IHSAA releases boys' basketball Class 3A, 4A postseason brackets

As expected, Cedar Rapids Xavier has been selected to host a boys' basketball Class 3A district semifinal double-header Feb. 24. The Iowa High School Athletic Association released all 3A and 4A postseason brackets and sites Wednesday.Xavier will play Vinton-Shellsburg in the back half of a twin-bill that also includes Marion and Center Point-Urbana. The winners play a district final Feb. 27 at Linn-Mar.A substate final against Dubuque Wahlert, Western Dubuque, West Delaware or Independence is on tap March 3 at either Epworth or Manchester."Doesn't matter to me," Marion Coach Mike Manderscheid said. "We're 6-4 on the road this season, we're 2-8 at home. If we would have gotten a home game, we probably would have had to go ride in the bus for an hour or something before the game."The IHSAA set up first-round district double-headers in 1A, 2A and 3A this season. District semifinals and finals, as well as substate finals are at neutral sites.Class 4A's postseason remains unchanged, with higher-seeded teams awarded home games in the first two substate rounds. Substate finals remain at neutral sites."I think the IHSAA thinks double-headers will draw more people," Manderscheid said. "I don't know if that's true."Other 3A district hosts include Charles City, Crestwood, Dubuque Wahlert, DeWitt Central and Benton Community.In Class 4A, Cedar Rapids Jefferson and Cedar Rapids Washington face substate first-round road games, while Cedar Rapids Prairie will host Marshalltown. Jefferson plays at Pleasant Valley and Washington at Clinton, with all games on Feb. 24.The Washington-Clinton winner plays a substate semifinal Feb. 28 at Cedar Rapids Kennedy, which has a first-round bye. The Jeff-PV winner advances to play a semifinal at fourth-ranked North Scott.Second-ranked Iowa City West and Iowa City High also have first-round byes. West hosts either Prairie or Marshalltown in a 4A substate, with City High hosting either Newton or Ottumwa.Linn-Mar also is the recipient of a bye in the first round. The Lions will host either Dubuque Hempstead or Waterloo East in the semifinals, with No. 1 Dubuque Senior the likely substate final opponent March 4 at Hempstead.Here is a link to all the pairings:

https://www.iahsaa.org/secure/brackets.php?sport=bb