Girls’ State Basketball
The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union finished up the 2025-26 season over the weekend with three new champions being crowned.
The Class 4A championship featured a Cinderella story in #5 Carlisle upsetting #2 Dallas Center-Grimes, 38-36, in their first ever appearance in a state championship game. Macy Comito, the Iowa State commit, led the floor with 17 points, as she was voted captain of the all-tournament team.
In Class 2A, #2 Rock Valley splashed a state tournament record 14 three pointers to take down the defending champions #1 Hinton, 67-57. Haevyn Ranschau set her own state tournament record by hitting nine threes for 29 points, as she was named captain of the all-tournament team.
Lastly, #2 Newell-Fonda collected their program’s fifth state championship and fourth in the last eight years after defeating #1 Bishop Garrigan, 64-56, in the Class 1A title game. Ellie and Quinn Sievers each netted 16 points in the winning effort, as Ellie was named captain of the all-tournament team.
Girls’ High School Basketball
A handful of local athletes will be participating in the Larry Niemeyer Senior Girls All-Star basketball tournament scheduled for Saturday, March 14th.
In Class 2A, Danville’s Alaina Gourley will play on the Gray Team with their game at 1 pm.
Over in Class 3A, Adalyn Long of Washington will join a trio from the Southeast Iowa Super Conference in Kenna Sandoval of Central Lee and Grace Holsteen and Ellah Wagenbach of Mediapolis on the White Team. They will play at 10:30 am.
Lastly, Kendra Boatman of Keokuk and Burlington’s Mylee Stiefel will join sides for the Gray Team in a combination of Class 3A/4A/5A talent. They will square off at 9:15 am.
Boys’ Postseason Basketball
For the Class 1A State Tournament, #4 Burlington Notre Dame will face off against #5 Bellevue tomorrow, March 10th, with tip-off at 3:45 pm. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call with the pregame show at 3:30 pm.
Other Class 1A matchups include: #1 St. Edmond facing off against #8 Woodbine, #2 MMCRU taking on #7 Boyden-Hull, and #6 Marquette Catholic looking to upset #3 Bishop Garrigan.
The Class 3A quarterfinals will tip-off the state tournament today with #1 Ballard facing off against #8 Gilbert at 10:30 am.
High School Track and Field
The Indoor Track and Field season will start today with boys’ teams from all around the state heading to the UNI-Dome for the A.D. Dickinson Relays. The girls will compete tomorrow, March 10th.
Southeastern Community College
The men’s basketball team lost the Region 11 championship to Indian Hills Community College over the weekend, 66-52. Jaleel Donley netted 20 points in the losing effort. The Blackhawks went 17-13 for the season.
The baseball team finished the weekend with a 1-2 record after defeating Crowder College 8-3 and losing two one-run contests to Crowder College, 5-4, and Northeastern Oklahoma AM College, 11-10. The Blackhawks will host Anoka-Ramsey Community College today for a doubleheader.
The softball team will travel to St. Louis Community College on Monday, March 16th, for a doubleheader.
College Basketball
The #9 Iowa women’s team earned their sixth trip to the Big Ten Championship over the last eight seasons after taking down Michigan, 59-42, in the semifinals; however, the Hawkeyes were denied by the #1-seed UCLA in the title game, losing by a lopsided 96-45 final. Ava Heiden finished the pair of games with a combined 31 points. The Hawkeyes and Cyclones will now wait for the Selection Sunday Show on March 15th at 7 pm to realize their postseason fate.
The Iowa men’s team pushed #9 Nebraska to the limits, forcing the Cornhuskers into overtime, but ultimately fell 84-75. The Hawkeyes were led by Cooper Koch and Kael Combs, as they each nabbed 18 points. Iowa will take on either Maryland or Oregon at 11 am on Wednesday, March 11th, to begin their path in the Big Ten Tournament.
The #6 Iowa State men’s team needed a dominant second half to bury Arizona State, 86-65, over the weekend. The Cyclones outscored the Sun Devils 49 to 24 in the second half after trailing by four at the halftime break. Five Cyclones finished the day in double figures. Iowa State earned a bye in the Big 12 tournament and will play on Wednesday at 11:30 am.
This Day in Sports History
1904 – Brandon’s Lester Patrick becomes 1st hockey defenseman to score a goal.
1979 – MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn orders baseball to give equal access to female reporters.
1993 – Pittsburgh Penguins begin an NHL record 17 game winning streak.