BALTIMORE (Map, News) - The girls lacrosse game I want to watch this spring would pit the John Carroll Patriots against the Severna Park Falcons. John Carroll, the first Maryland team to beat Mount Hebron in 10 years, is 13-0 in the tough Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference, outscoring opponents 192-83.

The Falcons haven't lost since 2006 and have made mincemeat of every opponent this spring. Untested in the Anne Arundel County public school league, the Falcons also topped county private school rivals Severn and St. Mary's by a combined 28-12. Overall, they have outgunned the opposition 178-52 in 10 games.

So who's the team of this year? Unless a spoiler steps up, we'll never know.

The Baltimore area is blessed with some excellent public and private school teams. But because there are so many fine teams playing in different leagues, it's often impossible to crown the best of the best.

And while that is true in many sports, girls' lacrosse is as good an example as can be found in recent years. For the past 11 years, Mount Hebron has dominated the local girls' lacrosse scene, claiming a state title every year and drawing immeasurable national acclaim. But in several seasons, there were powerhouse private schools that appeared — at least statistically — to have a shot at knocking off the queen of the hill. It couldn't happen though, because the Vikings were locked into a state-mandated number of games, limited non-conference games and a schedule that had to be finalized long before the season began.

There was no flexibility to watch top teams develop and fit in a late-season game.

And the challenge isn't just a private versus public school issue. The Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association maintains a tiered playoff system. With 188 schools divided into three classifications based on enrollment for boys and girls lacrosse, it's a way to crown champions of similar-sized schools. It's also a way to have more student athletes enjoy top regional and state tournament competition. But it is not a way to determine the best teams. In some years, the best two teams may well play in a regional semifinal or final, with the winner then breezing through the state tournament. There also is tiered play in private leagues, such as the IAAM, which tries to put teams of similar ability together.

Open tournaments during the season provide limited opportunities for non-league competition. Some of these, including the Roland Sally E. Nyborg Field Hockey Invitational in the fall, the Mount Hebron girls’ Spring Lacrosse Tournament last weekend and the Anne Arundel Community College girls lacrosse tournament earlier this season allow for inter-conference play.

Unfortunately, tradition trumps talent at some of these tournaments, so emerging stars aren't always included. And the early season games don't always show how teams filled in gaps in their game and how coaches brought out the best in players.

For that, we need a postseason tournament of champions, or at least a single Baltimore's Best game. Call it whatever you want.

But find a way to give quiet all those bloggers arguing over the best. It's fairer than comparing stats, which doesn't show who runs up scores or empties benches. It makes more sense than comparing scores against common opponents, which doesn't account for time of the season.

Severna Park topped Severn, 14-8, on March 22, and John Carroll beat the Admirals, 10-9, on March 26. That might mean the Falcons could defeat the Patriots by five. But it also might mean the Falcons played their freshest, healthiest, most adrenaline-filled game at Anne Arundel Community College that night. It may mean the Patriots were just warming up in their second game of the season. It might even show the Patriots have strength in tighter games.

That's why the best teams — in soccer, basketball, field hockey and lacrosse at the least — should play at the end of the season. Let a small committee of coaches, referees and perhaps sports writers pick the teams and let league officials handle the time and location details. A number of counties manage to host senior showcase games with ease, so it can be done.

In the end, such a contest would show who made it through the season in the best shape, developing all along the way. It would be the top challenge for coaches, too. And a blast for the fans.