Weather delays return home for Warriors, Lions

CEDAR RAPIDS -- The road trip to Sioux City became an extended road trip.Severe winter conditions forced the girls' basketball teams from Linn-Mar and Cedar Rapids Washington to spend an extra night in Sioux City. The teams were scheduled to return home around 4:30 Sunday afternoon."Obviously, the safety of the girls was the No. 1 priority, so we opted to stay over Saturday night," said Linn-Mar Coach Mike Brandt. "It was hard enough just to get back from Heelan (High School) to the hotel."Saturday's games began at 1 p.m. It was apparent by then that the Warriors and the Lions wouldn't be leaving town. Interstate 29 was closed, as was U.S. Highway 20."We were pretty much the only games in town," said Washington Coach Frank Howell. "We talked about coming home early, but we went ahead and played."Both teams came home happy, sweeping Heelan and Sioux City North. Class 4A third-rated Linn-Mar (7-0) ran its winning streak to 33 games while No. 6 Washington improved to 6-0."It was fun, rooting each other on and feeling a connection with them," Brandt said. "We both went over there and beat two good teams."Howell said he spent Saturday night "in front of the TV, watching ESPN," while parents shuttled many of the girls back and forth from a mall.The teams departed Sioux City around noon Sunday.