West Branch senior Haley Mullinnix. Photo by Norv Coblentz.By Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports

Game of the Week
Class 5A No. 2 City High (5-0) at 5A No. 5 West High (5-0)

The first meeting of the season between cross-town rivals City High and West High is a 5A top-five battle of unbeatens.

City High won both meetings last season including a 70-67 win at West High after the Women of Troy won both meetings during the 2014-2015 season.

West High is holding opponents to 43.4 points per game and hasn’t allowed more than 47 points in a game this season.

City High is averaging 64.4 points per game and hasn’t scored less than 55 points in a game.

Both teams are led by scorers that rank in the top 10 in 5A.

City High junior Ashley Joens leads four Little Hawks averaging in double figures at 18.4 points per game while West High junior Logan Cook ranks fifth in 5A with 19.2 points per game.

What to Watch
Regina (5-0) will get its first big test this season when it hosts Class 3A ninth-ranked Monticello on Tuesday in a meeting of River Valley Conference division leaders.

The Regals have won their first five games by an average of 38 points and haven’t had a game decided by less than 23 points.

Monticello (5-0) is led by junior Lauren Ries (15.4 ppg) and Taylor McDonald (12.2 ppg).

The two teams have split the last two meetings with Regina winning 44-39 last season in Monticello.

Keep An Eye On
Replacing three starters from last season’s state tournament team West Branch hasn’t skipped a beat over the first few weeks of the season.

The Bears have opened the season 5-1 and won three straight since a home loss to Monticello on Dec. 2.

West Branch will be tested over the final 10 days before the holiday break with three consecutive games against ranked teams.

The stretch begins with a road contest against 2A No. 12 Cascade followed by a trip to 2A top-ranked Regina on Friday.

West Branch hosts 3A No. 11 on Dec. 19 and Mid-Prairie on the Dec. 20.

Rankings Update
City High and West High both climbed two spots in the Class 5A rankings released by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union last week.

West High climbed two spots to fifth while City High moved to second behind Indianola which replaced Davenport North in the top spot.

Regina remained atop the Class 2A rankings for the third straight week.

Other top-ranked teams include Pella (4A), Pocahontas Area (3A) and Springville (1A).

The Schedule
Tuesday Dec. 13
5A No. 2 City High (5-0) at 5A No. 5 West High (5-0)
Clear Creek Amana (3-3) at Vinton-Shellsburg (0-5)
Anamosa (3-3) at Solon (2-4)
3A No. 9 Monticello (5-0) at 2A No. 1 Regina (5-0)
West Branch (5-1) at 2A No. 12 Cascade (5-0)

Friday Dec. 16
City High (5-0) at Dubuque Senior (1-5)
Waterloo East (2-5) at West High (5-0)
Solon (2-4) at Dyersville Beckman (4-2)
South Tama (2-4) at Clear Creek Amana (3-3)
West Branch (5-1) at 2A No. 1 Regina (5-0)