By Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

Game of the Week

2A No. 1 Regina (18-0) vs. West Branch (11-7)

River Valley Conference rivals collide for the second time this season when Regina travels to West Branch on Tuesday.

Regina owns the state’s longest active regular season winning streak at 40 in a row with the last loss for the Regals outside of the state tournament a 49-35 setback at West Branch on February 6 of 2015.

The Regals have won three straight in the series since including a 46-44 thriller in the last game at West Branch last season and a 70-50 win in the first matchup between the two teams this year.

Regina has wrapped up the River Valley Conference South Division and is four wins away from a second consecutive unbeaten regular season.

West Branch has won three of its last four after back-to-back losses to Wilton and Mid-Prairie and closes out the regular season with three straight home games.

Tuesday’s matchup could be a preview of the 2A Region 7 title game if both teams can win back-to-back postseason contests.

What to Watch

As the regular season enters the home stretch it is usually key conference games that get highlighted on the schedule.

This week brings some interesting non-conference contests, highlighted by a pair of intriguing Saturday showdowns.

Regina, Clear Creek Amana, City High and West High all step out of conference for games in the second to last week of the regular season.

City High goes out of state, hosting Moline (Illinois) on Saturday.

Moline is 15-9 on the season and 1-1 against Iowa competition falling to Pleasant Valley 58-41 and defeating Cedar Rapids Washington 58-56.

Regina hosts 5A Cedar Rapids Kennedy (4-13) on Saturday in its final non-conference tune up.

Of the 13 losses for the Cougars, seven have come to ranked opponents.

Keep an Eye On

Solon can keep its scouting reports on Maquoketa handy, the Spartans will be needing them plenty this week.

Inclement weather conditions forced Solon to postpone its game at Maquoketa originally scheduled for January 10 to Monday.

The rematch between the two teams in Solon was scheduled for Friday, meaning the two WAMAC East foes will play twice in five days.

Solon has lost three of its last four after falling to Dyersville Beckman in overtime on Thursday while Maquoketa has won three of four after its three-game win streak ended with a loss to Central DeWitt on Friday.

The Schedule

Monday Jan. 30

Solon (6-11) at Maquoketa (7-9)

Tuesday Jan. 31

Mount Pleasant (9-7) at 5A No. 3 West High (14-3)

Solon (6-11) at West Delaware (7-10)

2A No. 1 Regina (18-0) at West Branch (11-7)

Clear Creek Amana (9-7) at Williamsburg (6-13)

Friday Feb. 3

Dubuque Senior (1-16) at 5A No. 3 West High (14-3)

5A No. 5 City High (16-1) at Waterloo East (4-12)

Maquoketa (7-9) at Solon (6-11)

2A No. 1 Regina (18-0) at Camanche (14-6)

Clear Creek Amana (9-7) at Independence (2-15)

West Liberty (0-19) at West Branch (11-7)

Saturday Feb. 4

Moline (Illinois) (15-9) at 5A No. 5 City High (16-1)

Cedar Rapids Kennedy (4-13) at Regina (18-0)

Clear Creek Amana (9-7) at Washington (3-11)