CPU, Mount Vernon battle for state berth

Yes, they still have a '9” attached to their names on the game program.

But Dennis Roloff isn't fooled by Center Point-Urbana's youth.

'When we played them in the second game of the year, they were still youngsters,” said Roloff, girls' basketball coach at Mount Vernon. 'They're not freshmen any more.”

Mount Vernon (15-8) tackles No. 6 CPU (19-4) in a Class 3A regional final at 5 p.m. Saturday at Linn-Mar High School in the front end of a double-header (Cedar Rapids Washington meets No. 8 Linn-Mar in a 5A semifinal at 7).

The 3A state field will be determined Saturday night. Only three area 3A teams remain standing, and they're all of the Wamac variety.

Benton Community (13-10) meets No. 7 Nevada (20-3) at Meskwaki Settlement School near Tama at 7 p.m.

'We're playing with house money now and we're having fun,” said Benton Coach Laurie Donald, whose team already has won twice this postseason on the road.

Roloff is in his third year at Mount Vernon after a long, successful run at Cedar Rapids Kennedy. He is 3-0 against CPU, including a 58-49 home win on Dec. 2.

'We've been able to get out and run on them and get them in foul trouble,” he said. 'But they're playing with a lot of confidence right now. Any time you're winning, you're playing with confidence.”

And the Stormin' Pointers have done nothing but win lately. The Wamac West champions are carrying a 14-game win streak.

'I watched some of the tape from our first game (with Mount Vernon) and it seems like a long time ago,” said CPU Coach Phillip Klett. 'Both teams were pretty sloppy that night. Our defense wasn't where it is now, and we're moving the ball better.”

Mount Vernon likes to push the pace, but Klett doesn't foresee his team forcing a half-court style.

'We'll play at our speed,” he said. 'We're not going to let anyone dictate the tempo. If we need to run, we will. But we don't want to be out of control.”

Five freshmen are included in CPU's rotation, including Allison Wooldridge, the team's second-leading scorer behind her sister, Arika.

Benton advanced by edging Mid-Prairie in overtime, 49-48, in unlikely fashion.

Reanna Bear, who had scored six points all season, came into the game in overtime after the two starting posts had fouled out. She scored six points in the final 1:20, including the game-winning hoop with 4 seconds left.

'It's something we'll talk about with our teams for years to come,” Donald said. 'It's about waiting for your opportunity, and when it comes, being ready. Reanna was ready.

'Our kids aren't panicking under the late-game pressure, and because of that, I like our chances (against Nevada).”

MEANWHILE, IN THE METRO ...

The 5A and 4A tournaments reach the regional-semifinal stage Friday, marking the beginning of the trail for the majority of the Metro teams.

Linn-Mar (15-7) has reversed its course after a six-game losing streak, answering with five wins in a row. The Lions face a Washington outfit that has won nine of 11 and owns a 13-8 mark.

In other 5A semifinals featuring Metro/Iowa City teams, Kennedy (15-6) hosts Dubuque Senior (7-15), No. 5 Iowa City West (19-2) hosts Muscatine (10-12), No. 10 Iowa City West (14-7) hosts Bettendorf (12-10) and Cedar Rapids Jefferson (8-14) travels to No. 6 Southeast Polk (15-6).

Jefferson is coming off a 43-35 win over Cedar Rapids Prairie in Wednesday's first-rounder.

In 4A, No. 8 Cedar Rapids Xavier (15-6) hosts No. 14 Mount Pleasant (18-4), and No. 13 Marion (16-5) hosts West Delaware (16-6).

SATURDAY'S CLASS 3A REGIONAL-FINAL CAPSULES

No. 6 CENTER POINT-URBANA (19-4) vs. MOUNT VERNON (15-8), Region 4

* Time & place: 5 p.m., at Linn-Mar

* Overview: Wamac Conference West Division champion Center Point-Urbana has won 14 consecutive games and is on the doorstep of its second straight state berth. But the Stormin' Pointers haven't solved Mount Vernon lately, and are 0-3 against the Mustangs during Dennis Roloff's tenure at Mount Vernon. That includes a 58-49 verdict Dec. 2 at Mount Vernon. The Wooldridge sisters - Arika (junior, 17.0 ppg) and Allison (freshman, 11.1 ppg) fuel a CPU lineup that doesn't include a senior. Five freshmen are in CPU's rotation. Mount Vernon has won six of its last seven games, most recently a 55-50 triumph over Camanche in the regional semifinals Wednesday. Kaitlyn Volesky has returned to action after back and ankle injuries, and leads the Mustangs at 16 points per game. Allison Platte adds 12.5 ppg.

BENTON COMMUNITY (13-10) vs. No. 7 NEVADA (20-3), Region 5

* Time & place: 7 p.m., at Meskwaki Settlement School, Tama

* Overview: Benton's Reanna Bear was an unlikely hero as the Bobcats outlasted Mid-Prairie in overtime, 49-48, to advance. Bear, who had scored six points all season, was thrust into the game after two front-liners fouled out. She scored six points in overtime, including the game-winner with 4 seconds left. So the Bobcats, who tripped Solon, 49-41, in Round 1, are one more upset away from Des Moines. Junior Alyssa Wiebel averages 14.9 points per game for Benton, which has won four straight games. Nevada handled Bondurant-Farrar and South Tama along the way to this point, allowing just 57 games in the two games combined. The Cubs are a young club; the top five scorers consist of two juniors, two sophomores and a freshman. Junior Kati Cassabaum leads the way at 11.8 points per game.

SATURDAY'S CLASS 5A REGIONAL SEMIFINALS

(All games, 7 p.m.)

Region 5

Cedar Rapids Jefferson (8-14) at Southeast Polk (15-6)

Cedar Rapids Washington (13-8) at Linn-Mar (15-7)

Region 6

Muscatine (10-12) at Iowa City West (19-2)

Davenport West (9-11) at Pleasant Valley (17-4)

Region 7

Bettendorf (12-10) at Iowa City High (14-7)

Des Moines Roosevelt (10-10) at Johnston (14-7)

Region 8

Dubuque Senior (7-15) at Cedar Rapids Kennedy (15-6)

Dubuque Hempstead (10-11) at Cedar Falls (16-5)

SATURDAY'S CLASS 4A REGIONAL SEMIFINALS

(All games, 7 p.m.)

Region 2

Charles City (11-11) at Waverly-Shell Rock (21-0)

West Delaware (16-6) at Marion (16-5)

Region 3

Dubuque Wahlert (11-11) at Western Dubuque (21-0)

Davenport Assumption (14-8) at North Scott (17-4)

Region 4

Keokuk (15-6) at Davenport North (16-5)

Mount Pleasant (18-4) at Cedar Rapids Xavier (15-6)

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com