Girls’ State Basketball
The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union has now crowned two state champions after last night with Classes 4A, 2A, and 1A getting ready for their championship contests today.
In yesterday’s action, #1 Hinton will get a shot to defend their Class 2A title after defeating #4 Denver, 57-48, to tip-off the day. Sydney Doeschot led the Blackhawks with 19 points and five assists.
#2 Rock Valley needed a 21 to 9 rally in the fourth quarter, including a 9 to 0 run in the final 90 seconds to beat #6 Treynor yesterday, 57-54. Cayden Harmsen tallied 17 points in the victory.
#1 Hinton and #2 Rock Valley will tangle for the Class 2A championship today at 4:45 pm.
In Class 1A, #1 Bishop Garrigan’s defense shutdown #5 Dunkerton in a 49-38 thumping of the Raiders. Emmi Bartolo tabbed a game high 17 points in the winning effort.
On the bottom half of the bracket, #2 Newell-Fonda captured a 50-45 victory over #3 St. Albert. Ellie and Quinn Sievers combined for 31 points for the Mustangs.
#1 Bishop Garrigan will face off against #2 Newell-Fonda for the Class 1A title at 7 pm tonight.
#1 Johnston nearly watched history slip through their fingers last night, but Jenica Lewis would not be denied as she went off for 14 points in a 15 to 3 run, leading to a 51-37 victory over #3 Waukee Northwest for the Class 5A title. Lewis’ 22 points led the Dragons to their third consecutive title and increased their win streak to 79 games, the longest in state history.
In the final game of the night, #2 Maquoketa, in just their second trip to the state tournament in program history, demolished #1 Mt. Vernon 59-42 for the Class 3A championship. The Cardinals outscored the Mustangs 16 to 2 in the fourth quarter. Cora Widel notched 21 points in the victory.
The Class 4A championship against #2 Dallas Center-Grimes and #5 Carlisle is scheduled for today at 2:30 pm.
Girls’ High School Basketball
A handful of local athletes will be participating in the Larry Niemeyer Senior Girls All-Star basketball tournament scheduled for Saturday, March 14th.
In Class 2A, Danville’s Alaina Gourley will play on the Gray Team with their game at 1 pm.
Over in Class 3A, Adalyn Long of Washington will join a trio from the Southeast Iowa Super Conference in Kenna Sandoval of Central Lee and Grace Holsteen and Ellah Wagenbach of Mediapolis on the White Team. They will play at 10:30 am.
Lastly, Kendra Boatman of Keokuk and Burlington’s Mylee Stiefel will join sides for the Gray Team in a combination of Class 3A/4A/5A talent. They will square off at 9:15 am.
Boys’ Postseason Basketball
For the Class 1A State Tournament, #4 Burlington Notre Dame will face off against #5 Bellevue on Tuesday, March 10th, with tip-off at 3:45 pm. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call with the pregame show at 3:30 pm.
Other Class 1A matchups include: #1 St. Edmond facing off against #8 Woodbine, #2 MMCRU taking on #7 Boyden-Hull, and #6 Marquette Catholic looking to upset #3 Bishop Garrigan.
Southeastern Community College
The men’s basketball team will travel to Indian Hills Community College tonight at 7 pm for the Region 11 championship.
The baseball team clouted Crowder College yesterday, 17-9. The two will have a doubleheader rematch today.
The softball team split their doubleheader with Black Hawk College yesterday, losing game one 6-2 and shutting out the Braves 4-0 in game two. Kiera Klum and Lyndsey Kelley each smacked solo home runs in game one, while Logan Kelley swatted a three-run homer in game two. The Blackhawks will travel to St. Louis Community College on Monday, March 16th, for a doubleheader.
College Basketball
The #9 Iowa women’s team advanced to the Big Ten Tournament’s semifinals after withstanding a late Illinois run for a 64-58 final. Four of the five starters for the Hawkeyes notched double figures. Iowa will take on Michigan today at 3:30 pm.
The Iowa men’s team will close out the regular season with another top ten foe, as they face off against #9 Nebraska on the road tomorrow, March 8th, at 4 pm.
The #6 Iowa State men’s team will look to bounce back today at 1 pm at home against Arizona State.
This Day in Sports History
1982 – NCAA Tournament Selection televised live for the first time.
1986 – Wayne Gretzky breaks own NHL season record with 136th assist.
1988 – Jim Abbott, a one-handed pitcher, wins the 58th James E. Sullivan Award as the top amateur athlete in the United States, becoming the first baseball player to win the award.