Girls basketball in Eastern Iowa is about to get really good

Cedar Rapids Washington at Iowa City West. DeWitt Central at Mount Vernon. Sumner-Fredericksburg at South Winneshiek.And that's just Tuesday.Yeah, girls' basketball in Eastern Iowa is about to get really good, really soon.Eight unbeatens remain in The Gazette's circulation area. Defending Class 4A state champion Linn-Mar headlines that list. The Lions (10-0 overall, 6-0 Mississippi Valley Conference) have won 36 straight games, and their 39-game MVC win streak matches the league record set by Cedar Rapids Washington from 1993 through 1995.Linn-Mar will try to break the mark Tuesday at Waterloo West.Other area unbeatens: Cedar Rapids Washington (9-0) in 4A, Williamsburg and South Tama (both 8-0) in 3A, Maquoketa Valley (10-0), Monticello (9-0) and Iowa City Regina (7-0) in 2A, and North Tama (8-0) in 1A.Two of them will fall soon: Maquoketa Valley travels to Monticello on Friday, Linn-Mar is at Washington on Jan. 13.A thumbnail sketch of each of the area conferences as the season approaches its midpoint:

MVC MISSISSIPPI DIVISION

Statistical leaders - Scoring: Kiah Stokes, Linn-Mar, 27.0;

Rebounding: Stokes, 14.9;

Assists: Jordan Johnston, Waterloo West, 5.5;

Steals: Courtney Strait, Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 3.6;

Blocks: Stokes, 5.7;

Field goal pct.: Stokes, .713;

3-point pct: Jenna Eells, Linn-Mar, .513;

Free throw pct: Strait, .843.

Tracking the race - Without a doubt, this is the stronger of the two divisions. The seven Mississippi Division teams are a combined 42-21, compared to 27-31 for the Valley teams. Linn-Mar has reloaded nicely around Connecticut recruit Kiah Stokes, who has firmly established herself as the favorite for Miss Iowa Basketball 2011. Like the Lions, Washington (9-0, 6-0) made a strong statement with two wins in Sioux City in mid-December. The co-leaders meet Jan. 13 at Linn-Mar, then in the regular-season finale Feb. 10 at Washington. Even two games back, Iowa City High (8-2, 4-2) deserves watching. Iowa recruit Virginia Johnson is averaging 23.0 points and 10.6 rebounds per game, and the Little Hawks have some nice young talent around her.

MVC VALLEY DIVISION

Statistical leaders - Scoring: Ally Disterhoft, Iowa City West, 16.3;

Rebounding: LaTrice McMullen, Waterloo East, 8.1;

Assists: Madison Dellamuth, Cedar Rapids Prairie, 3.9;

Steals: Jessica Shull, Iowa City West, 3.6;

Blocks: Kaz Brown, Cedar Falls, 5.3;

Field goal pct.: Disterhoft, .593;

3-point pct: Kaitlyn Davidson, Cedar Rapids Jefferson, .484;

Free throw pct: Disterhoft, .824.

Tracking the race - It's a two-team affair, and the two teams involved are nothing alike. Iowa City West (7-1, 5-1) is the highest-scoring outfit in Class 4A; the junior-dominated Women of Troy average 71.9 points per game. Cedar Rapids Xavier (9-1, 5-1) is typically suffocating on defense. The Saints are allowing 33.0 points per contest. When the teams collided Dec. 17 at Iowa City, West prevailed, 53-38. The rematch is Jan. 27 at Xavier, but both teams have a number of additional challenges ahead.

WAMAC EAST DIVISION

Statistical leaders - Scoring: Lindsay Smith, DeWitt Central, 17.5;

Rebounding: Amanda Platte, Mount Vernon, 9.4;

Assists: Smith, 5.8;

Steals: Smith, 4.3;

Blocks: Brie Winegar, Solon, 3.8;

Field goal pct.: Platte, .613;

3-point pct: Lauren Buck, Anamosa, .423;

Free throw pct: Liz Skotowski, Mount Vernon, .870.

Tracking the race - The dominant of the Wamac divisions, East teams won 15 of 23 interdivisional battles. Mount Vernon (6-1, 4-0) and DeWitt Central (9-0, 4-0) are rated Nos. 2 and 3 in Class 3A, and the co-leaders collide Tuesday at Mount Vernon. The Mustangs were 2A state champions last year and have experienced massive success in girls' sports in the past four years. Central counters with Division-I signees Jen Keitel (UNI) and Lindsay Smith (Wisconsin). Anamosa (6-3, 3-1) and Solon (6-2, 2-2) are quality teams, but the Mustangs and the Sabers are at a level of their own. The second matchup between the teams is Feb. 1 at DeWitt.

WAMAC WEST DIVISION

Statistical leaders - Scoring: Mackenzie Bigbee, Williamsburg, 15.3;

Rebounding: Rachel Schaefer, Waterloo Columbus, 11.4;

Assists: Madison Weekly, Benton Community, 4.3;

Steals: Weekly, 4.3;

Blocks: Bigbee, 3.6;

Field goal pct.: Bigbee, .658;

3-point pct: Erika Hammar, Vinton-Shellsburg, .448;

Free throw pct: Schaefer, .800.

Tracking the race - Williamsburg (8-0, 5-0) has taken control, based on its overtime road win at Benton Community (7-3, 3-1). The young Raiders, who have one of the state's best freshmen in Paige Greiner to go along with a standout post in Mackenzie Bigbee, should only get better as the season progresses. Benton, by far, is Williamsburg's most serious challenger; nobody else in the district has a winning overall record.

CEDAR VALLEY

Statistical leaders - Scoring: Katelyn DeWulf, Tipton, 22.2;

Rebounding: Zoe Dutchik, Iowa City Regina, 10.3;

Assists: Taylor Doermann, Tipton, 5.2;

Steals: Jenna Lehman, Iowa City Regina, 4.0;

Blocks: Kendra Roberson, Wilton, 3.7

; Field goal pct.: Lehman, .622;

3-point pct: DeWulf, .435;

Free throw pct: Mckenna Sexton, West Branch, .765.

Tracking the race - West Branch was the preseason favorite, but Regina (7-0, 6-0) has been the class of the league in a transitional year. Clark Anderson succeeded Brian Joens as coach, and the Regals certainly haven't missed a beat. Regina has allowed just 31 points per game against league opponents, and claimed control of the race with a 50-40 road win against West Branch (3-4, 3-1) on Dec. 14. The rematch is Jan. 21 at Regina. West Branch stuffed its non-league schedule with some very good 3A teams - Davenport Assumption, South Tama and Washington.

BIG EAST

Statistical leaders - Scoring: Demi Diedrich, Northeast, 17.3;

Rebounding: Ashley Gonzalez, Camanche, 12.2;

Assists: Ali Reeg, Bellevue, 4.9;

Steals: Diedrich, 7.1;

Blocks: Gonzalez, 2.2;

Field goal pct.: Kelsey Ernst, Bellevue, .634;

3-point pct: Reeg, .410;

Free throw pct: Cassie Aldis, East Central, .732.

Tracking the race - This may be the deepest this league has ever been. Three recent back-end teams - Bellevue, East Central and Lisbon - have made vast improvement, making this a league with no fewer than eight quality teams. A nine-win team last year, Bellevue (8-0, 2-0) has established itself as one of the favorites. But it will be difficult for the young, talented Comets - or anyone else, for that matter - to get through the 10-game season unscathed. Defending champion Northeast (6-3, 2-0) remains a factor, as does Camanche (8-1, 2-0), which advanced to state last year.

NORTHEAST IOWA

Statistical leaders - Scoring: Abby Lasher, Charles City, 19.9;

Rebounding: Logan Worden, Oelwein, 10.0;

Assists: Payton Stensland, Waverly-Shell Rock, 4.3;

Steals: Moran Lonning, Decorah, 5.8;

Blocks: Olivia Kreiner, Crestwood, 1.1;

Field goal pct.: Liz Moerer, Waverly-Shell Rock, .612; 

3-point pct: Ariel Grienhaug, Crestwood, .429;

Free throw pct: Ashley Rosenstiel, Oelwein, .711.

Tracking the race - Top to bottom, there's really not much of a gap among the seven teams, and that will lend itself to an exciting, unpredictable race to the end. Charles City (7-1, 3-1) had been the league's premier team until it was taken down on Dec. 21 by Waverly-Shell Rock, a win that put the Go-Hawks (6-2, 4-0) in the driver's seat for now. It's not as if WSR is untouchable; it beat New Hampton (4-3, 2-2) by one point and outlasted Waukon (4-3, 2-2) in double-overtime. And don't overlook Decorah (4-4, 1-2). For those counting, Waukon Coach Gene Klinge needs 40 wins to become the first Iowa girls' basketball coach to reach 1,000.

SOUTH IOWA CEDAR

Statistical leaders - Scoring: Gina Svare, Iowa Valley, 16.6;

Rebounding: Dani Coover, Belle Plaine, 11.1;

Assists: Tara Van Rees, Lynnville-Sully, 3.9;

Steals: Mallory Boyle, North Mahaska, 4.7;

Blocks: Svare, 2.8;

Field goal pct.: Brianna James, Lynnville-Sully, .506;

3-point pct: Taylor Tanner, HLV, .391;

Free throw pct: Lynsey Kriegel, BGM, .786.

Tracking the race - Three teams stand within a half-game of each other, and all appear strong enough to stay in the race the whole way. Iowa Valley (8-1, 8-1) has played five games (winning four) determined by four points or less. Included was a 41-40 win over Lynnville-Sully (8-2, 8-2) in its season opener and a 45-43 triumph over North Mahaska (8-1, 8-1) on Dec. 17. The Tigers did lose to Montezuma, though, and survived close calls with sub-.500 BGM and Sigourney. The next game involving two of the three contenders is Jan. 7, when Lynnville-Sully travels to Marengo.

TRI-RIVERS

Statistical leaders - Scoring: Kristy Lueken, Edgewood Colesburg, and Abbie Wooten, Maquoketa Valley, 12.0;

Rebounding: Charity Palmer, East Buchanan, 12.1;

Assists: Sammie Salow, Maquoketa Valley, 5.5;

Steals: Emily Peters, Maquoketa Valley, 4.3;

Blocks: Tanya Hendrickson, Central City, 2.8; 

Field goal pct.: Tracy Hermsen, Monticello, .559;

3-point pct: Salow, .516;

Free throw pct: Salow, .833.

Tracking the race - Maquoketa Valley (10-0, 6-0) and Monticello (9-0, 6-0) have imposed their defensive will on their opponents. The Wildcats are allowing 27.4 points per game while the Panthers are allowing 26.7, and nobody has gotten into the 30s on Monticello since November. The co-leaders get their first view of each other on Friday at Monticello, then meet again in the league finale Feb. 4 at Delhi. North Linn (7-1, 5-1) still has destiny in its own pocket; the Lynx host both teams in back-to-back games, Jan. 11 and Jan. 14.

UPPER IOWA

Statistical leaders - Scoring: Calsey Schwamman, Turkey Valley, 16.9;

Rebounding: Schwamman, 11.2;

Assists: Whitney Deering, Postville, 4.4;

Steals: Taylor Buhrow, West Central, 4.7;

Blocks: Julia Cuvelier, Turkey Valley, 2.7;

Field goal pct.: Jessica Leyh, Sumner-Fredericksburg, .585;

3-point pct: Ashley Nemechek, Elkader Central, .381;

Free throw pct: Nicole Wubbena, MFL MarMac, .789.

Tracking the race - This has been MFL MarMac's domain for the past seven years, but South Winneshiek (8-1, 7-0) ended the Bulldogs' 73-game win streak with a 54-45 win Dec. 21, and the Warriors don't have to play MFL MarMac (6-2, 5-1) again. That doesn't mean they're home free, by any means. They host Sumner-Fredericksburg (8-0, 6-0) in a pivotal game right out of the post-break chute on Tuesday. That comes a day after Sumner-Fredericksburg hosts MFL MarMac. The UIC spoiler could be Valley Community (4-6, 3-5), which has suffered six losses by a total of 20 points.

OTHER AREA TEAMS

Statistical leaders - Scoring: Kailey Klavido, North Tama, 19.1;

Rebounding: Anna Sweeting, Highland, 14.0;

Assists: Tiana Thompson, Meskwaki, 4.1;

Steals: Thompson, 5.0;

Blocks: Madison Baier, South Tama, 4.8;

Field goal pct.: Jena Krebs, Washington, .636;

3-point pct: Lauren Vittetoe, Washington, .467;

Free throw pct: Brittany Frush, Union, .826.

Tracking the teams - It has been a memorable winter so far in Tama County. North Tama and South Tama both are 8-0 and have positioned themselved nicely for league title runs. North Tama has a two-game lead in the Iowa Star South Division while South Tama stands in a tie for the Little Hawkeye Conference lead; the Trojans face co-leader Pella on the road Friday. Union (7-2 overall, 6-0 NICL East) has won six straight games and faces Wapsie Valley in a divisional showdown Friday at Fairbank. The Southeast Iowa Superconference race is a five-team chase, and Lone Tree (7-2, 6-2) and Highland (5-3, 5-3) are right in the middle of it. Washington (7-2, 2-1) is a half-game behind Keokuk in the Southeast Conference, due to a 49-48 loss to the Chiefs on Dec. 17; the Demons get another shot at home Jan. 28.