COMMUNITY JOURNALISM: Kirkwood basketball teams rolling into regionals

CEDAR RAPIDS - The Kirkwood Eagles men's and women's basketball teams are flying into regional tournament action.

The women take a No. 4 national ranking and 27-2 record into tonight's game against Iowa Lakes while the Eagle men, rated second at 26-4, play Clinton.

Both games are at Johnson Hall, the women at 5:30 p.m., the men at 7:30.

The Kirkwood women dominated Iowa Community College Athletic Conference play, going 16-0. The Eagles have four players averaging more than 10 points per game and are led by forward Kate Hartman at almost 11 points per game. Hartman also is leading the team in rebounds at more than seven a game.

The Eagles won both of their previous matchups with Iowa Lakes this season, the most recent a 44-25 victory last Saturday at Johnson Hall.

The Region XI field will boast some tough challenges for the Eagles in Southeastern, Iowa Central and DMACC. DMACC gave Kirkwood its closest game inconference, forcing the Eagles to overtime in what was eventually a 64-58 Kirkwood victory in January.

The Region XI semifinals and championship game will be hosted by Marshalltown Community College on Friday and Saturday.

The Kirkwood men finished the regular season at 13-1 in the ICCAC are paced by a balanced attack. Sharpshooting guard Michael Weber leads the way at 12 points per game.

The Eagles also have a dominant inside game led by forwards Matt Tiby and Eddie Denard. Denard leads the team in rebounds at more than seven a game.

Kirkwood defeated Clinton in their previous two meetings this season. Ellsworth Community College is seeded second in the field and handed Kirkwood its only conference loss, on Feb. 25.

Each round of the Region XI men's tournament will be hosted by the higher seed in the bracket.