Girls’ Prep Basketball: A Win for Myers, Notre Dame, as Nikes Roll to State
A mere months after losing their head coach Jim Myers to a seven year battle with cancer, the Notre Dame Nike girls’ basketball team is going dancing again.
Knocking on the door of a return trip each of the last two years, the Nikes left no doubt last night earning an 83-22 win over English Valleys, punching their ticket to Des Moines for the first time since 2017.
“These girls are so focused and motivated by Jim. I mean, this is what they’re playing forward. I just wanted to keep them focused on what we came here to do, how we got here and what’s going to continue going on if we keep winning and accomplishing goals” head coach Cory Stephens said.
After English Valleys scored the opening bucket, Notre Dame went on an a tsunami even the Coast Guard would not be prepared for.
A 25-0 first quarter gave the Nikes a 25-2 lead at the end of one, growing it to 50-11 at the end of the first half.
All 14 Nikes who dressed played, with nine of them scoring.
Megan Harrell led the way with 17 points and nine rebounds, while Lauren Krieger finished with 16.
Gabby Deery chipped in with 10 points and six boards.
English Valleys closes their season 21-4, while Notre Dame is now 23-0.
The Nikes will play second-ranked Algona Bishop Garrigan in their Class 1A state quarterfinal on March 2nd at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.
Tip is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.
Girls’ Prep Basketball: State Basketball Pairings
The state girls’ basketball pairings have been announced.
Here are the full pairings in all five classes.
1A
No. 1 Newell-Fonda vs. No. 8 North Mahaska
No. 4 Marcus-Meridan-Cleghorn vs. No. 5 Exira-EHK
No. 2 Algona Bishop Garrigan vs. No. 7 Notre Dame
No. 3 Springville vs. No. 6 North Linn
2A
No. 1 Dike-New Hartford vs. No. 8 South Central Calhoun
No. 4 Panorama vs. No. 5 Iowa City Regina
No. 2 Denver vs. No. 7 Underwood
No. 3 Central Lyon vs. No. 6 Cascade
3A
No. 1 Unity Christian vs. No. 8 Davenport Assumption
No. 4 Estherville Lincoln Central vs. No. 5 Sergeant Bluff-Luton
No. 2 West Lyon vs. No. 7 Roland-Story
No. 3 Ballard vs. No. 6 Center Point-Urbana
4A
No. 1 Dallas Center-Grimes vs. No. 8 Benton Community
No. 4 Cedar Rapids Xavier vs. No. 5 Central DeWitt
No. 2 Glenwood vs. No. 7 Bondurant-Farrar
No. 3 Bishop Heelan vs. No. 6 Waverly-Shell Rock
5A
No. 1 Johnston vs. No. 8 Dowling Catholic
No. 4 Pleasant Valley vs. No. 5 Iowa City High
No. 2 Des Moines Roosevelt vs. No. 7 WDM Valley
No. 3 Ankeny Centennial vs. No. 6 Waterloo West
Boys’ Prep Basketball: Mount Pleasant, Top-Seeded Marion Meet
The Mount Pleasant boys’ basketball team is back on the hardwood tonight as they get set for their Class 3A-Substate 5 semifinal against top-seeded Marion.
The Panthers of course are coming off a 60-55 double overtime win over Mount Vernon and looking to punch their ticket back to the substate final.
Tonight’s venture won’t be easy, however, as the Wolves are 17-5 on the year and are the top-seed in the substate.
That doesn’t mean the Wolves aren’t beatable, however.
Marion is just 3-2 in their last five, with losses to Williamsburg and West Delaware.
They’re led by junior guard Brayson Laube, who is averaging 19.3 points per game, while hitting 51% of his field goals and 44% of his triples.
He’s the only player in double figures for Marion.
Mount Pleasant guard Payton Hagans was a one man wrecking crew in Monday’s quarterfinal win.
The tantalizing sophomore poured in a season-high 26 points on 6-of-11 shooting from three to guide the Panthers back to the substate semifinal for the second straight season.
They’ll need him to be at his best tonight for the Panthers to pull off a second-straight upset.
Tonight’s game will begin at 7:00 p.m.
You can listen on FM 105.5 and kilj.com.
Nathan Bloechl and Kent Bennett will have the call.
Prep Bowling: State Bowling Results
Two Mount Pleasant bowlers completed their trip to State Bowling.
On the girls’ side, Mount Pleasant’s Eden Svoboda rolled a series 477 to finish in 24th in the individual race.
Cole Wohlleber finished 26th after rolling a series 547.