Sports : \'Average\' victory for top-ranked, Vikings: Win, 73-53 at Indee

For a season that is already earning adjectives like "historic" and "exceptional," the Vinton-Shellsburg Vikings' 73-53 win at Independence Tuesday was about average.

As in: The top-ranked, undefeated Vikings continue to lead Class 3A in the points differential category, winning their 13 games by an average of 22 points. The Vikings are scoring an average of 71.1 points per game, versus an average of 49.1 points allowed. They have scored more points (925) than any other team in their class.

Grant Sagan scored 21 vs. the Mustangs on Tuesday; he is second in Class 3A with an average of 19.5 points per game. Max Kearns handed out six more assists; he is second in Class 3A with 98 assists, or an average of 7.5 per game.

The Viking defense recorded 16 steals against Independence; the Vikings average 10.5 steals per game. After 13 games, the Vikings have a total of 136 steals and 31 blocks, compared to just 200 total team fouls. Only one team -- Mt. Pleasant -- has more steals and blocks than the Vikings so far this season.

Offensively, the Vikings are third in Class 3A in field goal shooting percentage (51.7); sixth in percentage of shots made from behind the 3-point line (37.7); and tied for eight in free throw percentage (67.3).

See complete stats HERE.

The Vikings host Clear Creek-Amana Friday night.

Still No. 1

The Vikings remain atop the Iowa Class 3A poll, although some undefeated teams continue to rise. One of those teams Crestwood-Cresco, is a potential post-season rival.

The Top 10 in the most recent (Jan. 14) AP poll of Iowa boys Class 3A teams include:

Record Pts Prv

1. Vinton-Shellsburg (15) 12-0 168 1
2. Dallas Center-Grimes (1) 11-0 143 3
3. Assumption, Davenport (1) 8-3 114 T5
4. Atlantic 11-1 110 8
5. Bishop Heelan Catholic, Sioux City 9-3 91 T5
6. MOC-Floyd Valley 11-2 77 4
7. Crestwood, Cresco 10-0 65 10
8. Centerville 9-1 38 NR
9. Creston 9-2 30 2
10. Mount Pleasant 8-3 24 9

Others receiving votes: Solon 20. Grinnell 14. Harlan 14. Iowa Falls-Alden 12. Nevada 5. Humboldt 4. Keokuk 3. Carroll 3.

One interesting note among the top ten teams is how few contests there have been between them. Atlantic defeated Creston, 47-40, on Jan. 8; Centerville defeated Mount Pleasant, 53-51, that same date.

Sub-State listings

While the District pairings have not yet been released, the Vikings now now which other seven teams will be in their Sub-State #3 grouping. One of those eight teams will advance to the state meet after two district wins and the Sub-State championship. The VIkings advanced to the Sub-State game last year, losing to Western Dubuque, which has moved up to Clas 4A this year.

Along with Vinton-Shellsburg, the other teams in the Class 3A Sub-State #3 group include: Benton Community, Independence, Oelwein, Decorah, Waukon, Crestwood-Cresco, and Union. See the IHSAA Sub-State groupings HERE.