Girls’ basketball reset: Unbeatens Clear Creek Amana, Mount Vernon collide Jan. 9

The final area girls’ basketball unbeaten? That will be determined next Tuesday.

At the latest.

Clear Creek Amana (8-0) and Mount Vernon (10-0) are among 16 teams statewide that made it through the pre-holiday slate without a blemish.

The Clippers and the Mustangs will collide in a Wamac Conference cross-divisional matchup Jan. 9 at Mount Vernon.

Ranked No. 2 in Class 4A, CCA survived a one-pointer against North Linn in its season-opener at Rivalry Saturday on Nov. 25, and has since established itself as the class of the West Division.

Sophomore Averie Lower is averaging 17.9 points per game, shooting at a 63.3-percent clip from the field, including 57.4 percent from long distance. Senior Ava Locklear adds 11.8 points and 9.1 rebounds per contest.

CCA returns to action Friday, at home against West Delaware.

Mount Vernon has won its last five games by an average of 45.4 points, allowing 31.2 points per contest in that span. The 3A second-rated Mustangs entered the break with a 78-37 win over a 2A top-five Iowa City Regina squad.

Six-foot-3 junior Chloe Meester, the Gazette 2023 area volleyball player of the year, has transitioned nicely into winter, averaging 16.1 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game. Junior Sydney Huber, who transferred from Cedar Rapids Xavier after two state-tournament runs there, is adding 10.9 ppg.

The Mustangs host Williamsburg in their first game back, on Friday.

Tuesday marks the first night of January action for some teams. Here’s a look at area conference races as we resume:

MVC Mississippi Division

RACE RESET

In the second year of the Kenyon Murray era, Cedar Rapids Prairie (7-1, 4-0) has climbed to contender status. The Hawks have won seven straight games since a season-opening drubbing at 5A state-title favorite Johnston. The Hawks’ divisional-title hopes will be bolstered or deflated in their first two January games, at Dubuque Wahlert (9-1, 4-0) on Friday and at home against Cedar Falls (8-1, 4-0) Jan. 9. Wahlert is at Cedar Falls on Feb. 6. Despite a 4-6 overall record, Cedar Rapids Xavier is 3-1 in MVC play and still can make tracks if it survives a challenging January slate.

MIDSEASON MVP

Libby Fandel, jr., Cedar Rapids Xavier

PRESEASON PICKS

1. Cedar Falls, 2. Dubuque Wahlert, 3. Cedar Rapids Prairie

MIDSEASON PICKS

1. Cedar Falls, 2. Cedar Rapids Prairie, 3. Dubuque Wahlert

MVC Valley Division

RACE RESET

If the Mississippi Division has the headliners at the top of the race, the Valley is consumed by depth and balance. Six teams are within one game of each other at the top, led by Western Dubuque (7-4, 2-1), which — as predicted — has made giant strides after its 5-19 season of a year ago. Iowa City West (5-4, 2-2) is the only other team in the division with a winning overall record, thanks to a three-game win streak just before the break. The Trojans host Western Dubuque on Jan. 30, and that’s one of many pivotal games that will determine the champion.

MIDSEASON MVP

Karrington Asp, jr., Western Dubuque

PRESEASON PICKS

1. Linn-Mar, 2. Iowa City West, 3. Iowa City High

MIDSEASON PICKS

1. Iowa City West, 2. Western Dubuque, 3. Iowa City High

Wamac East Division

RACE RESET

If you’re one who truly does “circle the calendar,” then mark Jan. 16 and Feb. 2 in Sharpie. Those are the two dates in which 3A No. 1 Solon (9-1, 2-0) and No. 2 Mount Vernon (10-0, 2-0) exchange pleasantries. The first game is at Solon, the second at Mount Vernon. Neither team can afford to overlook Marion (8-2, 1-1) or West Delaware (5-5, 1-1), the latter of which possesses Brooke Krogmann, who averages a double-double, plus nearly six blocks per game.

MIDSEASON MVP

Callie Levin, sr., Solon

PRESEASON PICKS

1. Solon, 2. Mount Vernon, 3. Center Point-Urbana

MIDSEASON PICKS

1. Solon, 2. Mount Vernon, 3. Marion

Wamac West Division

RACE RESET

Clear Creek Amana (8-0, 2-0) established itself as the undisputed frontrunner with a 67-42 victory over Benton Community (6-3, 1-1) in its last game before the holiday break. After their cross-divisional showdown at Mount Vernon on Jan. 9, the Clippers will be heavily favored in every game the rest of the way. Benton has shown a penchant for winning close games (4-1 in one-possession games), which will serve the Bobcats well in the postseason. Williamsburg (5-3, 1-1) is ascendant in Stephanie Dacey’s second year and will push the Bobcats in the race for second place.

MIDSEASON MVP

Emma Townsley, sr., Benton Community

PRESEASON PICKS

1. Clear Creek Amana, 2. Benton Community, 3. Vinton-Shellsburg

MIDSEASON PICKS

1. Clear Creek Amana, 2. Benton Community, 3. Williamsburg

River Valley North Division

RACE RESET

Maquoketa (8-2, 5-0) and Monticello (10-1, 5-0) have separated themselves from the pack. Credit the Cardinals for “scheduling up;” they’ve already faced Western Dubuque, Mount Vernon and Iowa City Regina outside of the division, going 1-2 against those teams. They also face DeWitt Central and Iowa City Liberty in January. The main focus here is the league race, though, and the Cardinals and the Panthers meet Jan. 12 at Monticello, Jan. 30 at Maquoketa. Monticello possesses the league’s top player in junior Jayden Kuper (20.7 points, 10.7 rebounds, 5.7 steals per game), but Maquoketa has the advantage in depth.

MIDSEASON MVP

Jayden Kuper, jr., Monticello

PRESEASON PICKS

1. Maquoketa, 2. Monticello, 3. Cascade

MIDSEASON PICKS

1. Maquoketa, 2. Monticello, 3. Cascade

River Valley South Division

RACE RESET

It’s hardly going out on a limb in picking Regina (7-2, 5-0) to win its 13th league title in the last 16 years. The Regals have won their first five divisional games by an average of 44 points. Their first South Division test out of the break is Jan. 9, at home against Mid-Prairie (6-3, 4-0). The Golden Hawks and Tipton (7-2, 4-1) are a few strides behind Regina, a couple of steps ahead of everyone else. Regina’s best January competition will come against North Linn (home, Jan. 11) and Solon (away, Jan. 27).

MIDSEASON MVP

Morgan Miller, jr., Iowa City Regina

PRESEASON PICKS

1. Iowa City Regina, 2. Tipton, 3. Durant

MIDSEASON PICKS

1. Iowa City Regina, 2. Tipton, 3. Mid-Prairie

Tri-Rivers East Division

RACE RESET

It would be more than a mild surprise if anybody in this division clipped Calamus-Wheatland (10-0, 6-0), which raced through the first time against the divisional schedule with an average winning margin of 40.8 points per game. You can pencil in the Warriors for their third straight title, and write it in pen should they win at Midland (5-4, 5-1) on Jan. 12. Ranked No. 7 in Class 1A, Cal-Wheat will see where it stands among the small-school elite Friday, when it hosts No. 1 North Linn. Midland appears destined for its first winning season in six years.

MIDSEASON MVP

Anna Bartels, sr., Midland

PRESEASON PICKS

1. Calamus-Wheatland, 2. Bellevue Marquette, 3. Midland

MIDSEASON PICKS

1. Calamus-Wheatland, 2. Midland, 3. Bellevue Marquette

Tri-Rivers West Division

RACE RESET

The beat goes on at North Linn (8-1, 6-0), which is a virtual lock to win the divisional title, which would be its 10th league crown in 12 years, and a very good bet for an unheard-of 14th consecutive 20-win season. Led by the guard tandem of Kamryn Kurt, Macy Boge and Molly Boge, the Lynx have smashed their league foes by an average of 42.1 points per game. There is quality behind the Lynx, notably Edgewood-Colesburg (9-2, 6-1) and Springville (8-3, 5-2), both of which possess a dandy inside player (Audrie Helmrichs and Rowan Jacobi, respectively).

MIDSEASON MVP

Kamryn Kurt, sr., North Linn

PRESEASON PICKS

1. North Linn, 2. East Buchanan, 3. Maquoketa Valley

MIDSEASON PICKS

1. North Linn, 2. Edgewood-Colesburg, 3. Springville

North Iowa Cedar East Division

RACE RESET

Jesup (8-1, 3-0) opened with eight straight wins before suffering its first defeat Dec. 21, against West Delaware. Five of the J-Hawks’ victories came by single digits, including a 41-40 thriller over Sumner-Fredericksburg (5-4, 2-1) on Dec. 8, which put them in the driver’s seat for now. The rematch is Jan. 15 at Sumner.

MIDSEASON MVP

Isabelle Elliott, sr., Sumner-Fredericksburg

PRESEASON PICKS

1. Sumner-Fredericksburg, 2. Oelwein, 3. Jesup

MIDSEASON PICKS

1. Jesup, 2. Sumner-Fredericksburg, 3. Oelwein

Northeast Iowa

RACE RESET

Defending champion Decorah (8-3, 4-0) has found its groove behind senior sniper Yazmeen Whitsitt, and the Vikings carry a seven-game win streak. Still, the favorite’s tag belongs to Waverly-Shell Rock (9-0, 4-0), and the Go-Hawks would love to win the title in their final year in the league before venturing as an independent in 2024-25. WSR travels to Decorah on Friday, then hosts the Vikings in the regular-season finale for both teams Feb. 9.

MIDSEASON MVP

Yazmeen Whitsitt, sr., Decorah

PRESEASON PICKS

1. Waverly-Shell Rock, 2. Decorah, 3. Waukon

MIDSEASON PICKS

1. Waverly-Shell Rock, 2. Decorah, 3. Crestwood

South Iowa Cedar East Division

RACE RESET

At first glance, this race is a forgone conclusion. English Valleys (8-3, 6-1) holds a three-game lead on Sigourney (6-4, 3-4) and Iowa Valley (3-7, 3-4), but the Bears face West Division giants Lynnville-Sully, Montezuma and North Mahaska in succession, starting Friday, so the race could tighten. The Bears’ final league game is Jan. 26 at home against Sigourney, and that still could play a factor.

MIDSEASON MVP

Kennedy Axmear, sr., English Valleys

PRESEASON PICKS

1. Iowa Valley, 2. English Valleys, 3. Sigourney

MIDSEASON PICKS

1. English Valleys, 2. Sigourney, 3. Iowa Valley

South Iowa Cedar West Division

RACE RESET

As seems to be the care on an annual basis, the West is the stronger of the SICL divisions. That holds true this winter with the strength of North Mahaska (8-1, 7-0), Lynnville-Sully (9-2, 7-1) and Montezuma (7-2, 5-2), and the rise of HLV (6-3, 5-3) adds more depth. North Mahaska beat Montezuma by six points and Lynnville-Sully by two in December, and faces both on the road Jan. 19 and Jan. 26.

MIDSEASON MVP

Ellen Cook, jr., Montezuma

PRESEASON PICKS

1. North Mahaska, 2. Lynnville-Sully, 3. Montezuma

MIDSEASON PICKS

1. North Mahaska, 2. Lynnville-Sully, 3. Montezuma

Upper Iowa

RACE RESET

MFL MarMac (8-3, 8-0) has positioned itself nicely for a fifth league title in the last seven years. The Bulldogs’ key games down the stretch are at home against 2023 champion Elkader Central (5-5, 5-3) on Friday, at Lansing Kee (7-3, 6-2) on Jan. 9 and at North Fayette Valley (9-1, 7-1) on Jan. 19. The most intriguing team in the league might be Kee, which won five games last season but has climbed sharply behind a cast of sophomores and freshmen. The Hawks have won four in a row.

MIDSEASON MVP

Addison Winters, soph., Lansing Kee

PRESEASON PICKS

1. North Fayette Valley, 2. Elkader Central, 3. MFL MarMac

MIDSEASON PICKS

1. MFL MarMac, 2. North Fayette Valley, 3. Lansing Kee

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com