Unbeaten Wildcats rewarded with an immediate challenge

For Scot Moenck and the Maquoketa Valley girls' basketball team, "one game at a time" isn't just lip service.

"To be honest, all we're thinking about is (Edgewood-Colesburg)," Moenck said. "They present such a unique challenge, we have to put all our focus on that."

Class 2A girls' basketball regionals tip off Saturday, and ninth-ranked Maquoketa Valley (21-0) is a prime contender to emerge out of Region 5 and advance to the state tournament.

But not the only one. Far from it.

Twelve of the 16 teams in the region have winning records; 10 of them have 13 wins or more.

"There are going to be some good teams -- some very good teams -- that will get beat out in the first or second round," Moenck said.

The Wildcats face frenetic Ed-Co at 7 p.m. at Delhi. The Vikings (13-8) play at an uncommonly fast level, pressing at every turn and taking precious little time on offense before hoisting a shot.

"You can't mimic that at practice," Moenck said. "We've faced that kind of game twice all year, against them. We're preparing by doing a lot of five-on-six, five-on-seven drills and letting practice get a little more physical."

The 2A-5 cast of characters also features:

* Wamac Conference East Division champion Mount Vernon (16-4), the 2010 2A state champion and 2011 3A state runner-up.

* Monticello (18-3), a 2A state semifinalist in 2011 and a winner of seven straight games.

* No. 15 Pella Christian (16-3), a 2A state qualifier last year.

* Cedar Valley Conference co-champions Iowa City Regina (18-3) and Mid-Prairie (16-5), which could meet in the second round Tuesday.

Regional semifinals in 2A and 1A are next Friday; regional finals are Feb. 20.

North Linn is the top area team to escape the Region 5 fray. The Lynx (19-3) open with Tri-Rivers Conference rival Alburnett (5-16) Saturday, then travel a road of unfamiliarity from there.

SATURDAY'S CLASS 2A REGIONALS

First Round, All Games 7 p.m.

Region 3

Clayton Ridge (11-10) at MFL MarMac (12-9)

North Fayette (8-13) at South Winneshiek (16-5)

Starmont (6-15) at Denver (11-9)

Wapsie Valley (5-17) at Sumner-Fredericksburg (20-1)

Nashua-Plainfield (3-18) at Central Springs (7-14)

Saint Ansgar (5-16) at Osage (17-4)

Lake Mills (5-16) at Garner-Hayfield (13-7)

Forest City (10-11) at West Hancock (21-0)

Region 4

Danville (8-12) at West Burlington (10-10)

West Liberty (5-15) at Columbus Junction (12-10)

Cardinal (7-13) at Central Lee (17-4)

Davis County (6-15) at Van Buren (20-1)

Durant (8-13) at Camanche (15-7)

Northeast (9-13) at Bellevue (21-0)

Wilton (7-14) at Louisa-Muscatine (3-16)

Wapello (11-10) at Mediapolis (20-1)

Region 5

North Cedar (9-11) at Mount Vernon (16-4)

Tipton (9-12) at Monticello (18-3)

Dyersville Beckman (8-14) at Cascade (17-4)

Edgewood-Colesburg (13-8) at Maquoketa Valley (21-0)

West Branch (14-8) at Mid-Prairie (16-5)

Highland (12-10) at Iowa City Regina (18-3)

Pekin (14-5) at Eddyville-Blakesburg (11-9)

Albia (5-15) at Pella Christian (16-3)

Region 6

Hudson (11-10) at Dike-New Hartford (12-9)

Waterloo Columbus (3-18) at Grundy Center (18-3)

Jesup (10-11) at Iowa Valley (13-8)

Alburnett (5-16) at North Linn (19-3)

East Marshall (11-10) at Gladbrook-Reinbeck (14-7)

Conrad BCLUW (3-18) at West Marshall (16-5)

Baxter CMB (9-12) at Monroe PCM (12-9)

Colfax-Mingo (3-17) at Gilbert (19-2)

SATURDAY'S CLASS 1A REGIONALS

Second Round, All Games 7 p.m.

Region 4

Belle Plaine (14-8) at Meskawki Settlement (9-11)

Region 6

Sigourney (5-17) at Keota (12-9)