Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

After a two-week holiday break basketball season in back in full swing.

Area teams return to action for the first time in 2025 this week with games on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Before the action really gets rolling in 2025 Your Prep Sports takes a moment to reset the season, look back and also take a look ahead for all seven area teams.

West High

Record: 4-2

How’d it get here: West High opened the season with consecutive non-conference wins over Clear Creek Amana, Davenport West and Burlington before back-to-back road losses to Mississippi Valley Conference opponents Cedar Falls and Dubuque Wahlert. The Trojans closed 2024 with a 57-53 home win over City High.

Who is standing out: Senior forward Jack McCaffery continues to produce at an all-state level. The Butler recruit is averaging 24.8 points per game on 49 percent shooting to go with 7.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2 blocked shots per game.

Who’s stepped up: Back from a knee injury that ended his sophomore season Mason Goering has gotten right back into rhythm averaging 8.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.2 steals and 1 blocked shot per game.

Stat that stands out: Six games into the season West High ranks 45 out of 48 Class 4A teams in 3-point shooting at 23 percent (19-of-83). The Trojans haven’t shot worse than 32.2 percent from 3 for the season in more than 15 seasons. West High has good shooters so the 3-point percentage should climb as the season goes on which will make the Trojans a more dangerous offensive team.

Best win: The Trojans’ 57-53 win over two-win City High on December 20 doesn’t jump off the page but the Trojans held off an inspired effort from its biggest rival while playing without its top rebounder and second-leading scorer in Julian Manson.

Next game: West High hosts Cedar Rapids Washington (3-3) on Thursday.

Toughest remaining game: West High has three huge games remaining, at Linn-Mar (5-1) on January 28, at home against Cedar Falls (5-0) on February 7 and at Cedar Rapids Kennedy (4-1) on February 11. Cedar Falls is likely the best of those teams but road games at Kennedy and Linn-Mar will be plenty tough as well.

What’s next?: West High opens 2025 with a flurry playing three games in five days. West High hosts Cedar Rapids Washington on Tuesday, faces Davenport Assumption (2-4) at the Alliant Energy Powerhouse in Cedar Rapids on Saturday and hosts cross-town rival Liberty High (1-5) on January 7.

City High

Record: 2-6

How’d it get here: After opening the season with a road win at Ottumwa the Little Hawks lost four straight before a home win over Liberty High on December 12. City High dropped its final two games before break to Class 4A contenders Dubuque Senior and West High.

Who is standing out: Junior forward Christopher Watkins has been a nice early surprise for the Little Hawks averaging a team-high 12.9 points and 6.9 rebounds per game while shooting 66 percent from the field.

Who’s stepped up: Senior Parker Sutherland was one of only a handful of Little Hawks returning with experience and the 6-foot-6 post has taken his production up a notch averaging 6.3 points while leading the Little Hawks with 7 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots per game.

Stat that stands out: Numerous stats including field goal percentage, 3-point percentage, rebounds and points per game are nearly identical for City High this season as they were during a 3-5 start to the season a year ago. The stat that isn’t the same is turnovers. City High averaged 13.9 turnovers in its first eight game last season but is averaging 17 turnovers per game this season. With its post players if the Little Hawks can cut down on turnovers they could pile up some wins in 2025.

Best win: A 59-53 victory over cross-town rival Liberty High snapped a four-game losing streak for City High and ended a five-game losing skid to the Lightning that dated back to 2022.

Next game: City High travels to Burlington (2-5) on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.

Toughest remaining game: In the Mississippi Valley Conference there are always going to be plenty of challenging games on the schedule but the most difficult remaining contest for City High is a January 10 road trip to Cedar Falls (5-0).

What’s next?: After opening 2025 with a trip to Burlington the Little Hawks enter their toughest stretch of the season, a five-game gauntlet that starts with a home game against Cedar Rapids Prairie (3-1) followed by the road game at Cedar Falls and home games against Dubuque Wahlert (4-1), Linn-Mar (5-1) and West High (4-2).

Liberty High

Record: 1-5

How’d it get here: Liberty High opened the season with four consecutive losses to Davenport Central, Clear Creek Amana, City High and Ankeny Centennial before a 83-61 road win at Dubuque Hempstead. The Lightning lost at Linn-Mar 96-58 in its final game of 2024.

Who is standing out: Sophomore Jerimiah Washpun was impressive last season but has upped every element of his game this season. Washpun is averaging a team-high 18.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1 steal per game.

Who’s stepped up: Sophomore Brady Randall has provided a big boost in the first extended action of his career averaging 12.8 points and a team-high 7 rebounds per game while shooting 56 percent from the floor including 45 percent from 3-point range.

Stat that stands out: During a 3-4 start to the season last December Liberty High gave up more than 62 points three times while allowing an average of 60.7 points per game. This season the Lightning have allowed more than 62 points in four of six games and are giving up 68.5 points per game.

Best win: Liberty High was in need of a win after an 0-4 start and got one with an 83-61 victory at Dubuque Hempstead in which the Lightning scored a season-high in points and shot 51 percent from the floor.

Next game: Liberty High will host Cedar Rapids Jefferson (1-5) on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Toughest remaining game: The Lightning still have several games remaining against the big dogs of the MVC including another game with Linn-Mar (5-1), two more with West High (4-2) and home games with Dubuque Senior (4-0), Dubuque Wahlert (4-1) and Cedar Rapids Kennedy (4-1). Still the toughest left on the schedule is a January 21 trip to Cedar Falls (5-0).

What’s next?: After opening 2025 at home against Cedar Rapids Jefferson the Lightning face Bettendorf (4-2) at the Alliant Energy Powerhouse in Cedar Rapids on Saturday. The big stretch for Liberty High begins in late January and features consecutive games with Cedar Falls, Linn-Mar, West High and Dubuque Senior before a rematch with City High, a road trip to Cedar Rapids Xavier (4-1) and a home game against Cedar Rapids Kennedy.

Clear Creek Amana

Record: 4-3

How’d it get here: Clear Creek Amana opened the season 1-3 while stepping up in Class before closing out December with three consecutive wins over WAMAC opponents. The Clippers lost to Class 4A teams West High and Cedar Rapids Kennedy and Solon and won at 4A Liberty High during its 1-3 start before posting wins over Independence, Grinnell and Williamsburg to close 2024.

Who is standing out: Senior forward Robert Meade has gotten off to a strong start averaging 12.3 points and a team-high 4.9 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game whole shooting 57 percent from the floor.

Who’s stepped up: It’s been a balanced effort for the Clippers across the board and senior forward Brody Clubb has been a big part of that balance in all areas. Clubb is averaging 9.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, a team-high 3.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game after missing most of last season with an injury.

Stat that stands out: In four wins this season Clear Creek Amana has averaged 71.5 points per game. In its three losses the Clippers have been held to 43.3 points per game.

Best win: The best win of the season for the Clippers was also likely the biggest victory to date as Clear Creek Amana snapped a two-game losing skid to start the season with an emphatic 65-42 win at Liberty High.

Next game: Clear Creek Amana hosts Marion (3-4) on Saturday at 3 p.m.

Toughest remaining game: Clear Creek Amana’s mini MVC run concludes on January 11 when the Clippers host Cedar Rapids Prairie (3-1) in its fourth matchup of the season with an MVC opponent.

What’s next?: The Clippers open 2025 with three consecutive games against WAMAC East Division opponents in Marion (3-4), Center Point-Urbana (5-1) and West Delaware  (2-5) before hosting Prairie.

Solon

Record: 3-3

How’d it get here: Solon started the season 2-0 with back-to-back wins over Maquoketa and Clear Creek Amana before losing three of its final four games with road losses to Grinnell, Mount Vernon and Center Point-Urbana.

Who is standing out: One of the lone players returning with experience Caleb Bock needed to produce and the senior has done just that leading Solon in scoring (10.8), rebounding (8.6) and assists (2.4) while shooting 50 percent from the floor.

Who’s stepped up: Sophomore Grant Gordon has provided a much-needed offensive boost off the bench averaging 6.2 points per game while shooting 50 percent from the field. Gordon is also averaging 3.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game.

Stat that stands out: In six games Solon has had seven different players score in double figures. Solon has nine players averaging between 3.8 and 10.8 points per game and that balance will be key especially if the Spartans can get their rotational pieces working together.

Best win: The 57-47 win over Clear Creek Amana on December 6 looked plenty good at the time but continues to look better as Clear Creek Amana closed 2024 with three consecutive wins.

Next game: Solon travels to Mid-Prairie (6-0) on Saturday at 5:15 p.m.

Toughest remaining game: The two most difficult remaining WAMAC games for the Spartans, rematches with Center Point-Urbana and Mount Vernon are both at home and come in a span of four days. Solon hosts Mount Vernon (7-0) on January 24 and Center Point-Urbana (5-1) on January 28.

What’s next?: After a trip to Wellman to face unbeaten Mid-Prairie in the 2025 opener the schedule opens up for Solon with four consecutive games against teams currently under .500.

A critical week-long stretch for Solon begins with the back-to-back home games against WAMAC leaders Mount Vernon and Center Point-Urbana before road trips to Marion (3-4) and Regina (6-1).

Regina

Record: 6-1

How’d it get here: For the second year in a row the Regals got off to a slow start but kicked things into gear quickly. After a season-opening loss at Northeast the Regals have rattled off six straight wins by an average of more than 17 points per game and closed December with three straight victories over River Valley Conference South Division foes.

Who is standing out: Sophomore Will Litton has played at an all-state level to open the season averaging a double-double with 19.6 points and 10.9 rebounds per game while shooting 74 percent from the field. Litton is also averaging 2.4 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.3 blocked shots per game.

Who’s stepped up: Senior Tate Lynch has excelled as a floor-stretching shooter in his first extended varsity action. Lynch is shooting 43 percent from 3-point range and leads the Regals with 17 3-pointers while averaging 11 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.

Stat that stands out: Regina ranks eighth in Class 2A in field goal percentage shooting 49 percent from the floor. The top five scorers for Regina are all shooting 41 percent or better led by Litton and sophomore Tate Wallace (54 percent).

Best win: Regina doesn’t have a marquee victory on its resume yet but the Regals do have several quality wins including a 40-point victory over 4-2 Lisbon, a win over Class 3A Benton Community and a rivalry win over West Branch.

Next game: Regina hosts Durant (2-5) on Friday at 8 p.m.

Toughest remaining game: The River Valley Conference South Division title will likely come down to a pair of meetings with Mid-Prairie in the next five weeks. Regina travels to Mid-Prairie on January 14 and hosts the Golden Hawks on February 7.

What’s next?: Regina opens 2025 with a flurry, playing three games in five days. The Regals follow up its 2025 opener with Durant with four consecutive road trips to New London (0-6),  West Liberty (2-5), Mid-Prairie and Dyersville Beckman (4-4).

West Branch

Record: 2-5

How’d it get here: West Branch opened the season 1-5 with losses to five teams that rank at the top of their respective side of the River Valley Conference standings. The Bears have losses to RVC North foes Dyersville Beckman, Northeast and Cascade and South Division leaders Regina and Mid-Prairie. West Branch closed out 2024 with a win at West Liberty.

Who is standing out: Junior point guard Jayden Harris continues to get better every time out, evidence by averaging 25 points per game over the three games of 2024. On the season Harris is averaging 16.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 steals per game, all career-bests.

Who’s stepped up: With a pair of post players sidelined with injuries senior Brandon Pickett has stepped up big in the paint. Pickett ranks second on the team averaging 8.3 points per game on 51 percent shooting and leads the Bears with 6.3 rebounds per game.

Stat that stands out: The five losses for West Branch have come to teams with a combined 27-8 record and four of those teams have two or fewer losses.

Best win: The win 64-57 road win at West Liberty on December 20 was big for the Bears as it snapped a three-game losing skid and sent the Bears into break with momentum.

Next game: West Branch travels to Pella Christian (3-3) on Friday at 7:15 p.m.

Toughest remaining game: West Branch still has games remaining with RVC South Division leaders Mid-Prairie and Regina. The Bears travel to Mid-Prairie on January 21 and host Regina on January 31.

What’s next?: After a trip to Pella Christian for a non-conference game the Bears host Tipton (3-4) before another non-conference road trip to Burlington Notre Dame (5-1).

Before its trip to Mid-Prairie later this month West Branch has consecutive games with Camanche (2-4), Wilton (0-6) and Durant (2-5).

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