We got a rare opportunity to see western Iowa play eastern Iowa last Saturday.
Sioux City East, then ranked No. 3 in the All-Class Super 10, took on Cedar Rapids Kennedy, a reigning Class 4A semifinalist much better than its 6-6 record indicated, in the Wells Fargo Advisors Shootout at the U.S. Cellular Center.
The Black Raiders eked out a 55-53 win over Kennedy, outscoring the Cougars, 10-8, over the final four minutes. While the win bumped East up to No. 2 in the newest Super 10, a two-point win over an unranked team isn't what you'd normally expect from a top-three squad.
East is used to criticism that, out west, it plays an easier schedule than it would in central or eastern Iowa. And this year, a knock could be that its lone loss came to Bishop Heelan, a Class 3A team.
So, how much should we read into East's nail-biting win over Kennedy?
Not a whole lot.
Remember, East faced all the same criticisms last season before it beat Bettendorf and nearly toppled West Des Moines Valley to advance to the 4A title game. It then beat Kennedy, 58-56, in the consolation game.
Another factor to consider: For the most part, western Iowa plays a different brand of basketball than the east. It features a faster, up-and-down game, compared to the eastern side's smash-mouth, grind-it-out style. It's hard to predict what'll happen when those two styles collide. Last Saturday, it happened to produce a thrilling win for East.
The Black Raiders will be favored in the final seven games of their regular season. Van Rees, Aidan Vanderloo and company won't play another eastern team until the state tournament, should they advance that far.
You can bet they'd love another chance to prove the west side can hoop, too.
Responding to an unfamiliar loss
Playing a brutal Mississippi Valley Conference schedule, Iowa City West was bound to lose at least one regular season game this season. And, lo and behold, that first loss came last Tuesday in a 55-54 thriller at Cedar Falls.
The Trojans dropped to 10-1 before beating Cedar Rapids Prairie at the Wells Fargo Advisors Shootout to jump to 11-1.
If the past is any example, West will respond well to its first taste of defeat.
Last year, West lost its first game to Prairie on Dec. 20. From then on, it won 18 straight games against in-state competition and took home a 4A title.
In 2015-16, Dubuque Wahlert handed West its first in-state loss on Jan. 12 before the Trojans won 14 of its next 16 and took second in 4A. In 2013-14, it lost to Dubuque Senior on Jan. 10 before winning 15 of 16 against Iowa teams and claiming another 4A crown.
Five wins in 10 days for the Polar Bears
We've talked about the state's top two teams. Might as well discuss No. 3, too.
Des Moines North just endured its toughest stretch of the season — six games in 12 days — and came out 5-1.
The Polar Bears started with a 70-60 loss at Des Moines Hoover on Jan. 9. Next was a 94-56 win over Des Moines East on Jan. 12. Tyreke Locure scored 39. The next day, they topped Ottumwa, 78-64.
The following Tuesday, they pulled out a thrilling 84-81 win at West Des Moines Valley. On Friday, they beat Des Moines Lincoln, 71-60, in a game that probably felt too close. And the next day, North highlighted their Saturday with a 93-86 win over an explosive Sioux City West team — another game that probably felt too close.
Now, North takes a breath and prepares for Ottumwa this Friday. No more three-game weeks for the Polar Bears in the regular season.
Matthew Bain covers college football and basketball recruiting for the Des Moines Register. He also helps out with Iowa and Iowa State football and basketball coverage for HawkCentral and Cyclone Insider. Contact him at mbain@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @MatthewBain_.