Girls’ Prep Basketball: Pella Sinks Mount Pleasant, Other Prep Finals:
Pella 63, Mount Pleasant 43
Kennedy Van Vark got hot and stayed hot, as the Pella guard scored a game-high 26 points to help the Lady Dutch defeat Mount Pleasant 63-43 last night at Pella High School.
Van Vark’s hot shooting helped ignite a 19-4 second quarter run that essentially ended the game for Pella.
Mount Pleasant committed 23 first half turnovers which also swung momentum to the Lady Dutch.
Andrea Lopreato led Mount Pleasant with 17 points and six boards.
Mount Pleasant will take the next few days to lick their wounds before traveling to Ottumwa to scrap with the Bulldogs on the 29th.
Tip is scheduled for 7:45 p.m.
Winfield-Mount Union 67, Hillcrest 21
Bradie Buffington had 20 points while Keetyn Townsley added 16 as Winfield-Mount Union rolled to a 67-21 win over Hillcrest Academy.
The Lady Wolves jumped out to a 42-9 lead at the half before calling off the dogs, so to speak.
Melina Oepping was also in double figures with 11 points, while Keely Malone finished with eight.
Holy Trinity 62, New London 29
Central Lee 54, Cardinal 32
Louisa-Muscatine 42, Wapello 31
Mediapolis 74, Columbus 14
Notre Dame 70, WACO 24
College Football: Five Tigers Earn All Conference Honors:
Five Iowa Wesleyan Tiger football players have earned North Star Athletic Association All-Conference honors, the league announced yesterday.
Quarterback Gavin Esquivel, wide receiver Jaden Harris and defensive backs Kaden Henley and Major Niccum were all honored as Honorable Mention All-Conference selections.
Esquivel finished fourth in the league with 203 yards per game while setting the school record for most passing touchdowns in a single game when Iowa Wesleyan defeated Crown College earlier this year.
Henley morphed into a ballhawk in the second half of the year, leading M.D. Daniels’ defense with six interceptions and seven pass breakups.
Niccum was a chess piece as for Daniels’, as well, displaying incredible defensive versatility. Niccum led the team in tackles with 87 while adding two interception and four pass breakups.
Jaheem Hampton was awarded this year’s Champions of Character award for Iowa Wesleyan.
Hampton was a leader on and off the field over this season and his entire career, finishing this season with 33 solo tackles.
College Football: Iowa State’s Kolar a Mackey Finalist:
Iowa State tight end Charlie Kolar has been named a John Mackey Award finalist for the second consecutive season.
The award is given to the nation’s top tight end.
Kolar has caught 53 balls this season for 658 yards and five scores — he also has an active streak ongoing of recording at least one catch in 34 straight games.
That’s the second longest streak in school history.
Colorado State’s Trey McBride and Jalen Wydermyer of Texas A&M are the other two finalists.
Iowa State will look to close the season on a positive when they host TCU, Friday afternoon.
Kick is set for 3:30 p.m.
Women’s College Basketball: Iowa Stays, Iowa State Moves Up:
The Iowa women’s basketball team has stayed at No. 8, while Iowa State moved up one spot to No. 13 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 women’s basketball poll.
Iowa, 4-0, has been off since November 17th because of health and safety protocols but are still set to play Duke on December 2nd in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge.
Their games against Drake and USC were cancelled and will not be made up.
Iowa State, also undefeated at 4-0, will be back in action Friday when they host Charlotte.
In just over week, Bill Fenelly’s bunch will get their first test in a road date at LSU.
South Carolina is the consensus No. 1, with Maryland, UCONN, Indiana and North Carolina State rounding out the top-five.