Sports : Rivalry Week, Part 2: Vikings must get past Benton, CPU to win Wamac West

The second of three "Rivalry Week" series of the 2015-16 high school basketball season takes place over the next few days at the Garrison Fieldhouse, where the Vikings will host Benton Community on Friday and Center Point-Urbana on Tuesday.

The Vikings lost at Benton on Jan. 12 and at CPU on Jan. 15. The three teams are contending for the Wamac West Title. Currently, CPU leads with a conference record of 7-1; is at Benton 9-2, and V-S 8-3. Overall, the Bobcats are at 12-5 ; the Vikings and Stormin' Pointers are each at 11-6.

The conference title, if not won by VS, could be on the line Jan. 16, when Benton plays at CPU. In those teams' first match-up, CPU edged the Bobcats, 61-60.

The Vikings end their regular season with a Feb. 12 game at Solon and a Feb. 15 make-up game at Marion.

The three local rivals, as close in record as in state geography, will be rivals again in the post season. While the district pairings and game dates have not been announced, the Vikings know the four teams in the Class 3A District 7 tournament will include, V-S, CP-U, Benton and Mount Vernon. One of those four will compete in the Sub-State against the District 8 winner for a trip to State. District 8 includes Davenport Assumption, Central DeWitt, Maquoketa and Solon.