Author: Nathan Bloechl

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com 

Girls’ Basketball: Super Conference Announces All-Conference Teams:

The Southeast Iowa Super Conference has announced their 2020-21 All Conference Basketball teams.

First Team South Division

• Sydney Marlow, West Burlington
• Mya Merschman, Central Lee
• Isabel Manning, Van Buren County
• Marah Hartrick, New London
• Annaka Harris, West Burlington
• Katy Stephens, Notre Dame
• Ellah Kissell, WACO
• Drew Fox, Danville

First Team North Division 

• Farrah Nelson, WMU
• Bradie Buffington, WMU
• Kyndal Townsley, WMU
• Jobey Malone, WMU
• Hallie Mohr, Mediapolis

Isabel Manning and Mya Merschman were named Co-Players of the Year in the South Division after both finishing in No. 1 and No. 2 in the state in scoring in all classes.

Manning averaged 30.2 points per game for the Warriors this season, while Merschman scored 27.6 points per game.

Lisa Graber (WACO) was announced as the Coach of the Year in the South Division, while Mitch Wachs (W-MU) was named the Coach of the Year in the North Division.

Wachs helped guide the Lady Wolves to an 18-0 before falling to the Nikes of Notre Dame in district final play.

Girls’ Basketball: State Basketball Continues On:

The 2021 Iowa Girls State Basketball Tournament continued on yesterday Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, let’s take a look at the finals in all classes that participated yesterday.

2A

• No. 1 Maquoketa Valley 51, No. 8 Rock Valley 35

3A

• No. 3 Unity Christian 70, No. 6 Roland-Story 42

4A

• No. 1 Glenwood 79, No. 8 Wahlert Catholic 57
• No. 5 North Scott 59, No. 4 Central DeWitt 45
• No. 2 Ballard 38, No. 7 Harlan 27
• No. 3 Dallas Center-Grimes 43, No. 6 Bondurant-Farrar 32

College Basketball: Iowa Wesleyan Men, Women Host Westminster:

The Iowa Wesleyan women will try to win their second in a row, while the men will look to snap a two game losing skid tonight when they host Westminster.

Both the men and women enter tonight’s proceedings with a record of 1-4.

The Wesleyan women, who are coming off a Saturday win over Blackburn, have lost five straight games against Westminster, most recently last year’s 81-64 home loss on January 29th.

Meanwhile the men, who have stumbled out of the gates, will try to win consecutive matchups against Westminster for the first time since 2015.

Last year the men split the season series against the Blue Jays, winning at home 85-79.

You can listen on FM 105.5 this evening, with the women beginning at 5:30 p.m. and then men to follow at 7:30 p.m.

Nathan Bloechl and Kent Bennett will have all the action.

Women’s College Basketball: Clark Named Naismith Player of the Year Semifinalist:

University of Iowa freshman Caitlin Clark was named a 2021 Naismith Player of the Year Award semifinalist, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced Tuesday.

The list of semifinalists includes 11 student-athletes, including three underclassmen, Clark, South Carolina’s sophomore Aliyah Boston, and UConn’s freshman Paige Bueckers.

Clark leads the nation in points per game at 26.9 as well as assists (7.1), 3-pointers made and tripled doubles.

The West Des Moines native has also been named a Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Award finalist, a Dawn Staley Late Season Watch List honoree, and a World Exposure Women’s Basketball Freshman of the Year semifinalist.

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com 

Girls’ Basketball: West Lyon’s 2nd and 4th Quarter Surges Doom West Burlington:

West Lyon outscored West Burlington 15-3 in the 4th quarter and 23-3 over the game’s final 11:30, defeating the Falcons 52-30 in a Class 3A State Quarterfinal at Wells Fargo Arena last night.

West Burlington started the second half on an 8-0 run that cut the deficit from 10 at halftime to two in a matter of moments, but West Lyon star Brooklyn Meyer took the game over from there, sinking eight second half foul shots.

Meyer led all scorers with 15 points, 12 rebounds and 10 blocks.

The win moves West Lyon to Thursday’s semifinal where they will meet up with top-seeded Cherokee (23-0) at 2:00 p.m. in Des Moines.

Meyer, a South Dakota State recruit, battled second half foul trouble to help the Wildcats advance, when she went out is when West Burlington surged back into the game.

Natalie Vandenberg paced the Falcons with 10 points, while Sydney Marlow added seven.

Abbey Bence chipped in with five.

The loss closed West Burlington’s season at 21-2.

West Lyon improved to 23-1.

Other scores from the State Tournament yesterday:

3A

• No. 1 Cherokee 63, No. 8 Davenport Assumption 43
• No. 2 Clear Lake 45, No. 7 Waukon 24
• No. 4 West Lyon 52, No. 5 West Burlington 30

5A

• No. 1 Waukee 60, No. 8 Dowling Catholic 37
• No. 5 Ankeny Centennial 47, No. 4 Southeast Polk 45
• No. 2 Johnson 71, No. 7 Cedar Falls 64
• No. 6 Iowa City West 65, No. 3 Waterloo West 63

Boys’ Basketball: Mount Pleasant’s Trent Named Unanimous All-SEC:

Mount Pleasant junior forward Dewon Trent was one of four Panthers honored by Southeast Conference coaches on the 2020-21 All-Conference list.

Trent was a unanimous first-team selection in his first varsity season after leading Mount Pleasant to a 13-11 record and a near upset of Mount Vernon (RV) in last Thursday’s Class 3A Substate semifinal.

Trent finished third in the conference — and tops on the team — in scoring at 15.8 points per game, while hauling 7.3 rebounds — also good for third in the Southeast Conference.

Joining Trent on the first team was Amarion Davis of Burlington (Co-Conference POY), Fort Madison’s Dayton Davis (Co-Conference POY), Ethan Patterson of Washington, Fairfield’s Max Wheaton and Anthony Potratz of Keokuk.

Panther senior forward Brevin Wilson was named Second Team All-SEC.

Wilson averaged 10.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game — second in the SEC.

Both Owen Vansickel and Chase Williamson garnered Honorable Mention All-Conference recognition.

Dylon Hagans, Jack Johnson, Mason Mills, Cooper Pullis, Avery Scanridge and Brevin Wilson were all named to the Academic All-Conference list.

Women’s College Basketball: Clark Sweeps B1G Honors Again:

University of Iowa freshman Caitlin Clark was named Big Ten Women’s Basketball Player and Freshman of the Week, the conference announced Monday.

Clark has tallied 20 Big Ten Weekly honors on the season, including a Big Ten best 12 freshman honors, a Big Ten record five Big Ten Player of the Week honors as a freshman, and three Player of the Week Honor Roll nods.

In three games last week, Clark averaged 26.3 points, 10 assists, and five rebounds. She also added three blocks and three steals. In the three contests, Clark was a perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line.

Clark and the Hawkeyes travel to Bloomington, Indiana, to take on the No. 11 Hoosiers on Wednesday, March 3 inside Assembly Hall.

Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m.

Men’s College Basketball: Former Norwalk Star Born Honored:

The Missouri Valley Conference has announced UNI‘s Bowen Born as the Newcomer of the Week.

Born scored 33 points, dished out 12 assists, with 5 rebounds and 4 steals while helping the Panthers to a 2-0 mark on against Illinois State over the weekend.

Born and the rest of the Panthers will be back in action on Thursday in the second game of Arch Madness, taking on Illinois State for the third time in a row.

The Panthers and Redbirds will tip off at 8 pm in the Enterprise Center in St. Louis.

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com 

Boys’ Basketball: New London Falls Sunk by River Hawks:

Blaise Porter had 19 points but it was not enough as New London was beaten by No. 4 Easton Valley 61-43 in a Class 1A Substate Final Saturday afternoon at Maquoketa High School.

The River Hawks, who improved to 22-0, advance to the Class 1A State Tournament, beginning March 8th at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

It’s their first appearance since 2014.

The game was close for a quarter and a half, before Easton Valley’s Kaleb Cornilsen took advantage of a Kade Benjamin-less Tiger frontcourt as the sophomore picked up three first half fouls.

Cornilsen paced the River Hawks with 22 points and 14 boards and helped Easton Valley jump out to a seven-point halftime lead.

Benjamin only attempted two shots the entire night and scored just two points.

Camden Kasel chipped in with eight for New London while Caydin Wahls had five.

New London closes their season 19-5, while Easton Valley earned the No. 4 seed at the 1A State Tournament.

They’ll take on Martensdale-St. Mary’s in their quarterfinal matchup.

Just one other substate final on Saturday:

• Camanche 58, West Burlington 38
  • Marvion Jackson had 15 points in the loss for the Falcons, who close their season with a record 16-7. Camanche enters the 2A State Tournament with a record of 18-6.

Girls’ Basketball: West Burlington Girls’ Ready for State Tournament Push:

The No. 5 West Burlington girls’ basketball team is ready to fly tonight when they open their 2021 State Tournament push against the West Lyon Wildcats in quarterfinal action.

West Burlington is led by senior Sydney Marlow, a career 1,000 point scorer, who averages 13.7 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.

Sophomore Abby Bence is second on the team with 13 points and 6.9 rebounds per contest.

West Burlington knocked off Albia, Central Lee and West Liberty — in thrilling fashion — on their way to Wells Fargo Arena.

The Falcons went 21-1 in the regular season.

Meanwhile West Lyon is back to state after finishing 22-1 this year.

The Wildcats defeated Okoboji, MOC-Floyd Valley and Bishop Heelan on their State Tournament quest.

They’re led by junior Brooklyn Meyer who scores 16 points per game, while senior Kennedy Kramer averages 10.4 points per game.

This will be the first matchup between the two programs.

The winner will get either top-seeded Cherokee or Davenport Assumption.

Tonight’s game will tip at 7:00 p.m. and you can listen on FM 105.5 and kilj.com.

Nathan Bloechl and Kent Bennett will have all the action beginning at 6:45 p.m.

Women’s College Basketball: Tiger Women Earn Win No. 1:

The Iowa Wesleyan women received 22 points from senior Morgan McCrea as they defeated Blackburn College on Saturday, 85-78.

McCrea also added four rebounds and six assists.

Anija Simmons (FR/Plano, TX) added 19 points, six rebounds, and three steals.

Sydney Farrar (SO/Charlotte, ME) and Asantee Tillman (FR/Des Moines, IA) added 13 and 10 points respectively for the Tigers, who improved 1-4 overall and 1-0 in conference play.

Men’s College Basketball: Tiger Men Fall to Blackburn:

Two Tigers dropped double-digits scoring, but turnovers proved costly as Iowa Wesleyan suffered an 81-61 loss to Blackburn.

Alex Dentlinger (JR/New London, IA) put up 16 points to lead the Tigers. Dentlinger also added seven rebounds.

Kaleb Cresswell (JR/Fort Madison, IA) added 11 points and seven rebounds.

The Tigers turned the basketball over 22 times.

The loss dropped them to 1-4 overall and 0-1 in conference action.

Iowa Wesleyan will host Westminster College for another men’s and women’s conference doubleheader on Wednesday.

The women’s team will begin play at 5:30 pm, while the men will follow at 7:30 pm.

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com 

Boys’ Basketball: New London Ready to Roar Against Undefeated Easton Valley:

The New London Tiger boys’ basketball (19-4) is aiming to head back to the 1A State Tournament for the first time since 2017 today when they take on undefeated Easton Valley (21-0) in a Class 1A Substate 4 Final today.

The game will be played at 4:30 p.m. at Maquoketa High School and can be heard on FM 105.5 beginning with Tournament Trail Tipoff Show at 4:15 p.m.

Both teams have taken the hard road to their meeting today.

For New London, it meant surviving a late flurry by No. 8 Springville, holding on for a 71-68 win Tuesday night at West Liberty High School.

Junior forward Devin Swanson was unconscious from the field for the Tigers in Tuesday’s tilt, pouring in a game high 32 points and 10 boards.

Sophomore guard Blaise Porter has seen his level play rise in each of New London’s first three playoff wins averaging 21.6 points per game in the postseason.

He had the game-clinching play against the Orioles — a steal with 6.8 to play in the game.

Meanwhile, Easton Valley (21-0) survived a double overtime thriller against unranked Wapello Tuesday night, 50-48.

The River Hawks hit a game tying shot at the end of the first overtime and did just not enough to overcome a hot night from Wapello junior Maddox Griffin.

Easton Valley is led by senior guard Kaleb Cornilsen, who is averaging a team-best 23.3 points per game.

He had 22 in the team’s win over the Indians, Tuesday night.

The Easton Valley win moved them to today’s substate final, a game they lost last year after starting the year similarly to this, at 23-0.

Again, this afternoon’s game will begin at 4:30 p.m. on FM 105.5 and kilj.com.

Nathan Bloechl and Kent Bennett will have the action beginning at 4:15 p.m.

Girls’ Basketball: Lopreato Headlines Panthers on All-Conference List:

Mount Pleasant sophomore forward Andrea Lopreato was recognized by Southeast Conference officials yesterday as a 1st Team All-Conference selection following her terrific campaign for Curt Watson’s group.

Lopreato led Mount Pleasant with 16.7 points and 10.9 rebounds per game, all while contributing two assists, three steals and a block per contest, as well.

Her capstone performance was a February 5th drubbing of Burlington, where Lopreato set the school record for points in a game with 37 (13-of-19 FG), while snagging 16 rebounds.

Joining Lopreato on the 1st Team were the Fairfield tandem of Danielle Breen and Hannah Simpson, Abby Wolter of Keokuk (Conference POY) and Fort Madison’s Malarie Ross and Brandy Walker.

Lopreato’s classmate Tristian Shull was named 2nd Team All-Conference by the coaches, as well.

Shull averaged 9.5 points her second year on the varsity floor, leading the conference with nearly four assists per game.

She finished second on the team in steals per game with 2.7.

Both Emma Huckabone and Kenna Lamm were named to the Honorable Mention All-Conference list.

Lamm, Huckabone, Ava Lowery, Karsyn Lamm and Emma Rugg were all Academic All-Conference selections for the Panthers as well.

Mount Pleasant closed their season with a record of 11-10.

Prep Wrestling: Irving Named 1^st Team All-SEC:

Mount Pleasant 170-pounder Chayse Irving was recognized a 1^st Team All-Conference wrestler, the league announced Thursday.

Irving helped guide the Panthers to a third-place finish in the team standings in conference bouts this year.

Ella McNamee (113-pounds), Gannon McNamee (120-pounds), Carson Coleman (126-pounds), Bowen Davis (132-pounds) and Sam Carrasco (220-pounds) were all named to the 2^nd Team list.

Carrasco fell just short of a State Tournament appearance this year, falling in the district tournament as a third-place finisher.

Abby Blint and Gannon McNamee were both named to the Academic All-Conference list for the Panthers, as well.