Divisional format allows SICL a title bout

Iowa Valley captured a winner-take-all game Monday, and faces another Friday.

And the postseason hasn't even begun.

Marissa Ward's free throw with 5 seconds left gave the Tigers a 45-44 win over Belle Plaine on Monday, giving them the South Iowa Cedar League East Division title.

As a reward, Iowa Valley (16-4 overall, 13-3 SICL) plays for the overall league championship Friday. The opponent will be No. 12 Lynnville-Sully (19-1, 15-1).

'I like the opportunity to play for a conference championship like this,' said Tigers Coach John Bowlin. 'It adds a lot of excitement. The last few games have been very important in this race.'

The SICL expanded to 12 teams this year with the addition of Colfax-Mingo and split into two divisions. League officials made the basketball schedule a 16-game slate and designated a night at the end of the regular season for the first-place team in the East Division to play the winner of the West, the second-place teams to battle, etc.

All of Friday's games will be hosted by East Division teams, so the top battle will be at Marengo.

The Tigers' four losses this season have been by a combined 14 points, including three-point defeats to Lynnville-Sully and Montezuma.

'We've been in every game we've played this year,' Bowlin said. 'We have five seniors, and they've led the way for us.'

Iowa Valley trailed Belle Plaine late before Sarah Kavanh hit a game-tying 3-pointer, then Ward's free throw provided the final margin.

MIDSEASON U-TURN FOR DECORAH

When the calendar flipped, so did Decorah's fortunes.

After a rough 1-8 start before Christmas, the Vikings surged in January, winning eight of 10 games to climb to 9-10 overall and 6-4 in the Northeast Iowa Conference.

Their only loss in the last seven games was a 48-47 verdict to Waverly-Shell Rock, which has clinched its sixth consecutive NEIC title. In their first meeting, Waverly-Shell Rock won by 35.

Senior Taylor Schuring and Sondra Zidlicky have led the surge. Schuring is averaging 14.0 points and 5.2 assists per game; Zidlicky posts 10.5 points and 7.4 rebounds per contest.

KRIEGEL JOINS 1,000/1,000 CLUB

BGM senior Jolissa Kriegel became a member of a select group Monday, a double-quadruple group.

Kriegel jumped over the 1,000-point mark in the Bears' 51-38 win over HLV.

Her career totals are 1,004 points and 1,040 rebounds. This season, she is averaging 12.6 points and a state-best 13.4 rebounds per game.

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