Prairie makes big changes on floor, in record

Steve Doser wasn't too proud to change.

The girls' basketball program at Cedar Rapids Prairie was in a state of decline. After six straight winning seasons (including back-to-back trips to the state semifinals in 2005 and 2006), the Hawks bottomed out to the tune of 12-53 over the past three years.

So Doser enlisted help and went about turning it around. He approached Tom Lilly -- coach at Cedar Rapids Xavier -- as well as several college coaches.

"We've changed a lot of things," said Doser, in his 12th season at Prairie. "We implemented a new fast-break systeam, a four-out and five-out offense, more full-court defense."

Most importantly, the Hawks have changed their bottom line.

Prairie won its eighth straight game Saturday, defeating Bettendorf 46-44 to move to 11-3. The Hawks are ranked No. 8 in Class 4A.

They've made a living at making plays at the end of games. Three times in January, they've provided some last-minute fireworks.

Courteney McCrary made two free throws with 0.2 seconds left to beat Iowa City High, then nailed a jumper at the horn to edge Xavier seven days later. Then, Saturday, Madison Dellamuth broke a tie with about 30 seconds left, and the margin held up.

"It's been fun coaching end-of-the-game situations with these kids," Doser said. "They've been rising up to the challenge."

Prairie has been fortunate at crunch time. Not so much in Mississippi Valley Conference divisional alignment.

At 8-2, the Hawks have the second-best record in the entire league. But they're in the Valley Division, along with unbeaten and top-ranked Iowa City West. That makes the first divisional title in school history a long shot.

The Hawks have succeeded without much height (they have nobody taller than 5-foot-9) or experience (Doser starts one senior, two juniors and two sophomores; the first two players off the bench are freshmen).

McCrary leads the team at 12.5 points per game, followed by Madison Dellamuth (11.9), Alisa Weiland (9.8) and Cyerra Hutchins (9.6).

Dellamuth, the sophomore playmaker, averages almost 6 assists per game.

Midseason U-turns

A handful of area teams have followed sluggish (or worse) starts with striking turnarounds.

* Clayton Ridge has won seven straight games to improve to 10-6.

* Mid-Prairie (9-4) is on a six-game surge, including a win over Iowa City Regina, to move into contention in the Cedar Valley Conference.

* After starting 1-9, Dyersville Beckman (6-10) has won five of six and has moved into the upper division of the Wamac Conference East Division at 5-4.

* Oelwein (8-5) followed a 2-4 start by winning six of seven and sits in second place in the Northeast Iowa Conference.

* Belle Plaine got out of the gate slow at 2-6, but has recovered to reach break-even at 8-8.