By Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

Game of the Week

4A No. 5 Cedar Falls (9-3) at 4A No. 1 West High (10-1)

The first of three consecutive games for West High against ranked Mississippi Valley Conference foes comes against Cedar Falls in a rematch of last year’s 4A state semifinal game.

West High won last year’s semifinal tilt 61-59 in dramatic fashion on a Tanner Lohaus tip in as time expired after winning at Cedar Falls 61-49 during the regular season.

Cedar Falls has won six of its last seven, the lone loss in that stretch a six-point setback to No. 3 Dubuque Senior.

The Tigers are led by 6-foot-3 junior AJ Green who ranks third in Class 4A averaging 23.6 points per game and is coming off a 32-point performance in a win over then third-ranked Cedar Rapids Kennedy on Friday.

West High has won five straight since its only loss of the season to Cedar Rapids Prairie including a 74-50 win over the Hawks in a rematch last Friday.

Connor McCaffery (18.7 ppg) and Devontae Lane (15.8 ppg) lead a West High offensive attack that leads Class 4A in scoring at 74.7 points per game. 

What to Watch

The first meeting between City High and West High this season was close for eight minutes before the top-ranked Trojans took off.

City High (3-10) will try to make things more interesting in the rematch on Tuesday.

West High led 20-16 after one quarter when the cross-town rivals met back on December 13 but held City High to 11 points the rest of the game in a 78-27 win at West High.

City High has won two of its last three games after a 68-57 win over Cedar Rapids Jefferson on Friday.

Senior Chuck Johnson missed the first game against West High and is averaging 10.6 points and 10.6 rebounds in five games since returning to the lineup.

The last meeting between the two rivals at City High was a 63-53 upset win by the Little Hawks last February but in two meetings since West High has outscored City High 128-57.

Keep an Eye On

Speaking or rivalries the River Valley South Division crown could come down to the Jan. 31 meeting between rivals West Branch and Regina.

The Regals hold a two-game lead over West Branch in the loss column but four straight conference wins have put the Bears in the thick of the title hunt.

West Branch (9-5 RVC) closes out its conference slate with a trip to North Cedar and home games against Durant, West Liberty and Regina.

Regina (8-3 RVC) has seven straight RVC games to close out the regular season beginning with a home contest on Tuesday against West Liberty which defeated the Regals 52-41 in December.

The Regals host 12-2 Northeast in a key cross-divisional matchup on Saturday and has a road trip to 2A No. 5 Camanche left on its slate.

Regina defeated West Branch 76-62 last month in Iowa City and the rematch in West Branch could be for the South Division drivers’ seat.  

The Schedule

Monday, Jan. 23

Maquoketa (4-9) at Solon (8-4)

Tuesday Jan. 24

4A No. 1 West High (10-1) at City High (3-10)

Anamosa (3-11) at Solon (8-4)

West Branch (10-5) at Fairfield (4-7)

West Liberty (5-10) at Regina (9-5)

Clear Creek Amana (1-12) at Vinton-Shellsburg (8-6)

Thursday, Jan 26

Solon (8-4) at Dyersville Beckman (10-3)

Friday Jan. 27

4A No. 5 Cedar Falls (9-3) at 4A No. 1 West High (10-1)

City High (3-10) at Dubuque Hempstead (9-3)

West Branch (10-5) at North Cedar (5-9)

Northeast (12-2) at Regina (9-5)

South Tama (7-6) at Clear Creek Amana (1-12)

Saturday Jan. 28

Wilton (1-14) at Regina (9-5)