Geno: Stokes could contribute for UConn next year

DES MOINES -- Geno Auriemma's recruiting radar showed a blip in Iowa two years ago.

"Most kids start to jump out when they're sophomores," said Auriemma, coach at the University of Connecticut, the top women's basketball program in the country. "That was when we became familiar with Kiah (Stokes)."

Auriemma was in the Wells Fargo Arena stands, third row from the top and center court, when Stokes led second-ranked Linn-Mar to a 48-47 win over No. 10 Ankeny in a Class 4A quarterfinal Wednesday.

He had an open day; UConn beat Syracuse in its regular-season finale Monday, then opens Big East Conference tournament play later this week.

Stokes, who signed at UConn in November, had 18 points and 11 rebounds Wednesday. She had the game-winning basket with 20 seconds left, the game-saving block in the final second.

Auriemma said he doesn't tell Stokes (or any of his recruits) anything in particular to enhance their games while still in high school.

"I said all you can do to get better is to win every game, because that's the expectation when you come to Connecticut," Auriemma said. "We expect to win every game.

"That said, I do think Kiah has gotten a little more assertive, and she's better at handling double- and triple-teams.

"I would be really surprised if she's not a big contributor for us next year."

Stokes headlines a senior class in Iowa that also includes a Stanford recruit (Taylor Greenfield of Ballard) and a Notre Dame signee (Markisha Wright of Des Moines East).

"For a state that doesn't have a whole lot of people, Iowa always seems to turn out a lot of Division-I players," Auriemma said.

Mount Vernon-Central, Part III

DeWitt Central's Lindsay Smith is out for Thursday's Class 3A semifinal against Mount Vernon.

But the Mustangs would be well-advised not to breathe a heavy sigh of relief. Not after what the Sabers did without their point guard Tuesday.

Instead of folding, sixth-ranked Central flourished and upended previously unbeaten MOC-Floyd Valley, 47-37. That sets up a showdown between the Wamac Conference East Division rivals.

Game time is 7:45.

"When Lindsay went down, it was one of the hardest feelings I've ever had," said post Jen Keitel, who took over and finished with 17 points, 15 rebounds and six blocks. "I'm a captain too, and I pulled the rest of the team together and told them we needed to come together and play as a team."

A Wisconsin signee, Smith tore her ACL and will not play.

The teams split in the regular season, and the Mustangs aren't taking anything for granted.

"When Smith went down ... you've got to give DeWitt a lot of credit," said Mount Vernon Coach Bob Kintzel. "They looked very poised throughout."