Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

Game of the Week

5A No. 1 City High at 5A No. 3 West High

Round one in the cross-town battle between Class 5A heavyweights City High and West High belonged to the Little Hawks.

West High gets a shot at a rematch on Tuesday.

Top-ranked City High (15-0) outscored West High 24-9 in the fourth quarter in a 53-40 win on December 12.

City High has won 10 straight games by 14 points or more since its victory over West High including a 75-61 win over Regina on Saturday.

West High (11-4) has lost two of its last three, falling to Bolingbrook, Illinois and No. 15 West Des Moines Valley last week.

Other Games to Watch

West Branch at Belle Plaine: The Bears step out of conference on Thursday to face a Belle Plaine team that has won four straight.   

Wilton at Regina: The Regals won 65-41 at Wilton on December 9 and will go for the season sweep on Saturday in Iowa City.

Cedar Falls at West High: The fifth straight game for West High against a ranked in-state team comes at home on Friday against second-ranked Cedar Falls.

Player to Watch

Kiana Barney, Sr., Cedar Falls

Defending 5A runner-up Cedar Falls is a legitimate title contender and Barney is a big reason why.

The 6-foot-2 senior is a matchup problem on both ends of the court.

Barney averages 11.4 points per game and adds 4.5 rebounds 2.3 steals and 1.7 blocks per game for the Tigers.

Who’s Hot

Ashley Joens, Sr., City High

Joens started the season on fire and hasn’t ever cooled off but her two games last week were impressive even by her high standards.

The 6-foot senior averaged 32 points, 9.5 rebounds, five assists and five steals in wins over Cedar Rapids Jefferson and Regina.

Joens had 35 points in the win over Regina, her fifth game this season with 30 or more points.

Schedule

Tuesday

5A No. 1 City High (15-0) at 5A No. 3 West High (11-4)

2A No. 7 Regina (11-4) at West Liberty (2-14)

Anamosa (13-3) at Solon (5-11)

Clear Creek Amana (8-6) at Vinton-Shellsburg (0-14)

Thursday

West Branch (11-5) at Belle Plaine (11-4)

Friday

5A No. 2 Cedar Falls (15-1) at 5A No. 3 West High (11-4)

5A No. 1 City High (15-0) at Dubuque Hempstead (12-3)

4A No. 11 Fairfield (11-3) at Liberty High (5-10)

2A No. 7 Regina (11-4) at Northeast (3-14)

Solon (5-11) at Dyersville Beckman (10-6)

South Tama (7-7) at Clear Creek Amana (8-6)

North Cedar (8-8) at West Branch (11-5)

Saturday

5A No. 3 West High (11-4) vs. Montini Catholic (Illinois)

Wilton (11-6) at 2A No. 7 Regina (11-4)