Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

When he revamped his team’s non-conference schedule prior to this season Regina coach Jeff Wallace did so in an attempt to test his team.

The Regals have already face a pair of non-conference tests this season but according to Wallace the toughest and most anticipated matchup awaits on Saturday.

Class 5A top-ranked City High (13-0) makes a short trip across eastern Iowa City to take on 2A eighth-ranked Regina (10-3) on Saturday at 7 p.m.

“It’s going to be a massive challenge for us,” Wallace said. “We played the best team in Missouri earlier this year and I think City High offers more mismatches for us than that team did.”

In its first two non-conference games this season Regina lost to Incarnate Word Academy of St. Louis 63-58 in December and edged Cedar Rapids Xavier 49-44 earlier this month.

City High defeated Xavier 72-46 its last time out behind a double-double by senior Ashley Joens who was recently named a finalist for the Naismith National High School Player of the Year Award.

Joens averages a state-best 29.1 points per game to lead four City High players scoring in double figures.

“They are unbelievably talented,” Wallace said. “They are playing really well together, they are aggressive and then they have one of the best players to come out of Iowa in a while in Ashley Joens. They are going to be a handful.”

The east side rivalry isn’t all new to Wallace or City High coach Bill McTaggart.

Regina and City High split a pair of games during the first stint for Wallace at Regina.

Wallace is excited for the return of the matchup between two of the most successful programs in the state over the past several seasons.

Regina is 82-9 over the past four seasons while City High is 69-14 during that stretch.

“I’m really grateful that coach McTaggart and (City High athletic director) Terry Coleman helped put this on, they could have easily gone a different direction but I think it’s really exciting for Iowa City basketball,” Wallace said. “I think a lot of people are looking forward to this. I think it’s going to be a fun night.”

Both teams enter Saturday night red hot.

City High has won eight straight by at least 26 points while Regina has won four straight in 2018 after closing December with a loss to sixth-ranked Cascade.

Regina has benefitted from the January return of senior all-stater Mary Crompton who missed the first nine games with a knee injury.

Crompton is averaging 16.5 points in four games since her returning, including a season-high 23 in a win at Mid-Prairie on Tuesday.

“We are focusing on the big picture here, we put a lot of emphasis on the regular season and the conference championship but our main focus is trying to play really well when it really counts at tournament time,” Wallace said. “Not only having everyone healthy but having everyone playing well, that’s the key.”

City High Still Unbeaten

As the list of unbeaten teams across the state continues Class 5A top-ranked City High keeps on rolling.

City High (13-0) is one of only 14 remaining undefeated teams in the state and joins Pleasant Valley (14-0) as the only unbeaten teams in 5A.

‘Gauntlet’ Gets Tougher For West High

Last season West High coach BJ Mayer referred to the week stretch in which his team faced top-five opponents City High, West Des Moines Valley and Cedar Falls as the gauntlet.

This season the gauntlet gets longer and more difficult for the Women of Troy.

West High added games with powerful Illinois programs Bolingbrook and Montini Catholic to bookend a seven-day stretch that features four straight games against ranked teams.

The Women of Troy host No. 10 Cedar Rapids Prairie on Friday and travel to defending state champion West Des Moines Dowling on Saturday.

Next week features Mississippi Valley Conference home games with the top two ranked teams in Class 5A in No. 1 City High and No. 2 Cedar Falls.

The stretch closes with a contest against Montini Catholic in Peoria on January 27.

Joens Piling Up Double-doubles

Since the moment she stepped on the court three seasons ago Ashley Joens has been a double-double machine.

Joens had 23 double-doubles in her first three seasons at City High.

This season the 6-foot senior has already posted 10 double-doubles, including seven straight, and is averaging a double-double on the season with a state-leading 29.1 points and 10.9 rebounds per game.

Performances of the Week

City High senior Ashley Joens had 36 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in an 83-46 win over Cedar Rapids Washington.

Regina senior Mary Crompton had 17 points, three assists and three steals in a 77-30 win over Durant.

Solon junior Taylor Ryan had 26 points and made five 3-pointers in a 52-49 loss to Maquoketa.

Clear Creek Amana sophomore Meagan Harvey had 16 points in a 60-33 win over Independence.

West High junior Cailyn Morgan had 11 points, 10 rebounds and three steals in a 72-50 win over Cedar Rapids Washington.