Cedar Rapids Xavier seeks back-to-back state hoops tournament appearances

CEDAR RAPIDS — It's been almost four full seasons as a head basketball coach for Ryan Luehrsmann.

There has been a lot of good for the former Iowa Hawkeyes guard. Working with and watching players improve, developing a fine program at Cedar Rapids Xavier.

Then there is the not so good. Things like six-game losing streaks to end the regular season and having to discipline one of your top players.

It's just the teeter-totter part of the profession.

'Yeah, it's been a roller coaster when you look back on it in hindsight,' Luehrsmann said. 'It's been good and certainly head scratching at times, as you'd expect when you are dealing with young kids.'

Xavier is a game away from qualifying for its second straight state tournament. The Saints (15-8) play a Class 3A substate final Monday night against Mount Pleasant (18-5) at Iowa City West.

Tipoff is 7 p.m.

Xavier will be without Mitchell Burger for a second straight game. Luehrsmann said it's a coach's decision not to play the senior guard, who averages 16.6 points per game.

'It's a private matter,' Luehrsmann said, without expounding.

Even without Burger, Xavier will be favored. The teams opened the regular season against each other way back in late November, with the Saints winning handily at Mount Pleasant, 61-28.

No doubt the Panthers are a much better team now, as four sophomore starters have gelled with a junior to form a club that has won eight in a row. But are they improved enough?

'You can tell they are playing with a lot more confidence,' Luehrsmann said. 'Their chemistry is a lot better.' Xavier still has plenty of firepower in 6-foot-7 center Max Techau and terrific sophomore point guard Matt Mims, among others. Luehrsmann knew the Saints' schedule was back-loaded, which contributed to the late losing streak, as did untimely ankle injuries to Mims and Burger.

He's confident in his team.

'I think we'll be fine,' he said. 'We've had a couple of games where not everybody was in the lineup. The rest of the guys have stepped up.'

Xavier won a game at state last season for the first time in school history, placing third in Class 3A. The guts of that team graduated, including Division I college player Adam McDermott (North Dakota), so this has been a rewarding season.

Back-to-back appearances at Wells Fargo Arena would be quite a feat.

'It'd be huge to back up last year,' Luehrsmann said. 'To continue to build up the tradition and heighten the expectations of the younger kids coming up.'

Seven other 3A substate finals will be played Monday night, including a double-header at the U.S. Cellular Center in downtown Cedar Rapids. Two-time defending champion Dubuque Wahlert plays Waverly-Shell Rock in the first game at 6:30, with rivals Mount Vernon and Solon following at approximately 8.

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