High School Basketball
With our local teams getting a short breather with Winter Break, we will take a look at our conference standings after the season’s early showdowns, starting with the Southeast Conference (SEC).
On the girls’ side, Keokuk is looking to regain their conference crown after losing multiple conference games last year for the first time since the 2020-21 season. The defense has been impressive for the Chiefs, limiting their SEC foes to a shooting percentage south of 31% in their three wins and currently sit as the only undefeated team in the conference.
Washington, who is having their best start since 2013, Burlington, and Fort Madison are log-jammed in second place with a 2-1 record through conference play. The Demons are averaging 14 offensive rebounds per game, the Grayhounds’ big three are accounting for 86% of their scoring, and Fort Madison is aiming for their sixth consecutive season allowing less than 40 points per game.
Mt. Pleasant and Fairfield are still searching for their first SEC win. The Trojans are averaging just 29 points per game, while the Panthers are looking to get back to their 50-point scoring ways like they were able to accomplish against Burlington.
On the boys’ side, Keokuk is hoping for the conference sweep with the Chiefs boasting a 3-0 mark in the SEC. Jaxon Clark has put the team on his back as he is averaging 40 points and 18 rebounds in conference play.
Washington, who is having their best start to a season since winning the SEC in 2021, and Burlington, who has been streaky, are both 2-1 in SEC play. The Demons rely on steals, while the Grayhounds need offensive rebounds; both have fallen to Keokuk this season.
Mt. Pleasant and Fairfield are both 1-2 in conference. The Trojans are hoping to bounce back from a loss to Keokuk where they allowed Clark to go off for 51 points. The Panthers have been in every conference game this season, but opposing runs have kept them out of the winner’s column. They will look forward to the return of Noah Lange and Ryan Helling.
Fort Madison is winless in conference thus far but two of those losses were by three points, where a fourth quarter collapse kept them on the wrong end of the final.
Mt. Pleasant will host Keokuk, while Washington will travel to Fort Madison on January 2nd, while Fairfield and Burlington will throw down on January 5th.
High School Wrestling
The Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union boys’ team has put together a strong start to the season with a couple of tournament champions and a dual victory over Mt. Pleasant. Bowen Thomson, a senior on the team, has helped the Wildcats, boasting a 9-1 record and a 1st place finish at the North Linn Invitational this past weekend.
Thomson talked about what he hopes to accomplish before the season’s end,
“My main goals are: I want to get my 100 wins. I think I’m about 15 away. So I want to get my 100 wins. ah I would love to be conference champ. That is something I’ve fallen short of. I’ve got 2nd [place] two years in a row, which it kind of sucks, but something to build off of. So, I would love to be conference champ. And obviously I would love to make it to state. I’ve never made state my whole high school career. And that is just something that would be the icing on the cake. I’d love to make it. And then once I make it, I’d love to place. So that’s what I’m looking forward to.”
High School Bowling
Mt. Pleasant and West Burlington will get back to action with the Louisa-Muscatine Invite on Saturday, January 3rd.
Southeastern Community College
The women’s basketball team will travel to Iowa Lakes Community College on Saturday, January 3rd, at 1 pm.
College Football
#23 Iowa will take on #14 Vanderbilt on December 31st at 11 am for the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa, Florida.
College Basketball
The #10 Iowa State women’s team will get back to action on December 31st against Houston on the road at 1 pm.
The #14 Iowa women’s team will take on Penn State for their Big Ten Home Opener on Sunday, December 28th, at 3 pm.
The #25 Iowa men’s team will get a week off before hosting UMass Lowell on December 29th at 4 pm.
The #3 Iowa State men’s team will face off against Houston Christian on December 29th at 7 pm at home.
This Day in Sports History
1951 – National Football League Championship, LA Memorial Coliseum: the Los Angeles Rams beat the Cleveland Browns 24-17; first coast-to-coast televised NFL title game.
1972 – The “Immaculate Reception.” A deflected Terry Bradshaw pass rebounds off of Jack Tatum and into the outstretched hands of Franco Harris in the last moments of the game to give the Pittsburgh Steelers a 13-7 win over the Oakland Raiders.
1997 – Chicago Bulls coach Phil Jackson is the quickest to reach 500 wins (682 games).