High School Basketball
The Mt. Pleasant girls’ team had their season ended by Fort Madison last night despite a late game flurry coming up just short as the Bloodhounds held on 44-38. The Panthers were down 40-29 with less than three minutes to go in the game, then Andrea Lopreato came up with a couple steals and transition points to make the game 40-38 with less than 1 minute and 30 seconds to go; however, Lopreato landed awkwardly and injured her ankle when she was fouled going up for the game-tying layup. Unfortunately, the Bloodhounds took advantage and did just enough to move on through the Class 4A Region 7 bracket. Coach Watson talked about his team’s effort for the season as they finished with an 11-12 record.
The Mt. Pleasant boys’ team will start their postseason action February 20th at home against Fort Madison at 7 pm.
The WACO boys’ team game against New London tonight has been postponed until tomorrow at 7 pm.
The Danville girls’ team will travel to battle with Mediapolis tomorrow, February 17th, at 7 pm.
The Winfield-Mt. Union boys’ team had their game postponed against Burlington Notre Dame until tomorrow. The girls’ team will take on Burlington Notre Dame tomorrow at 6 pm. KILJ will be covering the game with pregame at 5:45 pm. The boys’ will follow after the game.
High School Wrestling
The state tournament will be starting day two of action today with Dom Lopez of New London, Gage Samo of WACO, and Carter West and CJ Walrath of Burlington Notre Dame, along with Russel Coil of Columbus/Winfield-Mt. Union all still fighting in the championship bracket.
High School Bowling
The state championship will start February 20th and run through the 22nd.
Iowa Wesleyan Athletics
The women’s basketball team’s next game will be February 18th when they square off with Trinity Christian College at 1 pm on the road.
The 23rd-ranked men’s team will enter the Continental Athletic Conference tournament as 2nd overall seed on February 24th with a 24-2 record.
The men’s wrestling team’s next competition for the Tigers will be the 2023 Heart of America Conference Championship on February 18th.
The women’s wrestling team dominated Iowa Central Community College last night 35-10. Alaina Sunlin won via forfeit, Mia Palumbo won by tech fall. Zoi Smith, JoAnna Vanderwood, and Aduago Nwachukwu all won by tech fall. Isabell Hawley and Sydney Manos won by forfeit and America Lopez took the match on a 7-4 decision. The Tigers will start the 2023 Heart of America Conference Championship on February 25th.
The Tigers Indoor Track and Field teams will be competing in the North Star Athletic Association conference meet on February 19th. Head Coach, Hunter Davis, will be joining us on Tiger Nation this morning at 9 am.
The Tiger baseball team will have a doubleheader tomorrow, February 17th, against Mid America Christian with game one at 1 pm.
The Tiger’s softball season will begin on February 18th against Park University at 11 am for the Avila Tournament.
This Day in Sports History
1972 – Wilt Chamberlain of the Los Angeles Lakers becomes first player in NBA history to reach the career 30,000 point mark during a 110-109 loss to the Phoenix Suns.
1992 – LA Lakers retire Magic Johnson’s #32 uniform.
2005 – 2004-05 NHL season is canceled by Commissioner Gary Bettman; first time a North American professional sports league has called off a season due to labor dispute.