Hot start continues for Cedar Rapids Xavier boys’ hoops team

MARION - Of course, there are some football players on this Cedar Rapids Xavier boys’ basketball team. Those guys got a late start to the hoops season because they played an elongated football campaign that was culminated by a state championship.

So the reason the Saints are off to a fast 4-0 start in basketball probably has more to do with the non-football dudes on this team. Dudes like Aidan Yamilkoski, Joe Bean and Tyler Netolicky, who all played pivotal roles in Xavier’s 63-50 win Friday night at Linn-Mar.

“Our team is playing together well. Having fun,” said Yamiloski. “We’re just not selfish this year. We’re playing off each other, which is a huge upgrade for us this year.”

“(Josef) Lemker and Joe are great off-the-ball kind of players. Having Tyler in the paint scoring points is just awesome. Then those football guys, having them on the court, nothing better there than to defend the ball.”

Xavier knocked off fellow Class 3A opponents Center Point-Urbana and Waverly-Shell Rock in their first two games and put a hurting on a good Class 2A squad from Williamsburg earlier this week. They put a knot on the head of their first 4A foe here, playing with the lead most of the way, though not by much.

Yamikoski hit 11 of 14 free throws in a 21-point game that led the Saints. Junior guard Joe Bean hit a trio of treys in an 18-point effort, and the 6-foot-8 Netolicky had 13 points and a game-high seven rebounds, a mark tied by teammate Lemker.

“Just really proud of our effort, watching guys contribute,” said Xavier Coach Mike Freeman. “Thomas Sundell (one of the football/basketballers), there are so many plays in the second half that he just gets himself back, defends (for) us. He had a couple of deflections, they get out in transition, and he’s back there. Not surprised because he’s played in a lot of big moments.”

Linn-Mar (1-2) is playing without starting guard Jackson Severson, who is out with a broken hand incurred during football season. The Lions had a difficult time finding someone else offensively to go with super sophomore Davis Kern.

The skilled 6-foot-8 sophomore led everyone with 25 points, but the next highest-scoring Lions player was Tristan Jackson with just seven. Xavier outrebounded Linn-Mar by nine, which was another important statistic.

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AT LINN-MAR

C.R. XAVIER (63): Josef Lemker 2-6 1-2 5, Aidan Yamilkoski 5-15 11-14 21, Tyler Netolicky 5-7 3-9 13, Joe Bean 5-14 5-8 18, Thomas Sundell 2-3 2-2 6, Aidan McDermott 0-1 0-0 0, Michael Cunningham 0-0 0-0 0, Maverick Burger 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 19-47 22-34 63.

LINN-MAR (50): Payton Nietert 2-5 0-0 5, Ian Mindrup 2-3 0-0 4, Davis Kern 10-15 3-4 25, Owen Olmstead 1-3 2-3 5, Tristin Jackson 3-5 1-2 7, Ian Bettis 0-1 0-0 0, Owen Havlik 1-5 0-0 2, Mason Matson 1-5 0-0 2, Matthew Darbouze 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 20-42 6-9 50.

End of first quarter - Xavier 16, Linn-Mar 13. Halftime - Xavier 30, Linn-Mar 24. End of third quarter - Xavier 43, Linn-Mar 37. 3-point goals - Xavier 3-15 (Lemker 0-1, Yamilkoski 0-5, Bean 3-8, Sundell 0-1), Linn-Mar 4-17 (Nietert 1-4, Kern 2-4, Olmstead 1-3, Bettis 0-1, Havlik 0-2, Matson 0-3). Rebounds - Xavier 34 (Lemker, Netolicky 7), Linn-Mar 25 (Olmstead 6). Total fouls - Xavier 15, Linn-Mar 25. Fouled out - Nietert, Matson. Turnovers - Xavier 9, Linn-Mar 18.

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