Boys’ basketball: Time for a quick reset

CEDAR RAPIDS - OK, let’s all take a deep breath. It’s time for a reset.

There are no boys’ basketball games involving Gazette-area schools the rest of the weekend. Everything picks back up Monday and goes full speed for eight days, as state tournament berths in all four classes are determined.

This gives us a chance to look back at what has happened so far and where things are headed. So let’s go.

End of the regular season

– It ended with a bang, as Cedar Rapids Prairie and Linn-Mar secured Mississippi Valley Conference division championships.

Prairie won a share of the Valley Division title Thursday night with a gutty 55-53 win at Dubuque Senior. The Hawks (18-4) played without starting center Devin Ikeda, who was out sick, and overcame an eight-point halftime deficit.

Sophomore Cayden Larson, Ikeda’s lineup replacement, scored 16 points. Junior Will Wehr came off the bench for 15.

Prairie tied Class 4A top-ranked Cedar Falls for the championship. The Hawks beat CF in a double-overtime classic in late January, their only meeting this season.

The other loss for Cedar Falls this season was to Linn-Mar, which won the Mississippi Division championship outright. The 4A second-ranked Lions (19-2) went a perfect 14-0 in MVC play and are on a 13-game heater overall as they hit the postseason.

Senior forward Davis Kern has got to be in the conversation for 2025 Iowa Mr. Basketball. The South Dakota State signee is averaging 22.5 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 3.3 blocked shots per game.

Everything Linn-Mar runs offensively goes through him, and that’s a good thing.

Decorah won the Northeast Iowa Conference last week, going a perfect 8-0. The Vikings went into this week ranked No. 2 in Class 3A.

The postseason begins Monday night for all 3A teams and some 4A teams. The top two teams in each 4A substate get first-round byes, those schools in the area being Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Linn-Mar, Prairie, Cedar Falls and Dubuque Senior.

Class 1A postseason updates

While the two largest classes haven’t even begun postseason play, the smallest two already are at the district final stage, just two games from determining state qualifiers. The Gazette area is guaranteed at least one substate final qualifier in Class 1A, as North Linn and Hillcrest Academy square off in a district final Tuesday night at Solon.

The eighth-ranked Lynx (21-2) are seeking an ninth consecutive trip to state and an unprecedented eighth consecutive trip to a state championship game. Senior guard Mason Bechen set the school record for single-season points (706) in a Thursday night district final win over Springville.

Hillcrest Academy (21-3) is seeking its first state appearance since 2012.

Maquoketa Valley (16-6) is perhaps the most surprising district finalist ,as it won Thursday night at second-seeded South Winneshiek, 52-30, its sixth victory in a row and ninth in 10 games. MV plays top-seeded Don Bosco (18-6) in a District 6 final at Sumner.

Montezuma (20-3) gets a third crack at South Iowa Cedar League rival North Mahaska (20-3) as those teams play a district final at Grinnell. NM won the regular-season games, 58-46 and 59-56.

Class 2A postseason updates

Tuesday also is district final night in 2A.

Unbeaten but unranked North Fayette Valley (22-0) takes a crack at top-seeded and ninth-ranked Aplington-Parkersburg (20-2) at Waterloo East. The corresponding district final (6) is eighth-rated Cascade (19-3) against Jesup (14-9) at Manchester.

Jesup upset second-seeded MFL MarMac, 73-56, in Thursday’s district semis.

It’s an all-RVC district final at Dubuque Hempstead as Monticello (18-4) plays Northeast Goose Lake (17-5). Northeast won both regular-season matchups, by nine and 12 points, respectively.

Iowa City Regina (19-3) makes it four River Valley Conference schools in a district final, as it plays at Benton Community against seventh-ranked Grundy Center (20-2). Mid-Prairie (18-4) is a fifth RVC team in a district final, drawing No. 10 West Burlington (20-2) at Mount Pleasant.

LaPorte City Union Community (15-9) gets a shot at revenge in its District 11 final against Denver (19-4). The Cyclones won a regular-season game between the two, 84-79.

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