Boys' basketball: A look at conference races

It's one more regular-season week to go for some boys' basketball teams. It's two weeks for the bigger schools.

The tournament trail officially begins Feb. 11. with first-round district games in Class 1A and 2A.

Here's a look at how conference races are shaking out as we hit the homestretch.

MVC MISSISSIPPI DIVISION - Dubuque Senior and Linn-Mar are tied in the loss column (two each), though Senior has played one more game. Linn-Mar makes that up Saturday night with a rescheduled affair against Cedar Rapids Kennedy. You'd have to figure Tuesday night's Senior at Linn-Mar game will go a long way to determining a champ. Don't forget about Dubuque Wahlert, either, which sits in third place with three losses. Kennedy has four.

MVC VALLEY DIVISION - This one looks signed, sealed and delivered for Class 4A top-ranked Iowa City West. The Trojans are 16-0 overall, 11-0 in the conference. Cedar Falls is second at 8-2. West's next two games are against capable clubs from Cedar Rapids Kennedy and Cedar Rapids Jefferson, but the final three are against teams with losing records.

WAMAC EAST DIVISION - You tell us how this is going to end. Western Dubuque, Maquoketa and Mount Vernon are tied at 10-2. Big games include WD at Maquoketa next week. Mount Vernon has the schedule edge, with its two remaining division games against Anamosa and West Delaware (combined 3-19 division records).

WAMAC WEST DIVISION - Vinton-Shellsburg came back to the pack a little bit with a loss Tuesday night at Williamsburg, but this is still the Vikings' title to lose. V-S is 10-2 in the division, three games up on Marion, Center Point-Urbana, Williamsburg and Clear Creek-Amana, which are all tied for second place. CC-A has won nine of its last 10, thanks to the return of several players who were suspended to start the season.

CEDAR VALLEY - North Cedar (11-1), West Branch (10-1) and Iowa City Regina (10-2) are the only league teams with winning records. North Cedar suffered its first conference loss this week to Regina and ends its regular season next week at West Branch. The Bears end their regular season next week at Regina.

BIG EAST - If Lisbon beats Clinton Prince of Peace on Friday night, it'll be in the barn with a 12-4 conference mark. Northeast Goose Lake leads at 11-3, with remaining games against Midland (2-10) and Bellevue Marquette (9-5).

NORTHEAST IOWA - Class 3A second-ranked Waverly-Shell Rock and Crestwood are 8-0 in the league will fight it out here, considering third-place Decorah has four losses. In a scheduling quirk, W-SR and Crestwood play twice in a week (Feb. 7 and 14).

SOUTH IOWA CEDAR - It's Keota's to win. A 17-0 overall record includes 16-0 in the SICL. The Eagles swept second-place Lynnville-Sully (15-2) and have remaining games against English Valleys (1-15), Iowa Valley (4-12), Belle Plaine (5-10) and third-place BGM (12-4).

TRI-RIVERS - Monticello, Monticello, Monticello. The Panthers are 14-0 and have beaten second-place North Linn (12-2) twice, including this week, 49-41. Cascade also is 12-2 and hosts Monti next week. The Panthers' other remaining conference game is against Springville (5-8).

UPPER IOWA - It's a three-game lead with six to go for MFL/Mar-Mac (12-0). Turkey Valley and Sumner-Fredericksburg are tied for second at 10-3, with one game each against MFL remaining. North Fayette still lurks somewhat at 8-4.

SOUTHEAST IOWA SUPER CONFERENCE NORTH DIVISION - Still very much up for grabs. Lone Tree leads at 14-2, Pekin is next at 14-3, followed by Iowa Mennonite at 13-3 and Mediapolis at 12-3. Lone Tree could wrap it all up by beating Pekin next week, though the Panthers won the first matchup.