Pairings set for ServPro MVC-CIML Crossover boys’ basketball event

CEDAR RAPIDS — Pairings for the ServPro MVC-CIML Crossover Shootout have been set.

The first-of-its-kind event is Jan. 6 at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse in downtown Cedar Rapids. Tickets go on sale Friday and will be available online at TicketMaster.

The Crossover features seven boys’ basketball games mostly between schools from the Mississippi Valley Conference, Mississippi Athletic Conference and Central Iowa Metro League. A return event is scheduled for Central Iowa later in January, with three games on tap.

This is the brainchild of Cedar Rapids Kennedy Coach Jon McKowen and has the blessing of the Iowa High School Athletic Association. McKowen wanted schools from Central Iowa and Eastern Iowa to compete against one another.

“I have been in conversations with coaches across the state every year about seeding when it comes to substate and the state tournament,” McKowen said. “There is no perfect system, but the IHSAA has been a great partner with the IBCA (Iowa Basketball Coaches Association) to modify the system seeding criteria from coaches recommendations.

“In hopes of creating more clarity to the process, I thought it would great to have in-season matchups from the best teams across the state. This is also going to allow the student-athletes on each team to play in an arena that will be a special experience for them.”

The Jan. 6 event begins at 10 a.m. when Cedar Rapids Prairie (2-4) and Southeast Polk (2-5) play. Iowa City Liberty (3-3) and Waukee Northwest (4-4) follow at approximately 11:30.

The Crossover continues with a 1 p.m. matchup between Pleasant Valley (3-3) and Ames (4-2). Then it’s Bettendorf (4-3) and Ankeny (6-2) at about 2:30.

The 4 p.m. game is between Cedar Falls (4-1) and Davenport Assumption (5-2). The even concludes with a 5:30 contest between Linn-Mar (5-1) and West Des Moines Valley (6-1) and a 7 p.m. contest between Kennedy (5-0) and Waukee (6-2).

McKowen had the three members of the IHSAA Class 4A rankings poll committee (former Bettendorf head coach/current administrator Kevin Skillett, former Waukee head coach/current middle school activities director Justin Ohl and Jeff Johnson of The Cedar Rapids Gazette) put together the tournament pairings, so as to avoid a conflict of interest. The goal was to match up similar teams.

Iowa City West and West Des Moines Dowling also are playing a MVC-CIML game Jan. 6 at West. Assumption was a substitute for Johnston, which had a schedule conflict and could not attend the event.

McKowen said he hopes other schools will opt to play in the Crossover event in future years.

“I would like to thank the 17 different schools that agreed to play in these two events,” he said. “We will have 12 competitive games over the two days.”

Around The Hoop

— The Iowa High School Athletic Association is expected to release its first official state rankings of the season Friday. The rankings are compiled by four separate committees (one for each class) that include two former coaches, a media member and members of the IHSAA staff.

— Going into the final two days of games prior to the holiday break, The Gazette area has seven unbeaten teams remaining.

They would be Kennedy (5-0) in Class 4A, Decorah (7-0) and Solon (6-0) in 3A, Monticello (8-0) in 2A and North Linn (8-0) and Keota and Lansing Kee (both 9-0) in Class 1A.

Comments: (319)-398-8258, jeff.johnson@thegazette.com