High School Basketball
Mt. Pleasant swept New London on a Monday night doubleheader with the girls winning the first game 59-20. It was Tristian Shull who did most of the heavy lifting hitting four threes in the first quarter before finishing with 23 points on the game including six three-pointers. Andrea Lopreato finished with a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Natalie Burden led the Tigers in points with 7. The Panthers are now 5-6 and they will play Fort Madison at home this Friday, January 6th.
The boys team followed that up with their own double-digit victory over the Tigers, 61-40. The Panthers had firm control from the beginning as they were able to shut down Blaise Porter and Kade Benjamin allowing the duo to score 12 points combined in the first half. Offensively, Payton Hagans could not be stopped as he dropped 33 points, including five three-pointers. Porter ended the night with 12 points, with Benjamin adding 14 points. Amazingly, both teams shot perfect from the free throw line as the Panthers went 9 for 9 and the Tigers finished 10 for 10. The boys moved to 6-3 and Coach Rawson enjoyed the way his defense played last night. The New London boys basketball team is also 6-3 with the Tigers hosting Burlington Notre Dame on Friday. Coach Porter spoke of the team’s effort after the game.
The Winfield-Mt. Union Wolves girls’ basketball team will travel to Lone Tree January 6th and the boys’ team will face off against Hillcrest Academy today, January 3rd, at 7:30 pm. The girls team is ranked 11th in Class 1A and is currently 10-0 on the season.
Danville will host West Burlington January 6th with the girls starting at 6 pm and the boys to follow. The girls’ team goes into the break 5-5 on the season while the boys’ team touts a 7-2 record.
The WACO Warriors next game is tonight at home against Louisa-Muscatine with the girls starting at 6 pm and the boys at 7:30 pm. The boys’ team is ranked fifth in Class 1A touting an undefeated record of 8-0, while the girls are off to a strong start as well at 6-2.
The Holy Trinity Catholic Crusaders will have to wait until January 6th to host Central Lee with the girls going at 6:30 pm. For the Crusaders, the girls’ team is 4-4 and the boys’ team is 3-6 heading into winter break. The Hawks girls’ team is also 4-4 with the boys’ team 2-7 after their last win over Columbus 68-46.
High School Wrestling
The Mt. Pleasant boys team will be back in action January 12th when they travel to face off with Washington. The girls team will compete at the Highland Tournament January 6th.
High School Bowling
The Mt. Pleasant Panthers girls and boys teams next competition will be January 5th against Washington at the Iris Bowling Center.
Iowa Wesleyan Athletics
The men’s basketball team, now 14-1 and rocking a 13-game winning streak, will have to wait until January 6th to compete against Crowley’s Ridge College for a CAC Classic. Coach Ashton knows that this team still has not hit their peak.
The women’s basketball team will look to get Coach Williamson his 275th career victory at Iowa Wesleyan January 6th at the Northern New Mexico Classic against Crowley’s Ridge College.
The women’s wrestling team will be back in action January 6th and 7th for the NWCA Multi-Division National Duals Championship.
The men’s wrestling team will wrestle at Central Methodist University on January 10th.
The Tiger’s next indoor meet will be the Dutch Athletics Classic on January 14th.
This Day in Sports History
1920 – Boston Red Sox baseball club owner Harry Frazee announces agreement to sell slugger Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees for $125,000 in cash and a $350,000 loan; start of the 84 year “Curse of the Bambino” for the Red Sox.
1983 – Dallas running back Tony Dorsett sets NFL record with 99-yard rush in the Cowboys’ 31-27 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
1993 – “The Comeback”, QB Frank Reich leads Buffalo Bills back from a 32-point deficit, to defeat the Houston Oilers 41-38 in overtime in a wild card playoff game, the second largest comeback ever in NFL history.