2023 Rivalry Saturday field will face state-title hopefuls from all five classes

CEDAR RAPIDS — There’s a plausible chance that all five preseason No. 1 girls’ basketball teams will be on the same floor within a three-hour span.

That floor is at Johnson Hall on the Kirkwood Community College campus. The date is Saturday, Nov. 25.

Circle it.

Scot Moenck, girls’ basketball coach at Maquoketa Valley and director of Rivalry Saturday, released the schedule for the 19th rendition of the event.

And it’s a good one.

Two reigning state champions — Pleasant Valley (Class 5A) and Dike-New Hartford (2A) — are part of the eight-game party.

Pleasant Valley and DNH are two of four Rivalry Saturday rookies, joining 2022 Class 3A champion Estherville-Lincoln Central and up-and-comer Maquoketa.

The event starts at 9:15 with Cascade and Springville. By late afternoon, the stars will be shining bright.

Pleasant Valley (25-0) returns four starters from last year’s title team, meets Ankeny Centennial (18-7) at 5:20 p.m.

Then, at 6:55, Dike-New Hartford (26-1), which is favored to capture its fourth straight 2A title next March, tangles with 3A title hopeful Solon (23-3).

Solon is led by senior Callie Levin, a University of Iowa commit.

The evening concludes with a 1A-vs.-4A showdown between North Linn (23-2) and Clear Creek Amana (18-5). The Lynx are a high-scoring, veteran crew that reached the small-school semifinals last year; CCA will have the same crew that reached the state tournament last year and is 43-0 in volleyball this fall.

Other games are Monticello vs. Maquoketa Valley at 10:50 a.m., ELC vs. Western Dubuque at 12:25 p.m., Linn-Mar vs. Marion at 2 p.m. and Mount Vernon vs. Maquoketa at 3:35.

Rivalry Saturday XIX

Nov. 25, 2023

At Kirkwood Community College (Johnson Hall)

9:15 a.m. — Cascade (19-3) vs. Springville (19-5)

10:50 a.m. — Monticello (18-6) vs. Maquoketa Valley (16-10)

12:25 p.m. — Estherville-Lincoln Central (24-1) vs. Western Dubuque (5-19)

2 p.m. — Linn-Mar (15-8) vs. Marion (11-12)

3:35 p.m. — Mount Vernon (16-8) vs. Maquoketa (13-10)

5:20 p.m. — Pleasant Valley (25-0) vs. Ankeny Centennial (18-7)

6:55 p.m. — Dike-New Hartford (26-1) vs. Solon (23-3)

8:30 p.m. — North Linn (23-2) vs. Clear Creek Amana (18-5)

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com