High School Girls’ Postseason Basketball
In Class 3A Region 1, #13 Mediapolis was left stunned last night as Benton pulled off the huge upset to win 50-47. Josie Hutcheson and Bryn Wright each put up 10 points in the effort. The Bulldogs finished the year with a 21-2 record.
In Class 4A Region 4, Mt. Pleasant had no answer to Keokuk’s pressure defense, falling to the Chiefs 63-20. Paityn Ensminger led the way in scoring with six points but the real story was Alexa Fuller. In a gutsy performance the senior played on only one good leg and managed to put up five points for the Panthers. Head coach Curt Watson was emotional talking about his senior duo in Charice Auwerda and Fuller after the game,
“It’s really hard for me to talk about those two seniors because they’ve been a rock for us for four years. Alexa has had this penciled in that she was going to play in the regional game, and you know. she probably shouldn’t have, but she wanted to play, and she gave it everything she had, and she had some buckets, and I know it meant a lot to her to be on the court one last time with her teammates. Cherice is the same way; Cherice has been a great leader for four years. I mean this year, she’s really stepped up her game on the court to be more of a leader too. All the girls on her team just love them too as leaders, as young adults, they’re just super kids.”
Mt. Pleasant finished the season with a 3-19 record, while Keokuk will play Clear Creek Amana on Saturday at 7 pm on the road.
In the top half of the bracket, Burlington snuck past Fort Madison to win 39-37. The Grayhounds will take on Central DeWitt on Saturday at 7 pm.
In Class 2A Region 2, Danville will travel to Columbus tomorrow, February 21st, at 7 pm. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call with the pregame show at 6:45 pm.
High School Wrestling
Day one of the boys’ state tournament is in the books and 17 of our 32 local wrestlers managed to advance to the quarterfinal round. Here’s some of the highlights from the first day of action.
In Class 1A, New London’s Gage Burden executed an upset over #4 Landon Price of GT/RA by an 11-6 decision to advance to the quarterfinals against #5 Dustin Van Oort of West Lyon. He has a chance of running into Wapello’s Cohen Wolford as he faces off against #1 Dawson Youngblut of Don Bosco today in his quarterfinal matchup.
In Class 2A, Burlington Notre Dame had four wrestlers advance in the championship bracket, while the Southeast Conference had Fairfield’s Cael McCabe, Cason Miller, and Dre Smithburg, along with Washington’s Aaron Boone move on in the championship bracket. Class 3A’s Braxton Hutchinson of Burlington added on to the success of the SEC with a win to advance in the quarterfinals.
Chasing perfect records for the season are WACO’s Louden Huisenga and Kyler Crow of Mediapolis.
If you would like to see a full breakdown of all day one action, then follow the link:
Class 1A Results: Day One Results
Class 2A Results: Day One Results
Class 3A Results: Day One Results
High School Boys’ Postseason Basketball
For Class 1A Substate 4 District 8, #4 Winfield-Mt. Union will take on #1-seed #10 Burlington Notre Dame tonight on the road.
#3 WACO will face off against #2 Holy Trinity Catholic tonight at 7 pm on the road. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call with the pregame show at 6:45 pm.
For Class 2A Substate 5: District 9, #4 Central Lee will travel to compete against the #1-seed #10 West Burlington tonight at 7 pm.
On the bottom half of the bracket, #3 Mediapolis will face off against #2 Mid-Prairie tonight at 7 pm on the road.
For Class 3A Substate 6, #8 Mt. Pleasant will hit the road to take on the #1-seed #3 Knoxville and #7 Fairfield will travel to #2 Mt. Vernon for their first round of postseason action on Monday, February 24th, at 7 pm. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call for the Panthers game with the pregame show at 6:45 pm.
High School Bowling
The state bowling tournament will begin on Monday, February 24th, in Waterloo. On the girls’ side, Keokuk will be competing as a team on Monday, while Mt. Pleasant’s Madalyn Millard and Bethany Drury will bowl individually on Tuesday, February 25th.
Southeast Iowa Playbook
New London was our school of focus for last night’s episode of the Southeast Iowa Playbook with special guests senior Gage Burden and sophomore Kane Forseen as they discussed their path to the state tournament.
If you missed the episode last night, then follow this link: New London Episode
Southeastern Community College
The men’s basketball team will travel to take on Richard J. Daley College tonight at 7 pm.
College Basketball
The #8 Iowa State men’s team will be tested in a road bout against #5 Houston on Saturday, February 22nd, at 1 pm.
The Iowa men’s team hung close with Oregon even taking a late lead in the second half but they were unable to surmount the Ducks, losing 80-78. Payton Sandfort collected 25 points in the losing effort. The Hawkeyes will take on Washington at home at 3 pm on Saturday.
The Iowa women’s team will host #3 UCLA on Sunday, February 23rd, at 1 pm.
The Iowa State women’s team put together a strong first half, allowing the squad to put the game in cruise control to defeat Huston 64-53. Addy Brown collected a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. The Cyclones will face off against #19 Baylor on Saturday at 1:30 pm on the road.
This Day in Sports History
1929 – The Boston Red Sox announce they will play Sunday MLB games at Braves Field; Fenway Park located too close to a church.
1971 – “Mr. Hockey,” Gordie Howe scores a goal and adds three assists, including his 1,800th career NHL point, in 6-5 Red Wings’ win over Buffalo in Detroit; Howe’s 1,670th game.
2011 – 53rd Daytona 500: 20-year-old Trevor Bayne, driving for Wood Brothers Racing, wins to become the youngest Daytona 500 winner.
Jon Robert Rooney, 59, recently of Mt. Sterling, Iowa, a former lifelong resident of New Boston, Iowa, passed away at 7:03 p.m. Monday, February 17, 2025, at his home.