winter. We’ve got quite a few intriguing non-league matchups, too. Here are some of the best involving South Sound teams:

Boys: Lincoln at Federal Way, 7 p.m. Dec. 1
Experienced Abes take on the defending 4A state champion Eagles.

Dec. 12 at Bellevue College

Girls: Auburn Riverside vs. Kennedy, noon
Can the Ravens continue to win with third coach in three seasons? Lancers are reigning queens of 3A.

Boys: Squalicum vs. Vashon, 5 p.m.
Two defending state champions go head-to-head.

Dec. 28-30 at Spokane
Curtis, Ferris, Foss, Kentridge, Lewis & Clark, Shadle Park, Lake City (Idaho) and South Kamloops (BC) will get together. I don’t know the full schedule, but Curtis plays Ferris on Dec. 28.

Dec. 29 at Gonzaga Prep

Boys: Gonzaga Prep vs. Bellarmine Prep
Bullpups rebound-machine Ryan Nicholas will test the Lions’ inside game, toughness

Jan. 18 at Hec Edmundsen Pavilion

Boys: Rainier Beach vs. Decatur, 4 p.m.
Two perennial playoff contenders with some talented players