West Branch junior Tatum Koenig. Photo by Norv Coblentz.By Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports

Game of the Week
Camanche (6-3) at West Branch (5-3)
Camanche dropped out of the Class 2A rankings this week so technically West Branch will not have a stretch of three straight games against ranked opponents.

That doesn’t make the Bears’ pre-holiday schedule any less imposing.

West Branch closes its December schedule with games on back-to-back days beginning with Monday’s River Valley Conference cross-divisional contest with the Indians.

The three losses for Camanche have come to ranked RVC North opponents Monticello, Cascade and Bellevue by a combined 12 points.

Camanche has perhaps the best post duo in the RVC in 6-foot-1 senior Courtney Schnoor and 6-foot-2 junior Lea Lefebure.

The duo averages a combined 25.7 points, 16.8 rebounds and 6.2 blocks per game.

What to Watch
City High and West High are each ranked in the top three in Class 5A and sit atop their respective divisions in the Mississippi Valley Conference.

Both teams will attempt to stay in those positions on Tuesday as they close out 2016 by hosting MVC opponents.

City High closes out its pre-holiday schedule by hosting Cedar Rapids Jefferson while West High hosts Cedar Rapids Prairie in its final game before the holiday break.

Keep An Eye On
When defending Regina teams rightfully put a lot of energy and attention into attempting to slow Mary Crompton and Alex Wiese.

Sarah Lehman has spent the past few weeks making teams pay.

The senior forward has scored in double figures in six straight games and is averaging 14.2 points and 5.5 rebounds per game during that stretch.

Lehman is shooting better than 56 percent from the floor and averaging 13.2 points per game this season.

Rankings Update
City High remained second and West High climbed two spots to third in the Class 5A rankings released by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union.

Despite a one-point, overtime loss to its cross-town rival on Tuesday, West High moved up to its highest ranking of the season.

Indianola remained atop the 5A rankings for the second straight week.

Regina remained No. 1 in Class 2A as the top 12 went unchanged.

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

The Schedule
Monday Dec. 19
Benton (1-6) at 2A No. 1 Regina (7-0)
Camanche (6-3) at West Branch (5-3)
South Tama (3-4) at Clear Creek Amana (4-3)

Tuesday Dec. 20
Cedar Rapids Prairie (2-7) at 5A No. 3 West High (6-1)
Mid-Prairie (4-3) at West Branch (5-3)
Cedar Rapids Jefferson (4-4) at 5A No. 2 City High (7-0)