Girls’ State Basketball
Classes 5A and 3A tipped-off the 2024 State Tournament yesterday and here’s how the seven quarterfinal games shook out.
#1 Johnston cruised to a dominant 60-31 final after holding Valley to a 12-point second half. Jenica Lewis led the way for the Dragons with 18 points.
#5 Ankeny Centennial almost avenged their two regular season losses to #4 Waukee by outscoring them 23 to 18 in the second half but a missed game-tying layup with less than five seconds remaining, which gave the win to Waukee 46-44. Johnston and Waukee will face off at 10 am on Thursday, February 29th, in the semifinal.
On the bottom half of the bracket, #7 Cedar Falls pulled off the major upset against #2 Davenport North 71-65. Grace Knutson was unstoppable, draining eight threes to finish with 34 points in the game.
#3 Dowling Catholic ensured a new Class 5A state champion after defeating #6 Pleasant Valley 53-48 last night. Ava Zediker led the winning effort with 29 points. #7 Cedar Falls will compete against #3 Dowling Catholic on Thursday at 11:45 am.
For Class 3A, #1 Estherville-Lincoln Central did not have much issue with #8 Forest City, winning 61-47. Haylee Stokes almost outscored Forest City by herself, scoring 44 points.
#4 Mt. Vernon clobbered #5 Harlan Community 67-25. The Mustangs outscored the Cyclones 45 to 11 in the second and third quarters as four of the five starters finished in double figures. #1 Estherville-Lincoln Central will take on #4 Mt. Vernon.
#2 Des Moines Christian got revenge for their postseason loss last year against #7 Benton, defeating the Bobcats 49-46. Abby Hall finished with 17 points as she nailed three three-pointers.
Today will be led off by #3 Solon going against #6 Dubuque Wahlert at 10 am. For Class 4A, #1 Clear Creek-Amana will take on #8 Gilbert. #4 Dallas Center-Grimes will face off against #5 North Polk. #2 Waverly-Shell Rock will compete against #5 Sioux Center at 3:15 pm. Lastly, #3 Bishop Heelan will take on #6 Lewis Central.
The day will end with two Class 2A games in #1 Dike-New Hartford competing against #8 Cascade and #4 Sioux Central taking on #5 Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont at 8:30 pm.
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.
Williamsburg won the Class 3A Substate 5 championship last night 51-40 against Keokuk as the Chiefs fourth quarter push was not enough. Keokuk finished the season with a 17-7 record.
College Basketball
The #4 Iowa women’s team will travel to Minnesota tomorrow, February 28th, at 8 pm.
The Iowa State women’s team will face off against #10 Kansas State tomorrow at 6:30 pm.
The #8 Iowa State men’s team will compete against Oklahoma tomorrow at home at 7 pm.
The Iowa men’s team will take on Penn State in a road matchup tonight at 8 pm.
Conference Player of the Week
Iowa’s Caitlin Clark keeps adding on to her resume as she earned her 28th weekly award after being named Big Ten Player of the Week. She tallied her 16th career triple-double against Illinois over the weekend and is only 51 points away from surpassing Pete Maravich, the men’s scoring champion.
Audi Crooks for Iowa State was not only named Big 12 Freshman of the Week but Big 12 Player of the Week as this is the first time this season a Big 12 player has won both awards. Crooks totaled 44 points and 21 rebounds over two games as she broke the all-time freshman scoring record.
This Day in Sports History
1959 – Boston Celtic Bob Cousy sets a then-NBA record with 28 assists as the Boston Celtics score 173 points against Minneapolis Lakers.
1966 – 8th Daytona 500: Polesitter Richard Petty comes from two laps down to win the event after 198 laps were completed because of rain.
1987 – The NCAA cancels SMU’s entire 1987 football schedule for violations of NCAA rules regarding athletic corruption.