Mt. Pleasant, IA- The NCAA men’s basketball season is winding down as teams are battling for position and the opportunity to be crowned National Champion in this year’s March Madness bracket.

KILJ will be hosting another bracket challenge, but things will be done a little differently this year. March 17^th marks Selection Sunday with the brackets being released after 5 pm central time.

A printable bracket will be posted to KILJ’s Facebook page after Selection Sunday for you to fill out. You can either bring your bracket out to our station or email it to sports@kilj.com. The rules to apply are listed below:

1. First and Last Name must be attached to your backet.
2. A phone number or email address must be attached to your bracket.
3. One entry per person.
4. The bracket must be turned in by the end of the day March 20^th.

The scoring will be done as such: first round (2 point for each correct pick), second round (4 points for each correct pick), Sweet 16 (8 points for each correct pick), Elite Eight (16 points for each correct pick), Championship Game (32 points for each correct pick), Correct Champion (64 points). The four play-in games will not count towards your final score.

The top three brackets will receive a prize package (listed below) and leaderboards will be updated after every round. Winners will be notified after the results are tabulated.

Prizes:

1^st Place

• Meal a month from The Press Box
• $100 Gift Certificate to Wiley’s Interior Furnishings and Design
• 2 Old Thresher Gate Passes
• 2 State Fair Tickets

2^nd Place

• 2 Old Thresher Gate Passes
• 2 State Fair Tickets
• 2 Festival of Lights Tickets

3^rd Place

• 1 Old Thresher Gate Pass
• 2 State Fair Tickets
• 2 Festival of Lights Tickets

KILJ thanks The Press Box and Wiley’s Interior Furnishings and Design for sponsoring KILJ’s Bracket Challenge.

Girls’ State Basketball

The 2024 Iowa Girls’ Basketball State Tournament is in the books and here’s a recap of all five championship games. 

Class 5A saw undefeated #1 Johnston taking down #3 Dowling Catholic 48-36. Jenica Lewis was the Iowa Pork Producers Top Producer of the Game with 20 points for the Dragons. Ali Tanke cashed in for 15 points and 13 rebounds for a double-double.

Ava Zediker splashed three three-pointers for 25 points for Dowling Catholic.

For Class 4A, it was the battle of the unbeatens as #1 Clear Creek-Amana and #2 Waverly-Shell Rock entered the contest with identical 25-0 records. Unfortunately for the Go-Hawks, they never stood a chance as the Clippers sailed to a 43-25 victory.

Averie Lower of Clear Creek-Amana took home Iowa Pork Producers Top Producer of the Game after finishing with 17 points in the game. But it was Ava Locklear that finished with a double-double, scoring 11 points and nabbing 19 rebounds in the win.

The Class 3A championship had #3 Solon leading 37 to 35 entering the fourth quarter against #1 Estherville-Lincoln Central and thanks to the Top Producer of the game Callie Levin’s 27 points the Spartans would run away with the win 54-47.

Aiding in the effort was Hailey Miller as she ended the game with 14 points and Anna Quillin’s 16 rebounds. Estherville-Lincoln Central’s Haylee Stokes gave it all she had with 30 points as she nailed all 10 of her free throws.

Fans got to witness a nail-biter between #1 Dike-New Hartford and #2 Panorama for the Class 2A championship. The Wolverines and Panthers entered the fourth quarter knotted up at 37. Panorama even seemed poised to end Dike-New Hartford’s three-year run as they led 42 to 39 in the fourth quarter.

However, the Wolverines became just the second school in the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union era to win four consecutive championships. Payton Petersen was the Top Producer with 27 points and 14 rebounds to round out her senior year. Jaidyn Sellers was the top scorer for the Panthers with 20 points.

North Linn shot over 70% from the field in the first half and rode that momentum to defeat Newell-Fonda 67-51 for the Class 1A championship. Kamryn Kurt was the Top Producer with 23 points as Macy Boge added 17 points to the effort.

Boys’ State Basketball

#4 Winfield-Mt. Union will take on #5 Lynnville-Sully today at 12:15 pm. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call with the pregame show at noon. Head coach Klay Edwards talked about his team’s strength heading into the matchup.

#4 West Burlington will face off against #5 Treynor tonight at 7:15 pm. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call with the pregame show at 7 pm.

Class 1A will finish all of their quarterfinal matchups today and Class 2A will complete two quarterfinal contests. 

College Basketball

The #6 Iowa women’s team went on an 18-3 run in the first quarter and never looked back as the Hawkeyes defeated #2 Ohio State 93-83. Caitlin Clark has no one left to chase as her 35 points passed the NCAA’s Division I all-time leading scorer Pete Maravich. The Hawkeyes head into the Big Ten Tournament on Friday, March 8th, with a 26-4 record. 

The Iowa State women’s team outscored Cincinnati 28 to 9 in the third quarter to secure the conference win 76-60. Audi Crooks collected a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds in the win. The Cyclones head into the Big 12 Tournament on March 7th with an 18-10 record. 

The #8 Iowa State men’s team’s defense propelled the Cyclones to a 60-52 victory over UCF over the weekend. Tre King had a game high 16 points in the winning effort. The Cyclones will suit up for a home matchup against BYU on Wednesday, March 6th, at 8 pm.

The Iowa men’s team picked up a road conference win against Northwestern over the weekend 87-80. Josh Dix cashed in for 24 points as Tony Perkins notched a double-double with 10 points and 14 assists. The Hawkeyes will celebrate senior night on March 10th against Illinois at 6 pm.

This Day in Sports History

1927 – Babe Ruth becomes the highest-paid player in MLB history when he signs a 3-year, $70,000 per season contract with the New York Yankees.

1970 – Jacksonville is the first college basketball team to average 100-plus points per game.

1993 – First ESPY Awards: Michael Jordan and Monica Seles win.

Des Moines, IA- The 2024 Iowa Girls’ Basketball State Tournament is in the books and here’s a look at the all-tournament teams and the champions from each class.

Class 5A saw undefeated #1 Johnston taking down #3 Dowling Catholic 48-36. Jenica Lewis was the Iowa Pork Producers Top Producer of the Game with 20 points for the Dragons. Ali Tanke cashed in for 15 points and 13 rebounds for a double-double.

Ava Zediker splashed three three-pointers for 25 points for Dowling Catholic.

For Class 4A, it was the battle of the unbeatens as #1 Clear Creek-Amana and #2 Waverly-Shell Rock entered the contest with identical 25-0 records. Unfortunately for the Go-Hawks, they never stood a chance as the Clippers sailed to a 43-25 victory.

Averie Lower of Clear Creek-Amana took home Iowa Pork Producers Top Producer of the Game after finishing with 17 points in the game. But it was Ava Locklear that finished with a double-double, scoring 11 points and nabbing 19 rebounds in the win.

Brenna Bodensteiner was the only player to finish in double figures with 10 points for Waverly-Shell Rock.

The Class 3A championship had #3 Solon leading 37 to 35 entering the fourth quarter against #1 Estherville-Lincoln Central and thanks to the Top Producer of the game Callie Levin’s 27 points the Spartans would run away with the win 54-47.

Aiding in the effort was Hailey Miller as she ended the game with 14 points and Anna Quillin’s 16 rebounds. Estherville-Lincoln Central’s Haylee Stokes gave it all she had with 30 points as she nailed all 10 of her free throws.

Fans got to witness a nail-biter between #1 Dike-New Hartford and #2 Panorama for the Class 2A championship. The Wolverines and Panthers entered the fourth quarter knotted up at 37. Panorama even seemed poised to end Dike-New Hartford’s three-year run as they led 42 to 39 in the fourth quarter.

However, the Wolverines became just the second school in the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union era to win four consecutive championships. Payton Petersen was the Top Producer with 27 points and 14 rebounds to round out her senior year. Jaidyn Sellers was the top scorer for the Panthers with 20 points.

North Linn shot over 70% from the field in the first half and rode that momentum to defeat Newell-Fonda 67-51. Kamryn Kurt was the Top Producer with 23 points as Macy Boge added 17 points to the effort.

The Mustangs had three players finish in double figures in Kierra Jungers (17 points), Kinzee Hinders (16 points), and Mckenna Sievers (15 points).

Class 5A All-Tournament Team

Aili Tanke, Johnston
Ellie Mueller, Dowling Catholic
Grace Knutson, Cedar Falls
Divine Bourrage, Davenport North
Ava Zediker, Dowling Catholic|
Jenica Lewis, Johnston (Captain)

Class 4A All-Tournament Team

Bliss Beck, Clear Creek-Amana
Katelyn Eggena, Waverly-Shell Rock
Abby Tuttle, North Polk
Melina Snoozy, Sioux City Bishop Heelan
Averie Lower, Clear Creek-Amana
Ava Locklear, Clear Creek-Amana (Captain)

Class 3A All-Tournament Team

Anna Quillin, Solon
Rylee Yager, Estherville Lincoln Central
Chloe Meester, Mount Vernon
Abby Hall, Des Moines Christian
Callie Levin, Solon
Haylee Stokes, Estherville Lincoln Central (Captain)

Class 2A All-Tournament Team

Tyme Boettcher, Panorama
Maryn Bixby, Dike-New Hartford
Morgan Christian, Sioux Central
Jadyn Petersen, Dike-New Hartford
Jaidyn Sellers, Panorama
Payton Petersen, Dike-New Hartford (Captain)

Class 1A All-Tournament Team

Molly Boge, North Linn
McKenna Sievers, Newell-Fonda
Avah Underwood, Council Bluffs St. Albert
Kierra Jungers, Newell-Fonda
Kamryn Kurt, North Linn
Macy Boge, North Linn (Captain)

Girls’ State Basketball

The championship bouts for classes 1A and 2A are set with Class 4A competing today as well to finish out the season. Here’s a recap of yesterday’s games and the two champions already crowned. 

The Class 2A semifinal matchups tip-offed yesterday’s slate of games with #1 Dike-New Hartford defeating #4 Sioux Central 58-49. Payton Petersen played out of her mind collecting a 28 point, 19 rebound double-double to advance to the championship game. 

#2 Panorama experienced a scare as #3 Westwood had them on the ropes, but the Panthers would come out on top, winning 39-36. Tyme Boettcher led the way with a double-double, scoring 12 points and grabbing 10 boards. #2 Panorama and #1 Dike-New Hartford will play today at 4:45 pm for the Class 2A championship.

#1 North Linn and #2 Newell-Fonda handled business in their semifinal round contests to advance as the Lynx won 60-37 and the Mustangs raced to a 60-35 win over Remsen St. Mary’s. Molly Boge’s 16 points led the way for North Linn, while Kierra Jungers collected a 14 point, 11 rebound double-double for the Mustangs. #1 North Linn and #2 Newell Fonda will round out the night with the game scheduled to start at 7 pm.

In an upset, #3 Solon defeated #1 Estherville-Lincoln Central 54-47 last night to claim the Class 3A championship. The Spartans were led by all-tournament honoree Callie Levin as she cashed in for 27 points. Levin was voted the Top Producer of the Game. Haylee Stokes was a wrecking ball for Estherville-Lincoln Central as she finished 10 for 10 from the free throw line to score 30 points. She was named captain of the all-tournament team. 

#1 Johnston avenged their loss from last year and remained undefeated after taking down #3 Dowling Catholic 48-36 for the Class 5A championship. Jenica Lewis was the top producer of the game with 20 points for the Dragons. Ava Zediker, who was named to the all-tournament team, scored 25 points for Dowling Catholic. 

For Class 4A, #1 Clear Creek-Amana will face off against fellow unbeaten #2 Waverly-Shell Rock today at 2:30 pm for the state championship.

Boys’ State Basketball

#4 Winfield-Mt. Union will take on #5 Lynnville-Sully on Monday, March 4th, at 12:15 pm. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call with the pregame show at noon.

#4 West Burlington will face off against #5 Treynor on March 4th at 7:15 pm. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call with the pregame show at 7 pm.

College Basketball

The #6 Iowa women’s team will take on #2 Ohio State tomorrow, March 3rd, at home at noon.

The Iowa State women’s team will host Cincinnati today at 1 pm.

The #8 Iowa State men’s team will face off against UCF today at 3 pm. 

The Iowa men’s team will face off against Northwestern this evening at 4:30 pm on the road.

This Day in Sports History

1962 – Philadelphia center Wilt Chamberlain scores 100 points, most ever by an NBA player in a single game, in Warriors’ 169-147 win over NY Knicks in Hershey; 36-of-63 from field, 28-of-32 from free-throw line.

1995 – Joe Mullen becomes the second NHL player to appear in 300 NHL games with 3 different teams when he plays for the Penguins in a 6-3 loss in Buffalo; Pittsburgh 379, St. Louis 301, Calgary 345.

2000 – The St. Louis Blues become just the 2nd team in NHL history to win 10 straight games on the road, with a 5-2 victory in Atlanta; they tied the mark set by Buffalo 1983-84.