Bears are 1-2 to start season

  WEST BRANCH - The defending River Valley Conference South champion West Branch Bears begin the new season 1-2 as the second week of the regular season begins.  The Bears won their 2017-18 season opener at home against Wilton, 58-18, but have lost their last two at Monticello (68-58) and home against Tipton Tuesday (59-57).

  The Bears play at Winfield Mt. Union tonight, Thursday December 7 before starting a big week next week.  Next week, West Branch plays two RVC teams that will likely at minimum flirt with being in the class 2A rankings when they are released.  Those teams are Iowa City Regina and Cascade.  Both come to West Branch with the Cougars on Tuesday and the Regals on Friday.  Also a road game at West Liberty next Saturday waits.  A rematch of last year’s class 2A substate game with Camanche will take place at Camanche before home games with Mid-Prairie finishes off the pre-Christmas break schedule.

Wildcats Looking For First Win Of Season

  DURANT — The Durant Wildcats will travel to Tipton Friday night looking for their first victory of the season.  The Wildcats sit 0-6 overall and 0-4 in River Valley Conference play.  The Wildcats nearly pulled off their first win of the season this past Tuesday in a 54-48 overtime loss at West Liberty.  The Wildcats outscored the Comets in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 41 after regulation, but the Comets outscored them 13-7 in overtime.

  Through five games, stat leaders for the Wildcats are - Scoring - Kamryn Meyer 7.6 ppg, Ruby Kappeler 7.0 ppg; 3-pointers made - Ruby Kappeler 3; Rebounds - Kamryn Meyer 25, Amanda Wiese 24, Ruby Kappeler 20; Assists - Hannah Happ 7, Kamryn Meyer 6; Steals - Kamryn Meyer 7, Amanda Wiese 5; Blocked Shots - Kamryn Meyer 6, Lauren Ralfs 5.

  The Wildcats game with West Liberty Tuesday started a three-game road stretch for Durant with a game at Tipton this Friday and at Mid-Prairie Saturday afternoon.  The Wildcats host Bellevue, Mid-Prairie and Wilton to finish off their pre-Christmas schedule.