By Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

Game of the Week

5A No. 12 Linn-Mar (9-2) at 5A No. 3 West High (9-1)

The meeting of ranked Mississippi Valley Conference foes on Tuesday won’t count toward the Mississippi Division standings, that distinction is reserved for the February 7th rematch in Marion.

Tuesday’s showdown in Iowa City will have to settle for being a non-conference matchup of two of the hottest 5A teams in Eastern Iowa.

Third-ranked West High has won four straight and No. 12 Linn-Mar has won five in a row since a loss to Cedar Rapids Xavier.

Both teams are coming off big wins over highly ranked 4A squads at rivalry Saturday in Cedar Rapids.

West High rallied for a 57-53 win over 4A top-ranked Pella while Linn-Mar earned a 50-43 win over second-ranked Marion.

Linn-Mar is led by 5-foot-9 junior Kamryn Finley, a Northern Iowa commit that is averaging 16.3 points per game.

What to Watch

Regina (10-0) is one of nine remaining undefeated teams in Class 2A.

One of the top obstacles standing behind the Regals and a second consecutive unbeaten regular season comes on Saturday in the form of No. 12 Cascade (9-1).

Regina has been dominant through 10 games.

The Regals haven’t played a game decided by less than 13 points and are winning games by an average of better than 33 points.

Cascade is holding opponents to 36.5 points per game, its lone loss a 12-point setback to seventh-ranked North Linn.

Regina defeated Cascade 51-46 last season in Cascade.

Keep An Eye On

With consecutive wins to open 2017 Clear Creek Amana is already closing in on its season win total from a season ago.

The Clippers improved to 6-4 with its first back-to-back wins of the season, downing Maquoketa and Williamsburg last week.

Clear Creek Amana hosts winless Independence on Tuesday and with a victory can come within one win of matching last year’s eight wins.

With 11 games remaining the Clippers have a chance to reach the 13-win mark of two seasons ago with a strong finish to the season.

The Schedule

Tuesday Jan. 10

Class 5A No. 12 Linn-Mar (9-2) at Class 5A No. 3 West High (9-1)

Class 5A No. 2 City High (11-0) at Cedar Rapids Washington (5-5)

Solon (4-7) at Maquoketa (4-7)

Durant (3-9) at Class 2A No. 1 Regina (10-0)

Wilton (6-6) at West Branch (8-4)

Independence (0-11) at Clear Creek Amana (6-4)

Friday Jan. 13

Class 5A No. 3 West High (9-1) at Cedar Rapids Washington (5-5)

Class 4A No. 7 Cedar Rapids Xavier (7-5) at Class 5A No. 2 City High (11-0)

Solon (4-7) at 3A No. 12 Mount Vernon (7-4)

Clear Creek Amana (6-4) at Class 4A No. 2 Marion (10-1)

West Branch (8-4) at Mid-Prairie (7-3)

Saturday Jan. 14

Class 2A No. 11 Cascade (9-1) at Class 2A No. 1 Regina (10-0)