By Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports

Game of the Week 
West Branch (4-1) at Regina (2-2)

The two long-time rivals hook up for the first time this season at Regina on Friday in an early season battle for the top of the River Valley Conference south division.

Regina has won three straight over West Branch including a pair of wins over the Bears last season.

West Branch has won three straight and is led by the duo of Cooper Kabela (22.8 ppg) and Beau Cornwell (16 ppg).

Regina rebounded from a loss to West Liberty with a 74-15 win over Wilton on Saturday.

The Regals have four players averaging at least eight points per game led by Ryne Schooley (12 ppg) and Jocoa Kerschen (11.8 ppg).

What to Watch
City High renewed some of the fire in the cross-town rivalry with West High last season with a 63-53 win that ended a 15-game losing skid to the Trojans that dated back to 2009.

West High got its revenge with a 50-30 sub-state final win over the Little Hawks a few weeks later but will no doubt be fully focused for Tuesday evening’s meeting with the Little Hawks.

Tuesday’s meeting at West High will be the first taste of the rivalry for City High coach Derek Roberts.

The Little Hawks enter 0-4 after dropping its MVC opener at sixth-ranked Cedar Falls while West High needed a late rally to defeat Dubuque Hempstead.

Keep An Eye On
Solon has won back-to-back games following an overtime loss to Center Point-Urbana and will host Dyersville Beckman in a key WAMAC east division matchup on Friday.

The Spartans have five of their next seven games including three of four contests against east division foes to open January.

Rankings Update
West High was ranked No. 1 in the first Associated Press Class 4A poll released last week.

Other top-ranked teams included Waverly-Shellrock (3A), Western Christian (2A), Gladbrook-Reinbeck (1A).

The Schedule
Tuesday Dec. 13
City High (0-4) at 4A No. 1 West High (3-0)
West Branch (4-1) at Cascade (4-0)
Solon (3-1) at Anamosa (0-4)
Monticello (2-2) at Regina (2-2)
Vinton-Shellsburg (2-2) at Clear Creek Amana (1-4)

Friday Dec. 15
West High (3-0) at Waterloo East (2-2)
Dubuque Senior (3-0) at City High (0-4)
West Branch (4-1) at Regina (2-2)
Clear Creek Amana (1-4) at South Tama (3-2)
Dyersville Beckman (3-1) at Solon (3-1)

Saturday Dec. 16
Burlington (0-3) at City High (0-4)