North Linn, Western Christian, Waverly and Iowa City West top state hoops tourney seeds

CEDAR RAPIDS - There weren't too many surprises Wednesday afternoon as the Iowa High School Athletic Association disclosed official seeds and brackets for next week's boys' state basketball tournament.

Via online reveal, North Linn was announced as the top seed in Class 1A, Western Christian the top seed in 2A, Waverly-Shell Rock the top seed in 3A and Iowa City West the top seed in 4A. The tournament begins Monday at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

North Linn (25-0) is one of two unbeatens teams remaining in the state and drew Maple Valley/Anthon-Oto (18-7) in a 1A quarterfinal Monday at 12:15 p.m. The Lynx have defeated opponents this season by an average of over 40 points per game and is in the state field for the first time since 1977.

Maple Valley/Anthon-Oto is not a typical eight seed in that it played several Class 2A and 3A schools in the regular season. The Rams were 1A runner-up in 2015.

Defending champion Western Christian (21-2) played South Hamilton (22-2) in the 2A quarterfinals. Cascade (22-2) is part of a loaded field and plays Camanche (22-2) in the 4-5 game Monday night at 8:15.

Camanche's only two losses came to Cascade, 66-58 and 60-54. Five teams in 2A have two losses, two have only one loss and Pella Christian is the second seed with a 20-4 record.

In 3A, defending champion Cedar Rapids Xavier is the fourth seed despite a 13-11 record, drawing Mount Pleasant (22-2) in a Tuesday quarterfinal at 3:45. The Saints beat MP in the season opener way back in late November, 55-45.

West Delaware (24-0) is the other undefeated team in the state tournament field but is a No. 2 seed in 3A. The Hawks play Dallas Center-Grimes (15-9) in a Tuesday night quarterfinal at 6:35.

Waverly-Shell Rock (22-1) earned the top seed in 3A. The Go-Hawks' lone loss was to Class 4A Cedar Falls.

Speaking of 4A, West (20-3) is your favorite. The Trojans, who have only lost to one Iowa opponent (Cedar Rapids Prairie), play eighth-seeded Newton (19-5) in a Wednesday quarterfinal at 1:05.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy and Dubuque Hempstead will follow at 2:45 in a matchup of 18-5 teams. Hempstead won the regular-season meeting between the teams, 51-44.

Hempstead has qualified for state for the first time.

For a look at all of the brackets, click on the icons at the top of this post.

l Comments: (319) 398-8259; jeff.johnson@thegazette.com