Mustangs set sail on another big run

It's that time again. The postseason.A time when Mount Vernon, far more often than not, shines brightly in girls' sports.Last year's Class 2A girls' state basketball champion, Mount Vernon begins its 3A regional road Wednesday with a home date with Center Point-Urbana.The second-ranked Mustangs (19-2) are coming off a 40-32 loss in their regular-season finale to DeWitt Central."I think it woke us up a little," said Mustangs Coach Bob Kintzel. "We didn't play well in that game, but we talked about it a lot, and the kids responded well the next day at practice."The Mustangs need three wins to return to state-tournament competition, a venue in which they are familiar (and vastly successful) in all major sports.Kintzel knows the competition will be stiffer than it was last year at the 2A level."I was a little surprised how easily we made it to state last year," he said. "In 3A, I think every game is going to get tougher and tougher. The first and second rounds, if we don't play well, we have a chance to get knocked off."Center Point-Urbana (9-12) has won six of its last eight games."They're going to play 12 or 13 kids, but I think they're going to have trouble matching up with our size," Kintzel said.The premier game in the area Wednesday, without a doubt, will be played at Solon, where the 14th-ranked Lady Spartans (17-4) face Washington, Iowa (17-5).Solon has picked up impressive wins this season over DeWitt Central and Williamsburg, a pair of 3A top-10 teams.In Class 4A, all 15 of the state's ranked teams have first-round byes and do not open until Saturday.Only three of the Metro/Iowa City 4A teams are in action Wednesday. Cedar Rapids Kennedy (8-13) plays at Cedar Rapids Prairie (4-17) in Region 3 while Cedar Rapids Jefferson (7-14) hosts Dubuque Senior (6-15) in Region 4.Prairie beat Kennedy in overtime on Jan. 25."They're a team a lot like us. We match up height-wise with them ... neither team has any big posts," said Prairie Coach Steve Doser. "Our kids will be focused and aggressive."Kennedy Coach Dennis Roloff picked up his 300th win at the school Saturday.