As the second crosstown basketball battle of the season nears, it appears the girls’ programs from Flathead and Glacier are trending up.

The girls start Friday’s action at the Glacier “Wolf Den” at 6 p.m.; the boys’ game will follow and match a Flathead team with one win in its last seven games against a Glacier squad that, after starting the season 7-3, has dropped five straight.

Meanwhile Flathead’s Bravettes have won two of their last four and the Wolfpack girls five of eight.

“I would like to think we are still on the up-and-up,” Glacier girls’ coach Amanda Cram said Thursday. “As far as the first night compared to Crosstown II? I think Flathead and Glacier are playing much better these days.”

Glacier (7-8, 6-5 in the Western AA) has been led by the trio of Aubrie Rademacher (13.5 points, 5.2 rebounds a game), Ellie Keller (10.6 and 4.7) and Emma Anderson (9.5 points, 7.8 rebounds).

It’s a trio that has caused headaches for a lot of teams, and it was Keller that scored all of her 13 points in the second half of the Pack’s 51-49 win over Flathead in the first crosstown.

Flathead (5-10, 3-8) is led by Jenna Johnson, who averages 11.3 points, and Clare Converse, who comes in at 7.2 points and 4.7 rebounds.

Johnson poured in 22 points Friday as the Bravettes won 56-52 at Butte – a 32-point turnaround from a 67-39 home loss to the Bulldogs in January. Bridget Crowley added nine big points off the bench for Flathead.

The Bravettes were nursing a 52-51 lead when, according to Buttesports.com, Maddy Moy missed a free throw but Kennedy Kanter rebounded and found Johnson for her sixth 3-pointer with 19 seconds left. That cinched it.

“They’ve been a great ballclub all season,” Cram said of the Bravettes. “It just hasn’t shown on their record.”

“We have to play our game and play with confidence and composure.”

Glacier’s girls and boys both executed comebacks to win the previous crosstown games, with the Wolfpack boys surging back to win 45-40 on Jan. 24.

Flathead (3-12. 2-9) has some balance, led by Joston Cripe’s 12 points a game.

“He’s been giving us 10-15 points a game, and he’s playing a lot better defensively and he’s taking care of the ball,” Flathead coach Ross Gustafson said. “He’s continuing to score but I like all the other things he’s doing for us as well.”

Gabe Adams adds 11 points and a team-best 6.9 rebounds a game. Hunter Hickey scores 8.5 per game.

Glacier (7-8, 4-7) has been a drive, draw and dish to the arc team: Drew Engellant (10.1 ppg) and Weston Price (11.1 ppg) go inside and out, but KJ Johnson and Michael Schwarz were taking six out of every seven shots from beyond the arc before Johnson got hurt in a loss at Missoula Big Sky.

“That’s one less weapon for them, but they still have a lot of other guys that can shoot the ball,” Gustafson said.

Flathead allowed just 13 3-point attempts to Glacier the first time around. Price shoots 55 percent from the field, including 45 percent from the arc.

Engellant is the top rebounder at 6.1 a game; Keifer Spohnhauer is another prolific 3-point shooter for the Wolfpack.

“I think it’s just two teams that are really hungry for a win,” Gustafson said. “One of them’s going to get one tomorrow night. We’ll need to play well to beat them on their home floor.”