Double blockbuster announced for Rivalry Saturday 2023

CEDAR RAPIDS — Talk about a double blockbuster ...

Two games have been announced for the 19th edition of Rivalry Saturday, and both could be battles of top-ranked girls’ basketball teams.

Event director Scot Moenck announced Friday that three-time Class 2A defending-champion Dike-New Hartford will make its first Rivalry Saturday appearance against Solon, a 3A semifinalist last year.

The other game already booked is North Linn vs. Clear Creek Amana.

Each of those four teams are preseason No. 1 teams in The Gazette’s “way-too-early” rankings for 2023-24.

Rivalry Saturday is Nov. 25. A site has not been determined, but the last two editions have been at Kirkwood Community College.

Dike-New Hartford (26-1 last year) has amassed a 77-3 record the past three seasons, and with the return of the Petersen twins (Payton and Jadyn combined for 29.0 points and 19.5 rebounds per game last year) for their senior season, the Wolverines have at least one more dynamite season ahead of them.

They’ll tackle a Solon outfit that returned to the ranks of the elite last season. The Spartans (23-3) return 79 percent of their scoring punch, led by senior-to-be Callie Levin (18.5 points per game), a University of Iowa commit.

One of the state’s most consistently successful programs, North Linn has won 20-plus games in each of the last 13 seasons, including a 23-2 gem last year that ended in the Class 1A semifinals. Three all-staters return for next season, led by first-team pick Kamryn Kurt.

The Lynx’s speed will be a contrast to the size of Clear Creek Amana (18-5), which might be the favorite in 4A next year after reaching the state quarterfinals last season. Ava Locklear and Bliss Beck give the Clippers a strong inside game; both will be seniors in 2023-24.

The other six games should be announced by the end of summer.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com