Iowa City schools shooting for a title sweep

It happened in 2015, sort of.

It could — and probably should — happen again when the dust settles on this girls' basketball season. And, this time, no 'sort of' about it.

The three Iowa City teams are a combined 23-1 (the lone blemish was unavoidable; City High beat West 74-73 in overtime Dec. 13). And all of them have taken command of their respective divisional races.

The last time — and the only time — that City High, West and Regina captured league titles in the same year was two seasons ago. City shared the MVC Mississippi Division title while West and Regina were outright winners of the MVC Valley and River Valley South, respectively.

As the season resets Tuesday, West (7-1 overall, 6-0 MVC) holds a 1 1/2-game lead on Linn-Mar (7-2, 4-1) in the Mississippi Division. City High (8-0, 5-0) is a game clear of Cedar Falls (6-1, 4-1) in the Valley, and already has beaten the Tigers decisively. And Regina (8-0, 6-0 RVC) is running away with its race, which will be its ninth consecutive league crown.

City High and Regina are among 26 unbeatens throughout the state, including 10 from the Gazette area. That number is sure to dwindle by week's end: Springville (8-0) travels to North Linn (10-0) in a Tri-Rivers West showdown on Friday, then faces Turkey Valley (9-0) the following day at Rivalry Saturday.

Here is a peek at the area conference races as the season resumes:

MVC Mississippi

Overview: A point away from current perfection, Iowa City West has a pair of non-conference challenges soon, against 4A No. 1 Pella at Rivalry Saturday and at home against Linn-Mar on Jan. 10. The Women of Troy get their rematch with City High (and that one counts in conference standings) Jan. 24, then travels to Cedar Falls three days later. If the race is still undecided in February, West's key matchup is Feb. 7 at Linn-Mar. The Lions' closing stretch is full of danger, against Cedar Rapids Jefferson (4-5, 3-2), West and Cedar Rapids Xavier (6-3, 3-2). The Saints ended 2016 with four straight wins.

Midseason player of the year: Logan Cook, jr., Iowa City West.

Preseason top-3 projection: 1. Iowa City West, 2. Linn-Mar, 3. Waterloo West.

Midseason top-3 projection: 1. Iowa City West, 2. Linn-Mar, 3. Cedar Rapids Xavier.

MVC Valley

Overview: By virtue of a 62-40 win over Cedar Falls, City High has firm control of this race. The Jan. 24 rematch with West is a coin flip, but that's the exception. The Little Hawks will be substantial favorites in their other remaining tests, and a perfect regular season is a good possibility. Cedar Falls is the only other Valley Division team above .500 in league play, and if the Little Hawks stumble, CF has to get through back-to-back challenges Jan. 24 at Linn-Mar and Jan. 27 at home against Iowa City West before they can think about a title share.

Midseason player of the year: Ashley Joens, jr., Iowa City High.

Preseason top-3 projection: 1. Cedar Falls, 2. Iowa City High, 3. Cedar Rapids Washington.

Midseason top-3 projection: 1. Iowa City High, 2. Cedar Falls, 3. Dubuque Hempstead.

Wamac East

Overview: Western Dubuque (7-0, 4-0) has overcome the graduation of Megan Maahs (now at Northern Iowa), and has the inside track to its fifth consecutive divisional title. The Bobcats have won 50 consecutive regular-season games, highlighted this season by a 58-55 win at Mount Vernon (6-3, 4-1) on Dec. 6. The rematch is Jan. 17 at Epworth. Western Dubuque faces an intriguing cross-divisional battle at Center Point-Urbana on Tuesday.

Midseason player of the year: Morgan Pitz, sr., Western Dubuque.

Preseason top-3 projection: 1. Mount Vernon, 2. Western Dubuque, 3. Anamosa.

Midseason top-3 projection: 1. Western Dubuque, 2. Mount Vernon, 3. Anamosa.

Wamac West

Overview: Marion (9-0, 4-0) and Center Point-Urbana (7-1, 3-1) are miles ahead of the rest of the pack. The Indians held on to edge the Stormin' Pointers, 60-57, Dec. 16. Both have good non-conference tests at Rivalry Saturday; Marion meets Linn-Mar, and CPU tangles with Grinnell. After that, both ought to sail until their rematch Jan. 27 at Center Point. South Tama (4-4, 3-1) appears to be the best of the rest. The Trojans have won four of their last five.

Midseason player of the year: Chloe Rice, jr., Marion.

Preseason top-3 projection: 1. Marion, 2. Center Point-Urbana, 3. Clear Creek Amana.

Midseason top-3 projection: 1. Marion, 2. Center Point-Urbana, 3. South Tama.

River Valley North

Overview: No, there's probably nobody in this division that matches up with Regina, but there's little doubt that the North Division has the deeper field. The North is 11-2 vs. the South so far, and also owns a composite 10-2 non-conference mark. Before the season, it looked like Camanche and Bellevue were ready to break the Highway 151 dominance of Cascade and Monticello, but the old guard has held tight. Cascade (8-1, 7-0) owns a two-game lead now, and will be favored in its next three league games before playing at Regina on Jan. 14. Bellevue (7-2, 5-2) and Monticello (6-2, 5-2) are tied for second and meet Tuesday at Bellevue.

Midseason player of the year: Courtney Schnoor, sr., Camanche.

Preseason top-3 projection: 1. Camanche, 2. Bellevue, 3. Cascade.

Midseason top-3 projection: 1. Cascade, 2. Monticello, 3. Bellevue.

River Valley South

Overview: Who are we kidding? We're looking at a Regina runaway. A 2A state semifinalist last season, the Regals have picked up where they left off behind a new coach (Jeff Wallace) and a new post (Tipton transfer Alex Wiese is averaging a double-double). It would be a surprise if top-ranked Regina didn't take a spotless record into the postseason. A 3A state-tournament team last year, Mid-Prairie (5-3, 5-2) is gaining momentum with four consecutive wins.

Midseason player of the year: Mary Crompton, jr, Iowa City Regina.

Preseason top-3 projection: 1. Iowa City Regina, 2. Mid-Prairie, 3. West Branch.

Midseason top-3 projection: Same.

Tri-Rivers East

Overview: Bellevue Marquette and Easton Valley shared the title last year, and might be heading toward a similar fate this time around. Easton Valley (7-3, 3-0) hosts the first meeting Jan. 10, then Marquette (10-1, 3-0) has home-floor advantage in the divisional finale Jan. 31. Cedar Valley Christian (3-6, 0-3) is not a title contender, but a team worth watching in the second half. Ten of the Huskies' final 12 games are potential victories.

Midseason player of the year: Marissa Schroeder, sr., Bellevue Marquette.

Preseason top-3 projection: 1. Easton Valley, 2. Bellevue Marquette, 3. Calamus-Wheatland.

Midseason top-3 projection: 1. (tie) Easton Valley & Bellevue Marquette, 3. Calamus-Wheatland.

Tri-Rivers West

Overview: It's the same story as usual — three high-quality teams, then a major gap. Defending Class 1A state champion Springville (8-0, 4-0) owns a 24-game winning streak, but the margin among the Orioles, North Linn (10-0, 4-0) and Maquoketa Valley (7-2, 3-1) is thin. Maquoketa Valley had Springville in a bind Dec. 6 before the Orioles escaped in overtime. The picture will get clearer this week; North Linn is at Maquoketa Valley on Tuesday, then hosts Springville on Friday. Springville is allowing 23.9 points per game, North Linn 27.1.

Midseason co-players of the year: Mikayla Nachazel & Rylee Menster, Springville.

Preseason top-3 projection: 1. Springville, 2. North Linn, 3. Maquoketa Valley.

Midseason top-3 projection: 1. (tie) Springville & North Linn, 3. Maquoketa Valley.

Northeast Iowa

Overview: This is territory owned by six-time defending-champion Waverly-Shell Rock (6-3, 4-0), which brags a 73-2 NEIC record since the beginning of the 2010-11 season. Who's to challenge the Go-Hawks? How about Crestwood (6-0, 3-0)? The Cadets were going to be good anyway, and got better when the Friesen twins moved in from Osage. Crestwood hosts the first meeting Friday, then the rematch is at Waverly on Feb. 3. New Hampton (6-2, 2-1) has a solid team, but the other four teams are a combined 5-28 overall.

Midseason player of the year: Shannon Pisney, jr., Crestwood.

Preseason top-3 projection: 1. Waverly-Shell Rock, 2. Crestwood, 3. Waukon.

Midseason top-3 projection: 1. (tie) Waverly-Shell Rock & Crestwood, 3. New Hampton.

South Iowa Cedar East

Overview: Sigourney (8-0, 6-0) has put itself in prime position for its first league title since winning three straight from 2007 to 2009. The Savages beat Class 5A Burlington in their opener, then won all of the following seven by double figures, including a pivotal 49-36 conquest of Belle Plaine (7-3, 5-2) on Dec. 2. They should take a 10-0 mark into their Jan. 10 showdown with West Division leader Lynnville-Sully. Belle Plaine gets its second crack at the Savages on Jan. 20.

Midseason player of the year: Autum Barthelman, jr., Sigourney.

Preseason top-3 projection: 1. Belle Plaine, 2. Sigourney, 3. Iowa Valley.

Midseason top-3 projection: 1. Sigourney, 2. Belle Plaine, 3. Tri-County.

South Iowa Cedar West

Overview: After sharing the title with Lynnville-Sully last year, Montezuma looked like the favorite to win the West outright this season. Instead, it's been Lynnville-Sully (9-0, 7-0) that has ruled thus far. Always a consistent winner, the Hawks have won all nine of their games without late drama. Montezuma (6-3, 5-2) is playing an ambitious non-conference schedule that includes tests against Fairfield and Mount Vernon. North Mahaska (6-3, 5-2) has made giant strides after going 3-19 last season.

Midseason player of the year: Brenna Lanser, sr., Lynnville-Sully.

Preseason top-3 projection: 1. Montezuma, 2. Lynnville-Sully, 3. HLV.

Midseason top-3 projection: 1. Lynnville-Sully, 2. Montezuma, 3. North Mahaska.

Upper Iowa Large

Overview: One game separated the top three teams last year, but Clayton Ridge (7-1, 5-0) has built a significant early cushion this time around behind Savannah Domeyer and Jade Stabler. The Eagles' toughest tests figure to come against Small Division powers Turkey Valley and Lansing Kee. The race for second appears to be a three-team affair between North Fayette Valley (3-3, 3-2), Edgewood-Colesburg (4-6, 3-2) and MFL MarMac (3-5, 2-4).

Midseason player of the year: Savannah Domeyer, sr., Clayton Ridge.

Preseason top-3 projection: 1. Clayton Ridge, 2. Edgewood-Colesburg, 3. North Fayette Valley.

Midseason top-3 projection: Same.

Upper Iowa Small

Overview: Two of the top five teams in Class 1A reside in this division, but in their first matchup, it was all Turkey Valley (9-0, 5-0) by a 63-35 count over Lansing Kee (5-1, 3-1). The Trojans have persevered after the loss of sharpshooter Emily Busta (knee injury). They'll face Springville at Rivalry Saturday, their third high-stakes meeting with the Orioles in 12 months. Kee High has a challenge Jan. 7 as well, at home against Crestwood. If Kee can stay within a game of Turkey Valley until then, they can play for a title share when they host Turkey Valley in the UIC finale Feb. 3.

Midseason player of the year: Shelby Reicks, sr., Turkey Valley.

Preseason top-3 projection: 1. Turkey Valley, 2. Lansing Kee, 3. Starmont.

Midseason top-3 projection: 1. Turkey Valley, 2. Lansing Kee, 3. Elkader Central.

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com