Johnston, Urbandale 'Border War' Still a Key Sports Rivalry

To Head Coach Brad Bjorkgren, every team in the CIML Central Conference is a rival, but none are as consistent and special as the Urbandale-Johnston rivalry.

According to Bjorkgren it's always a tough game. And he says it's the underdog who usually has the upper-hand.

"We know the Johnston game will always be a tough one," said Bjorkgren. "We always tell the guys that usually the team that's not supposed to win this Urbandale and Johnston game, will usually win it."

The J-Hawks and Dragons will square off tonight in what will be the first of two games between the two this season, and the last game before a two-week hiatus for winter break.

The Urbandale-Johnston game will be tonight at 7:45 p.m. at Urbandale. Add pictures from the game to our photo gallery, or on our Johnston Eyes and Ears Tumblr or our Urbandale Eyes and Ears Tumblr, and weigh in on the out come in the comment section.

With Bjorgstrem's logic the Dragon's (2-4) should come out on top in this one. On paper they are the inferior team to the J-Hawks (4-2). But Johnston Head Coach Bobby Sandquist knows the challenge this J-Hawk team poses.

"They'll be well coached and they'll definitely be ready to go," said Sandquist. "It'll be a challenge for us, that's for sure."

Sandquist calls this game of proximity the "Border War." And says the two high school's will always be rivals.

"It's always been a rivalry, and it will always continue to be so," said Sandquist. "A lot of these kids are neighbors, we have kids that actually have Urbandale addresses. Being in such close proximity, I think it's always going to be a rivalry."

Johnston sophomore Jay Knuth leads the team in scoring, rebounds and steals. He says bragging rights are the reward in this particular game.

"I think it's still a key rivalry," said Knuth. "You know a lot of the guys in both programs, we live close th eachother, if we see eachother somewhere it's nice to say 'oh hey we won this year,' it's nice to have the bragging rights."

Urbandale boasts a stud of their own with junior Denny Agic. He's second in the conference in scoring, averaging just over 16 points per game. Knuth knows the significance of Agic's court presence. 

"We know that Urbandale will bring the intensity just beacause it's a rivalry game. Denny Ajic has been playing really well, it'll be key to shut him down if we want to succeed on Thursday," said Knuth.

The two schools will meet for a second time on Jan. 27 at Johnston.