First season shifts to postseason

CEDAR RAPIDS -- This is the 21st Century, urban, female rendition of "Hoosiers."

Cedar Valley Christian practices in a tiny gym and has a roster of six girls -- seven if you count the manager.

"We've spent a lot of time on fundamentals, a lot of one-on-one breakdowns," said Coach Craig Foote. "We never run out of things to do at practice."

A tiny parochial school on the southeast side of town, Cedar Valley Christian is in its first year sanctioned by the state's governing bodies for athletics. The Huskies begin their first girls' basketball postseason Thursday in a Class 1A regional first-rounder at Lisbon.

Tipoff is 7 p.m.

And thus kicks off a girls' basketball run that culminates with the state tournament Feb. 27-March 3 at Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines.

Forgive the Huskies (4-17) if they're dragging a bit. Thursday's game will be their fifth in a seven-day whirlwind.

Cedar Valley survived the first half of the campaign with five regular players, adding a sixth when Ellen Rodriguez came aboard after the holiday break.

The Huskies have been reasonably competitive, averaging 34.9 points per game while allowing 49.5. Only five times have they been truly overmatched.

Victory No. 1 came Jan. 6, against Morning Star Academy.

They have a budding star in 5-foot-11 post Shelby Hembera, whose 16.4-point scoring average is second-best in the state among freshmen.

"She's a very good basketball player, and her character and academics are even better," Foote said. "She's very teachable and has a lot of intelligence and quickness. For her size, she has good ball-handling skills."

Rodriguez averages 10.0 points per game, Lindsey Cach 7.1.

The Huskies have been underdogs most of the season and certainly will be against Lisbon (12-10) -- the Lions drubbed CVC 63-28 in the regular-season finale Tuesday -- but it might not be long before that changes.

"Our fourth- though eighth-grade teams all have good numbers," Foote said. "Within two years, I think we'll have a strong program."

No. 12 North Tama (17-4) is the lone ranked team in the area, and the only rated squad in 1A Region 4. The Redhawks host Central City (2-18) in the first round Thursday.

Belle Plaine (13-8) is the hottest 1A team in the area with seven straight wins. The Plainsmen host BGM (6-15).

Class 2A regionals open Saturday, with 3A and 4A tournaments beginning next Wednesday.

THURSDAY'S CLASS 1A REGIONALS

Opening Round, All Games 7 p.m. (unless noted)

Region 3

Postville (1-18) at Lansing Kee (10-11)

Riceville (1-20) at Turkey Valley (12-9)

Elkader Central (6-15) at West Central (10-11)

Valley Community (1-20) at Tripoli (15-6)

Ventura (10-10) at Northwood-Kensett (11-10)

Rockford(9-11)  at Mason City Newman (12-9)

Latimer CAL (6-15) at Clarksville (15-6)

Belmond-Klemme (1-20) at North Butler (17-1)

Region 4

BGM (6-15) at Belle Plaine (13-8), winner plays at Meskwaki on Saturday

Garwin GMG (2-19) at Colo-Nesco (12-8)

Ankeny Christian (6-15) vs. Iowa Christian (16-5), 6 p.m. at Ankeny H.S.

Grandview Park Baptist (3-18) vs. Woodward-Granger (15-6), 7:30 p.m. at Ankeny H.S.

Waterloo Christian (5-17) at Cedar Falls NU High (7-15)

Dunkerton (3-18) at Janesville (10-10)

Don Bosco (10-10) at East Buchanan (5-16)

Central City (2-18) at North Tama (17-4)

Region 5

Rivermont Collegiate (0-2) at Calamus-Wheatland (0-22)

Morning Star Academy (9-12) at Clinton Prince of Peace (14-8)

Midland (3-18) at Springville (9-12)

Bellevue Marquette (8-10) at Preston (15-6)

Iowa Mennonite (4-18) at Lone Tree (9-12)

Cedar Valley Christian (4-17) at Lisbon (12-10)

English Valleys (8-13) at Montezuma (12-10)

HLV (6-14) at North Mahaska (21-0)

Region 6

Tri-County (1-20) at Sigourney (4-17), winner plays at Keota on Saturday

WACO (7-14) at Winfield-Mount Union (16-5)

Burlington Notre Dame (15-5) at Harmony (0-20)

New London (3-18) at Fort Madison Holy Trinity (7-14)

Wayne (6-15) at Moravia (10-9)

Seymour (0-13) at Moulton-Udell (14-4)

Melcher-Dallas (9-12) at Twin Cedars (16-5)

Southeast Warren (5-16) at Lynnville-Sully (19-2)