Future powers collide in 5A opener

 Their time is coming.Mississippi Valley Conference middle-of-the-packers Cedar Rapids Jefferson and Iowa City West are intriguing adversaries in Wednesday's Class 5A regional-quarterfinal girls' basketball game.They're more than just opponents. They're the immediate future of a league that can otherwise be described as veteran-heavy."As much as we have coming back, and as much as they have coming back, I think we'll be battling for a lot next year," said Jefferson Coach Jason Edwards.For now, they're battling for postseason survival. Tipoff Wednesday is 7 p.m. at West.Behind the tandem of sophomore Amanda Ollinger and freshman Kennedy Dighton, Jefferson (9-12) has showed glimpses of promise, including a late-season win over Cedar Rapids Kennedy. Despite the preseason loss of Dani Craig (torn ACL), West (11-10) has come on with four wins in its last five games."I think both teams have gotten a lot better as the season has worn on," said West Coach B.J. Mayer, who has taken three straight teams to the state tournament, including the 2012 championship."To our kids' credit, they've kept coming on even without Dani. They haven't been too high or too low."Jefferson captured the regular-season matchup, 63-59, Jan. 17 at home.In Craig's absence, Mikaela Morgan has emerged, in the words of Edwards, as "the heart of the team" for West. Morgan averages 15.5 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. Ollinger, who has been offered scholarships by Iowa and Drake, averages 18.7 points per game for the J-Hawks.The Jefferson-West game is the only one featuring Metro/Iowa City 5A teams Wednesday. The others have first-round byes and get started Saturday. The Jefferson-West victor travels to Linn-Mar (14-8) on Saturday.Regionals also start Wednesday in Class 4A and continue in 3A with semifinals.The theme in 4A is the same as 5A: Most of the top teams have byes and begin Saturday. That list includes 13th-ranked, defending state champion Cedar Rapids Xavier (10-11), which awaits the winner of Wednesday's battle between Marion (6-15) and DeWitt Central (11-10).The Indians and the Sabers traded eight-point victories in the regular season, with both teams winning on the road.A battle between South Tama (17-4) and No. 12 Center Point-Urbana (16-6) highlights area action in Class 3A. Fifth-rated North Linn (20-1) opens 2A regional play Wednesday against Tuesday's Jesup-Alburnett winner.