Rubber match for CPU, Vinton-Shellsburg is for a 3A girls’ state basketball berth

When Rich Haisman took over a moribund Vinton-Shellsburg girls’ basketball program three years ago, one of his long-term goals was to play in meaningful postseason games.

“We wanted to get to this point, to have this conversation about a big game,” he said.

And here they are.

It doesn’t get much more meaningful than a regional final. The Class 3A 13th-ranked Vikettes (15-8) will play one Saturday, their first in more than a decade, when they face No. 6 Center Point-Urbana (20-3). Tipoff is 7 p.m. at Cedar Rapids Xavier.

How far have the Vikettes come? In the eight seasons preceding the arrival of Haisman — and a strong core that are now juniors — the program won 29 games. In the three seasons since, 45.

CPU stands between Vinton-Shellsburg and its first state appearance since 1999. The teams traded road victories during the regular season.

“The last two games, we dug ourselves a big hole. We dug out of it once, but couldn’t do it the second time,” Haisman said. “If we can keep from getting buried early, we have a good shot.”

CPU is an established program that reached five consecutive state tournaments from 2016 through 2020, including a 3A championship in 2019. Now a senior and a UNI signee, Ryley Goebel was a member of that title team.

Goebel scored 18 points, and CPU collected 20 steals in a 54-29 regional-semifinal win over West Delaware on Wednesday.

“Offense comes and goes, but if our defense comes to play, that gives us a good shot,” CPU Coach Philip Klett said. “The big part isn’t the steals. We want to force the other team into mistakes.”

CPU can go eight deep without skipping a beat. Sometimes deeper.

“We’ve settled into a rotation. We have different kids finishing,” Klett said. “It’s a good mix. One through 15, I tell everybody to always be ready.”

In the other 3A regional final of area interest, Mid-Prairie (15-8) tangles with Davenport Assumption (14-9) in a matchup of unranked teams at Iowa City West. The Golden Hawks are shooting for their first state trip since 2016; Assumption knocked off No. 7 West Liberty, 39-37, in the regional semifinals.

Class 5A and 4A regional semifinals are Saturday, and nine Metro/Iowa City teams are a part of it.

Before CPU and Vinton-Shellsburg take the court at Ron Thillen Gymnasium, No. 5 Xavier (15-6) welcomes Marion (13-9) for a 4A contest at 5 p.m.

Xavier had a first-round bye Wednesday, but the Saints weren’t exactly idle. They participated in a scrimmage with Cedar Rapids Washington.

“We did some up-and-down stuff to get loose, then went through some situational stuff. We finished with a goofy photo and went home,” said Lilly, who then trekked to Marion and watched the Wolves advance with a 77-65 win over Mason City.

“They’re good,” Lilly said of the Wolves. “Their record is deceiving. They seem to be clicking on all cylinders. They have a nice post game.”

In 5A games involving Metro/Iowa City teams, No. 5 Iowa City High (17-4) hosts Muscatine (5-16), No. 8 Iowa City West (18-3) welcomes No. 14 Cedar Falls (15-7), No. 11 Linn-Mar (14-7) entertains Dubuque Senior (12-10), No. 12 Cedar Rapids Washington (15-6) welcomes Bettendorf (15-7), Cedar Rapids Kennedy (12-10) travels to No. 15 Waukee Northwest (13-8), Cedar Rapids Prairie (6-15) goes to No. 6 Waterloo West (19-2) and Iowa City Liberty (12-10) visits Southeast Polk (12-9).

Regional finals in 4A and 5A are Tuesday.

Saturday’s Class 3A Regional Finals

REGION 3

No. 6 Center Point-Urbana (20-3) vs. No. 13 Vinton-Shellsburg (15-8)

Time & site: 7 p.m., at Cedar Rapids Xavier

Overview: It’s the rubber match between these Wamac Conference rivals, and the third meeting in less than a month. The teams traded road wins, with Vinton-Shellsburg recording a 49-38 victory at Center Point on Jan. 20, then CPU getting even with a 50-41 decision at Vinton on Feb. 1. The Vikettes are aiming for their first state-tournament appearance since Harold Shepherd led them there in 1999. After the program suffered through a long lean period, Rich Haisman has led a revival in his three seasons. He relied on a roster full of juniors, led by Alyssa Griffith (12.5 points per game). CPU advanced to state five consecutive years (2016-20, including a 3A title in 2019) before bowing out in the regional semifinals last year. UNI recruit Ryley Goebel averages 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.2 steals and 3.0 blocks per game, shooting nearly 57 percent from the field.

BC Moore computer projection: CPU by 14.

REGION 4

Mid-Prairie (15-8) vs. Davenport Assumption (14-9)

Time & site: 7 p.m. at Iowa City West

Overview: After a 3-3 start, Mid-Prairie has rattled off 12 wins in its last 17 games, including a 64-58 win over West Burlington in the regional semifinals Wednesday. Senior Maddie Nonnenmann is a unanimous all-River Valley Conference elite-team selection after averaging 15.9 points per game. The Golden Hawks’ next four scorers include three juniors and a sophomore. Mid-Prairie is pushing for its first state appearance since 2016. Assumption is a state-tournament regular with 15 appearances since 2001. The Knights held off No. 7 West Liberty, 39-37, in the regional semifinals, building an 11-point halftime lead and hanging on. Junior post Ava Schubert averages 13.3 points and 6.2 boards per contest. Assumption finished fifth in the Mississippi Athletic Conference.

BC Moore computer projection: Assumption by 12.

STATE (7 p.m. unless noted)

Ballard (20-3) vs. Eddyville EBF (18-5), at Pleasantville

Estherville ELC (22-2) vs. Clear Lake (18-4), at Algona

Sergeant Bluff-Luton (19-4) vs. Des Moines Christian (17-6), at Denison

Unity Christian (22-1) vs. Cherokee (14-8), at Sioux City East, 7:30 p.m.

West Lyon (21-1) vs. Forest City (15-7), at Emmetsburg

West Marshall (22-2) vs. Roland-Story (18-5), at Ankeny Centennial

Saturday’s Class 5A Regional Semifinals

(7 p.m. unless noted)

REGION 4

Davenport West (2-19) at Pleasant Valley (19-2)

Bettendorf (15-7) at Cedar Rapids Washington (15-6)

REGION 5

Ames (3-18) at West Des Moines Dowling (16-6)

Cedar Rapids Kennedy (12-10) at Waukee Northwest (13-8)

REGION 6

Muscatine (5-15) at Iowa City High (17-4)

Dubuque Senior (12-10) at Linn-Mar (14-7)

REGION 7

Cedar Rapids Prairie (6-15) at Waterloo West (19-2)

Iowa City Liberty (12-10) at Southeast Polk (12-9)

REGION 8

Ottumwa (6-16) at West Des Moines Valley (16-5)

Cedar Falls (15-7) at Iowa City West (18-3), 5 p.m.

Saturday’s Class 4A Regional Semifinals

(7 p.m. unless noted)

REGION 2

Marion (13-9) at Cedar Rapids Xavier (15-6), 5 p.m.

Mount Pleasant (12-10) at Keokuk (17-3)

REGION 3

Maquoketa (10-12) at DeWitt Central (17-4)

North Scott (14-8) at Clear Creek Amana (15-6)

REGION 4

Pella (13-9) at Grinnell (18-3)

Solon (15-7) at Benton Community (17-5)

REGION 6

Carlisle (8-14) at North Polk (17-4)

Decorah (15-6) at Waverly-Shell Rock (16-5)

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com