Sports, February 23rd

Girls’ State Basketball

The matchups are set for the state tournament with Classes 5A and 3A set to tip-off the event on Monday, February 26th, at 10 am. Here are Monday’s matchups.

In Class 5A, #1 Johnston is looking to end their season undefeated as the Dragons get the day rolling against #8 Valley, who is 13-10 on the season. #4 Waukee and #5 Ankeny Centennial will follow that game at 11:45 am; Waukee won both matchups this season. #2 Davenport North will take on #7 Cedar Falls, who has just one loss on the season. Lastly, #6 Pleasant Valley’s attempt to repeat will be a tough one as they compete against #3 Dowling Catholic at 3:15 pm to start off their tournament.

Class 3A will aptly have three games on Monday night with their final game starting off the day on Tuesday, February 27th. At 5 pm, #1 Estherville Lincoln Central faces off against #8 Forest City. #4 Mount Vernon takes on #5 Harlan Community. #2 Des Moines Christian takes on #7 Benton Community to round out Monday night in a rematch of last year’s four-seed versus five-seed contest that saw the Bobcats come out on top. #3 Solon will compete against #6 Dubuque Wahlert on Tuesday morning at 10 am to finish up the Class 3A first round as there will be a new champion crowned.

Boys’ Substate Basketball

In Substate 5, Holy Trinity Catholic will take on Winfield-Mt. Union at Fairfield High School tomorrow, February 24th, at 7 pm with the winner advancing to state. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call with the pregame show at 6:45 pm. Crusader head coach John Hellige is ready to go.

Class 2A Substate 4, West Burlington will face off against Cascade tomorrow at Iowa City High at 7 pm. 

For Class 3A Substate 5, Keokuk pulled off the upset against the top-seeded and 5th ranked Solon 56-53 last night after outscoring the Spartans 22 to 12 in the third quarter. Jaxon Clark led the Chiefs with 18 points as Brenton Hoard, Diego Garcia, and Tramell Smith each finished in double figures. Keokuk will face off against Williamsburg as they took down Clear Creek-Amana 83-63. The substate final will be played on Monday, February 26th, at 6:30 pm at Alliant Energy PowerHouse.

College Basketball

The #4 Iowa women’s team’s poor three-point shooting sunk the Hawkeyes last night against #14 Indiana, losing 86-69 to the Hoosiers. Caitlin Clark was an assist away from a triple-double as she collected 24 points and 10 rebounds but shot just 19% from beyond the arc. The Hawkeyes will attempt to get back in the win column on Sunday, February 25th, at home against Illinois at noon.

The Iowa State women’s team will compete against BYU tomorrow, February 24th, at 6 pm.

The #6 Iowa State men’s team will host West Virginia tomorrow at 1 pm. 

The Iowa men’s team will travel to face off against #12 Illinois tomorrow at 1:15 pm. 

This Day in Sports History

1968 – Wilt Chamberlain becomes the first NBA player to score 25,000 points.

1969 – 11th Daytona 500: LeeRoy Yarbrough driving for Junior Johnson, catches Charlie Glotzbach on final lap to win; first Daytona 500 won on a last lap pass.

1985 – Five minutes into a game against rival Purdue, Indiana head coach Bobby Knight drew a technical foul then nonchalantly turned around, picked up a chair and hurled it past Boilermakers guard Steve Reid.