Defensive battle expected in Tri-Rivers showdown

You can call it man-to-man.You can be politically correct, and call it player-to-player.Call it want you want, but Maquoketa Valley and Monticello both play it. And play it very well.Sole possession of first place in the Tri-Rivers Conference girls' basketball race is at stake Friday, when Class 2A third-rated Maquoketa Valley (11-0 overall, 7-0 TRC) travels to No. 11 Monticello (10-0, 7-0). Tipoff should be around 6:15 p.m."I would anticipate a low-scoring game," said Monticello Coach Donnie Kremer.And why not? Maquoketa Valley ranks second in the state defensively among 2A teams, allowing 26.7 p0ints per game. Monticello is third at 28.2."We're like mirror images of each other," said Wildcats Coach Scot Moenck. "We both play very good defense, we both have good athletes."Yeah, I think it will be low-scoring."Monticello is pursuing its first conference championship in girls' basketball. Ever.The Panthers have six girls averaging at least 5 points per game, led by junior Brooke Stahlberg (10.9 ppg). Monticello has won all of its games by double digits."Defensively, the girls do a nice job helping each other out. We try not to allow shooters to get a good look," Kremer said.Maquoketa Valley counters with seniors Abbie Wooten (12.0 ppg) and Sammie Salow (10.1 ppg). The Wildcats' closest game was a nine-pointer against Cascade.The rematch is the league finale Feb. 4, at Delhi.

Late addition a gem for Iowa City WestMcKenzie Piper's move was based on career, not athletics.But when it was clear the family would be moving from Keokuk to Iowa City, Piper said, "We just had to go to West."The junior registered 25 points and seven rebounds in West's 65-50 win over Cedar Rapids Washington on Tuesday."I love it here. It's really fun," she said afterward. "I love the offense we run. I love the coaches and the players."Piper averaged 12.2 points per game last year at Keokuk. But her father's job is split between Keokuk and Dubuque, and with a brother attending the University of Iowa, the move made sense.The family moved the weekend before basketball practice started. West Coach B.J. Mayer is a member of the IBCA Select AAU program in which Piper plays, but had never coached her directly."She adds size, strength and athleticism," Mayer said. "She creates problems for a strong forward and can go to the basket."A 6-footer forward, Piper is second on the team in scoring at 12.4 points per game and is the leading rebounder at 4.9 boards per game. West is 8-1 overall and shares the MVC Valley Division lead with Cedar Rapids Xavier at 6-1.

New winning ways at LisbonLisbon's 43-25 victory over Alburnett on Monday guaranteed the Lions (6-3) their winningest season since 2003, when they picked up nine victories.The Lions won five times last year and in 2005-06.Melissa Alger leads the team at 10.9 points per game. The Lions have won three straight games.