‘A learning year’ for young Metro 5A teams

There's no denying it, no ignoring it. So let's just get it out there, and move on:

It hasn't been a big year for the big schools in the Metro.

For the first time in 33 years, the five Cedar Rapids/Marion teams that compete in Class 5A girls' basketball — Jefferson, Kennedy, Washington, Linn-Mar and Prairie — have a combined record below .500.

Call it a down year, a rebuilding year. Kennedy Coach Tony Vis called it 'a learning year' for the Cougars.

'A few kids that didn't go out ... that would have given us some more wins,' said Vis, whose Cougars (5-16) host Dubuque Senior (1-19) in a 5A regional quarterfinal at 7 p.m. Wednesday. 'But our young kids have grown up quite a bit. They've been able to compete with just about everybody.

'It's a learning year, but our future is bright. We're not as far away as our record might indicate.'

The same can be said throughout town. The Metro's five 5A schools have 11 double-figure scorers among them, and only one — Jefferson's Kennedy Dighton — is a senior.

Among the returners for 2017-18 is Kennedy's Hailey Dolphin, who leads the bunch at 16.2 points per game.

'You look around, and I can't tell you of anybody that will be devastated by graduation this year,' Vis said. 'That experience factor will bring more confidence.'

Washington (7-14) is the only other Metro team in action Wednesday, at home against Davenport Central (2-18).

The Warriors were 4-4 before leading scorer Vanessa Eniola (14.4 ppg) suffered a season-ending injury.

'We've got a lot of girls playing a lot of minutes and positions in which, I hate to say it, but they're not at that level yet,' Warriors Coach Chris James said. 'We're asking them to do it out of necessity.

'I'm excited about our future, but I don't want to take anything for granted.'

Jefferson (11-10), Linn-Mar (11-10) and Prairie (9-12) open with regional semifinals Saturday. Prairie has won five of its last six games behind a young, talented backcourt led by sophomore Sarah Schmitt.

Also with first-round byes in 5A are No. 3 Iowa City West (18-3) and No. 4 Iowa City High (20-1). Class 4A top-ranked Marion (20-1) and No. 6 Cedar Rapids Xavier (15-6) get started Saturday, as well.

The Class 3A series hits the regional-semifinal stage Wednesday. The top area team, No. 3 Center Point-Urbana (19-3) hosts South Tama (13-9).

Among other area 3A rateds, No. 6 Union (20-2) hosts Monticello (14-8), No. 10 Mount Vernon (16-6) entertains Anamosa (10-13), and No. 12 Mid-Prairie (16-6) hosts Central Lee (19-3).

WEDNESDAY'S CLASS 5A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS

(All games 7 p.m.)

Region 2

Dubuque Senior (1-19) at C.R. Kennedy (5-16)

Region 3

Des Moines North (3-19) at Fort Dodge (7-14)

Region 4

Marshalltown (0-21) at Ottumwa (13-8)

Region 5

Davenport West (1-18) at Burlington (7-14)

Region 6

Davenport Central (2-18) at C.R. Washington (7-14)

WEDNESDAY'S CLASS 4A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS

(All games 7 p.m.)

Region 4

Benton Community (5-16) at Clear Creek Amana (12-9)

Independence (2-19) at Decorah (3-18)

Region 5

Dubuque Wahlert (4-16) at Maquoketa (8-13)

Clinton (7-14) at DeWitt Central (9-12)

Region 6

Washington (5-16) at Mount Pleasant (12-9)

Fort Madison (5-16) at Keokuk (13-6)

WEDNESDAY'S CLASS 3A REGIONAL SEMIFINALS

(All games 7 p.m.)

Region 5

New Hampton (15-7) at Crestwood (19-1)

Anamosa (10-13) at Mount Vernon (16-6)

Region 6

Monticello (14-8) at Union (20-2)

Camanche (16-7) at Davenport Assumption (14-7)

Region 7

South Tama (13-9) at Center Point-Urbana (19-3)

Central Lee (19-3) at Mid-Prairie (16-6)

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com