New cast at Cascade, but same old results

As the girls' basketball season resumes, Mike Sconsa hopes to nail down an identity for his team at Cascade High School.

'I still don't think we know who we really are,” he said.

Well, let's start with 'winners.” Again.

Despite significant graduation losses (including 2014 Gazette Female Athlete of the Year Abbey Meyer), the Cougars are at it again. They're 6-0 overall, 4-0 in the River Valley Conference as a tough stretch approaches, beginning Friday at home against Northeast.

Cascade owns a 36-game regular-season winning streak that stretches back to mid-January 2013.

'We've really got some nice pieces,” Sconsa said. 'I love our post players (Carolyn Trumm and Claire Molony). Our point guard (Lynsey Dolphin) is an exceptional competitor. She makes a lot of good decisions. Bailey Holmes played a lot for us last year.

'We're still trying to find who we are, but (the win streak) is a testament to the kids. I always ask a lot of them in the summer, but they keep showing up. This group is determined and motivated to be the best it can be.”

Cascade is one of seven Gazette-area unbeatens as the season restarts Friday. The others are North Linn (9-0), Iowa City West (8-0), Western Dubuque (8-0), Solon (8-0), Springville (7-0) and Iowa City Regina (6-0).

MVC MISSISSIPPI DIVISION

Setting the stage - Only two teams in this division are above .500 in league play, and four of them are still seeking their first league win. Iowa City High (6-2, 4-0) has extended its MVC winning streak to 25 games and appears headed to its third consecutive divisional title. The Joens sisters are averaging nearly 41 points per game between them. Cedar Rapids Xavier (5-3, 4-2) is the only team in striking range. The Saints figure to win their two league games prior to a potential showdown at Ron Thillen Gym with the Little Hawks on Jan. 16.

Midseason player of the year - Courtney Joens, Iowa City High. Averaging 20.8 points per game since returning in the fourth game of the season. Trademark game was a 42-point gem against Cedar Rapids Kennedy, hitting 8 of 9 shots from long distance. Closest competitor for the award would be her freshman sister, Ashley Joens.

Preseason favorite - Iowa City High. Midseason favorite - Iowa City High.

MVC VALLEY DIVISION

Setting the stage - Without a doubt, this is the stronger of the two MVC divisions. For instance, if last-place Dubuque Wahlert was in the Mississippi Division, it would be in third place. Iowa City West (8-0, 6-0) has won its league contests by an average of 29.7 points per game, but the tougher challenges lie ahead. West's next game that counts in the league standings is Jan. 16, and that's a biggie at home with Linn-Mar (6-1, 4-0). The Lions have surprised so far under new coach Jaime Printy Brandt, and received a boost when Amanda Ollinger transferred from Cedar Rapids Jefferson (5-4, 4-2) and enrolled just before break. Her first date of competition is yet to be determined. Linn-Mar opens its 2015 portion of the schedule Tuesday at home against Cedar Rapids Kennedy (7-2, 3-1). Cedar Falls (7-1, 3-1) and Dubuque Senior (5-3, 4-2) also have exceeded expectations.

Midseason player of the year - Lots of good candidates here. Going with Stephanie Botkin of Cedar Rapids Kennedy for now. The lone returning starter for the Cougars, Botkin is averaging 14.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, and Kennedy is 7-2. Amanda Ollinger would have been the choice before her sudden transfer from Cedar Rapids Jefferson to Linn-Mar, and it's not sure how soon she'll be playing for the Lions. Other viable candidates are Dani Craig and Mikaela Morgan at Iowa City West and Lela Sellers of Kennedy.

Preseason favorite - Iowa City West. Midseason favorite - Iowa City West.

WAMAC EAST DIVISION

Setting the stage - Two unbeatens remain. One of them - 2014 Class 4A state runner-up Western Dubuque (8-0, 4-0) - is no surprise at all. The Bobcats had a couple stern tests (against Center Point-Urbana and Dyersville Beckman) in early December, but have won their last four games by an average of 27.5 points per game. The other unbeaten - Solon (8-0, 4-0) has come out of the woordwork after a 10-13 campaign last year. The co-leaders meet as part of Rivalry Saturday on Jan. 10 at the U.S. Cellular Center, then again Feb. 6 at Solon.

Midseason player of the year - Rose Simon-Ressler, Western Dubuque. The senior is averaging 15.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game, shooting 55 percent from the field and 77 percent from the line. Teammate Megan Maahs is in the mix, as are the Klostermann twins from Dyersville Beckman.

Preseason favorite - Western Dubuque. Midseason favorite - Western Dubuque.

WAMAC WEST DIVISION

Setting the stage - It's a six-team race, with four teams tied for the lead. Newcomer South Tama (4-5, 3-1) is the hottest team in the division; the Trojans have won four straight games, including a victory over Center Point-Urbana (6-4, 3-1). Marion (7-2, 3-1) has won six of its last seven with a rotation that features three freshmen, including future star Chloe Rice. Benton Community (4-5, 3-1) also owns a share of the lead while Independence (5-4, 2-2) and Clear Creek Amana (3-6, 2-2) are in the thick of a race that still has far too many remaining key dates to count.

Midseason player of the year - Arika Wooldridge, Center Point-Urbana. With the graduation of Kennedy Salow, more has been needed from Wooldridge, and the junior has delivered. She's averaging 18.4 points and 8.5 rebounds, shooting 53 percent from the floor and 86 percent from the line.

Preseason favorite - Center Point-Urbana. Midseason favorite - Marion.

RIVER VALLEY NORTH DIVISION

Setting the stage - The area's winningest program through the past decade (197 wins in the previous 10 years), Cascade (6-0, 4-0) is at it again with a largely new cast of characters. The Cougars lead by two games in the loss column, but open the post-Christmas portion of their schedule against three daunting foes - Northeast, West Branch and Monticello. Get through that stretch, and Cascade should be in prime position to repeat as divisional champs. Northeast (6-2, 3-2) and Monticello (4-4, 3-2) are the Cougars' closest challengers.

Midseason player of the year - Aleenah Marcucci, Northeast. The division's leading scorer at 15.1 points per game, the junior has swiped 41 steals in eight contests.

Preseason favorite - Monticello. Midseason favorite - Cascade.

RIVER VALLEY SOUTH DIVISION

Setting the stage - The power of the RVC has shifted to the South, and Iowa City Regina (6-0, 5-0) has begun pursuit of a seventh consecutive league championship. The Regals have won all of their games by double digits under first-year coach Matt Bolger, but might be a bit rusty coming out of break; their last game was Dec. 13. Durant (5-3, 4-1) and West Branch (7-2, 5-2) are the closest challengers, and Mid-Prairie (4-4, 3-3) and West Liberty (4-4, 3-3) are good enough to give anybody fits on the right night.

Midseason player of the year - Tatum Koenig, West Liberty. The Comets have a fighting chance to post their first winning season in a long, long time, and the arrival of this freshman coincides with their improvement. She's the division's top scorer at 17.1 points per game, plus 3.5 assists and 3.4 steals per contest.

Preseason favorite - Durant. Midseason favorite - Iowa City Regina.

TRI-RIVERS EAST DIVISION

Setting the stage - This has the look of a two-tier power system, and defending-champion Midland (6-3, 3-0) is back on top for now by virtue of a 58-47 win over Bellevue Marquette (5-2, 2-1) on Dec. 5. The rematch is Jan. 16 at Bellevue. A team that won just one game last year (and only nine in its first three years as an IGHSAU-sanctioned school), Cedar Valley Christian (6-2, 2-1) just might be a legitimate contender; we'll know more when the Huskies visit Midland on Jan. 9. CVCS finally has some pieces around scoring machine Shelby Hembera.

Midseason player of the year - No-brainer, Part I. Shelby Hembera of Cedar Valley Christian leads the state (all classes) in scoring at 34.0 points per game and is second in rebounds at 14.6 per contest. It must be noted that Midland's Rylee Andreson is averaging a double-double at 14.7 points and 12.3 boards per game.

Preseason favorite - Bellevue Marquette. Midseason favorite - Midland.

TRI-RIVERS WEST DIVISION

Setting the stage - North Linn (9-0, 4-0) has won its first nine games by about 50 points per contest, and only three opponents have scored more than 20 points on the Lynx. But a tough four-game stretch begins Jan. 6 - at Maquoketa Valley (7-2, 3-1), home against Springville (7-0, 4-0), against Barneveld (Wis.) on a neutral floor, and at Alburnett (6-2, 2-2). Springville is poised to post its first winning season since 2009, and with a strong freshman class, the Orioles might be the division's next powerhouse, beginning next year. For now, though, that distinction goes to North Linn.

Midseason player of the year - No-brainer, Part II. Drake recruit Nicole Miller of North Linn averages 27.6 points per game, and her shooting numbers are spectacular from all over - 60 percent from the field (42 percent from 3-point range) and 90 percent from the line. Also posting 8.2 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 5.4 steals per game. Alburnett's Taylor Huber is next in scoring at 18.8 ppg, plus 7.8 rpg.

Preseason favorite - North Linn. Midseason favorite - North Linn.

NORTHEAST IOWA

Setting the stage - Waverly-Shell Rock (8-0, 4-0) took a big early step toward a fifth straight NEIC championship when it edged Crestwood (6-1, 2-1), 55-54, in its league opener Dec. 4, and the rematch is Jan. 20 at Cresco. After those two teams, the gap is wide.

Midseason player of the year - Tough call. Plenty of quality players, but no dominant ones. Taylor Schuring of Decorah does a lot for her team, at 12.1 points, 4 assists and nearly 3 steals per game. The Vikings appear to be on the rebound after three down seasons.

Preseason favorite - Waverly-Shell Rock. Midseason favorite - Waverly-Shell Rock.

SOUTH IOWA CEDAR

Setting the stage - Lynnville-Sully is always a contender, but surprisingly, hasn't won a SICL crown since 2000. The Hawks (9-0, 8-0) do have six runner-up finishes since then, and own a two-game advantage this year as the midpoint nears. The next three games offer an opportunity to expand on that margin; they face Iowa Valley (5-3, 5-3), English Valleys (6-2, 6-2) and Keota (7-3, 6-3), all on the road, in a five-day span starting Jan. 5. BGM (7-2, 6-2) joins English Valleys in the prime chase pack.

Midseason player of the year - Rylee Voss, English Valleys. Recently surpassed the 1,000-point mark. Averaging 19.3 points and 10.0 rebounds per game.

Preseason favorite - BGM. Midseason favorite - Lynnville-Sully.

UPPER IOWA LARGE

Setting the stage - The UIC has a distinctly new look this season. The split into divisions is one reason. The absence of Sumner-Fredericksburg is another; the Cougars have departed for the North Iowa Cedar League after winning the last four UIC titles. Clayton Ridge (5-2, 5-0) has been the best of the big-school division and already owns close triumphs over Edgewood-Colesburg (3-4, 2-2) and MFL MarMac (6-4, 3-3). Rematches with both are on the horizon, as are battles with Turkey Valley and Lansing Kee, both on the road.

Midseason player of the year - Somewhat quietly, Kari Fitzpatrick of Edgewood-Colesburg has assembled an outstanding career. This year is typically excellent - 21.1 points, 13.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 3.4 steals per game. She does it all for the Vikings.

Preseason favorite - Clayton Ridge. Midseason favorite - Clayton Ridge.

UPPER IOWA SMALL

Setting the stage - After winning four games in 2013, Turkey Valley upped its victory total to 13 last year and continues to improve. The Trojans (8-1, 6-0) have won six straight games, and their only loss was a three-pointer at 4A Decorah. Included in the present run is a 54-44 victory over Lansing Kee (8-1, 5-1), an outcome that separates the two teams in the small-school division. The rematch is Jan. 20 at Lansing. Starmont (5-3, 3-3) is aiming for its first winning season since 2002.

Midseason player of the year - Shelby Reicks of Turkey Valley averages 10.8 points per game, but it's her floor game that gives her the nod. The sophomore is posting 6.7 assists (against just 2.3 turnovers) per game, plus 5.3 steals.

Preseason favorite - Turkey Valley. Midseason favorite - Turkey Valley.

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