Boys’ Prep Basketball: Mount Pleasant, Top-Seeded Marion Meet
The Mount Pleasant boys’ basketball team will finally play tonight when they get top-seeded Marion for their Class 3A-Substate 5 semifinal.
The two teams were scheduled to play last night, but deteriorating road conditions cancelled the game.
They’ll now meet at Center Point-Urbana and tip at 7:00 p.m.
It’s a coup for the Panthers who now get an extra day of rest after coming off a 60-55 double overtime win over Mount Vernon.
Marion is 17-5 on the year and are the top-seed in the substate.
The Wolves, 3-2 in their last five, took down Keokuk in their opener on Monday night.
They’re led by junior guard Brayson Laube, who is averaging 19.3 points per game, while hitting 51% of his field goals and 44% of his triples.
He’s the only player in double figures for Marion.
Mount Pleasant guard Payton Hagans was dynamite in Monday’s quarterfinal win.
The tantalizing sophomore poured in a season-high 26 points on 6-of-11 shooting from three to guide the Panthers back to the substate semifinal for the second straight season.
They’ll need him to be at his best tonight for the Panthers to pull off a second-straight upset.
Tonight’s game will begin at 7:00 p.m.
You can listen on FM 105.5 and kilj.com.
Nathan Bloechl and Kent Bennett will have the call.
Men’s College Basketball: Wesleyan Opens CAC Tournament
Postseason play tips off today with No. 4-seeded Wilberforce University (Ohio) facing No. 5 Iowa Wesleyan, starting at 8:00 a.m.
The morning session also will feature top-seeded Florida College facing No. 8 Lincoln Christian University (Illinois) at 11:30 a.m.
You can listen to Wesleyan’s matchup on FM 98.5.
Friday’s afternoon session will have No. 2 Washington Adventist University (Maryland) playing No. 7 Crowley’s Ridge College (Arkansas) at 3 p.m. while No. 3 Northern New Mexico College faces No. 6 Morris College (South Carolina) at 6:30 p.m.
Quarterfinal winners will advance to the semifinals on Saturday, February 26, with games scheduled for 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
The championship game is scheduled for Sunday, February 27, at 2:00 p.m.
The two teams vying for the conference title will earn the CAC’s automatic bids to the NAIA national tournament.
Iowa Wesleyan (11-18) has a 5-5 home record in its first CAC season.
Joey Brown tops on the team at 15 points per contest after making 50.4% of his shots, while Carver Locke also averaging 10.7 points a game.
The tournament hosts have held opposing teams to 34% from behind the 3-point arc this season.
Men’s College Basketball: Former Mount Pleasant Standout Magnani
Former Mount Pleasant standout Jordan Magnani has been named All-Midwest Conference Men’s Basketball First Team, the league announced.
Magnani has been the floor general for the Rams, averaging 16.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and leading the team with 3.8 assists and 1.0 steals per contest. The fourth-year starter made 99 free throws, converting at an 81.1 percent clip, and also hit 34 3-pointers.
In 16 MWC games, Magnani ranked third in field goal percentage, free throw percentage and assist-turnover ratio. He finished fourth in scoring and assists MWC play.
Magnani has scored in double figures in 20 of his last 22 games.
Cornell is the No. 2 seed in the MWC Tournament and plays Grinnell in Friday’s semifinal at 1:30 p.m. in Ripon, Wisconsin.
Prep Wrestling: Marcel Lopez Named 1A Dan Gable Mr. Wrestler
New London’s four-time state champion Marcel Lopez has been named the Dan Gable 1A Mr. Wrestler of the Year.
The awards were presented yesterday.
Lopez defeated Riverside, Oakland’s Jace Rose by decision 5-3 in Saturday’s 126-pound state final.
He was Iowa’s 30th four time state champion.
He will be wrestling collegiately for SIU-Edwardsville.