Nothing spoken, but North Linn wants more

For the time being, North Linn is the sole member of an exclusive club.

It's a club of sustained excellence.

North Linn is the answer to the trivia question: Name the only girls' basketball team in Iowa to win 20 games each of the past five years.

'I think the legacy to this group is yet to be determined,” said Lynx Coach Brian Wheatley. 'No matter what happens, these kids have left a mark.”

The third-rated Lynx (20-1) open postseason play Tuesday at home against Edgewood-Colesburg (11-11) in a Class 2A regional quarterfinal. Tipoff is 7 p.m.

North Linn's last five seasons have resulted in records of 20-3, 22-4, 22-2, 24-2 and now 20-1. Nobody else, in any class, can match that claim, though Panorama won 20-plus in the last four seasons and can get to 20 with a first-round win Tuesday.

The Lynx enjoyed their best season ever in 2014, reaching the 2A state semifinals.

'I know they want more,” Wheatley said. 'They feel there's some unfinished business. It's kind of an unspoken thing. Nothing needs to be said. But we've put ourselves in position to take another crack at it.

'Last year, we got beat by a better team (eventual champion Western Christian). Whenever this ends, if we get beat, we want it to be by a better team, not by us beating ourselves.”

It's the final go-round for nine seniors, including Drake signee Nicole Miller and Maddie Boer.

Cascade begins pursuit of a third straight state tournament Tuesday. The 2A 13th-ranked Cougars (18-3) host Bellevue (8-15); they reached the 3A semifinals in 2013, the 2A semifinals last year.

Among other area rateds in 2A, No. 12 Iowa City Regina (18-3) hosts Highland (15-7) and No. 15 West Branch (16-5) entertains Columbus Community (16-6).

The top area game in 1A is a rubber match in Bellevue between Tri-Rivers East Division co-champions Midland (16-6) and Bellevue Marquette (15-5), who split their two regular-season meetings.

Elsewhere in 1A, No. 5 Turkey Valley (21-1) hosts Ackley AGWSR (14-8) and No. 11 Springville (18-3) hosts Calamus-Wheatland (8-14).

TUESDAY'S CLASS 2A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS

(All games, 7 p.m.)

Region 4

Edgewood-Colesburg (11-11) at North Linn (20-1)

South Winneshiek (8-14) at Starmont (9-12)

North Butler (1-19) at Sumner-Fredericksburg (16-5)

MFL MarMac (12-10) at Clayton Ridge (17-4)

Region 5

Bellevue (8-15) at Cascade (18-3)

North Cedar (6-16) at Maquoketa Valley (16-5)

Wapello (8-14) at Durant (14-7)

Columbus Community (16-6) at West Branch (16-5)

Region 6

Alburnett (14-8) at Dike-New Hartford (19-2)

BGM (17-5) at Hudson (15-7)

Highland (15-7) at Iowa City Regina (18-3)

Eddyville EBF (14-8) at Pekin (18-2)

TUESDAY'S CLASS 1A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS

(All games, 7 p.m.)

Region 3

West Bend-Mallard (1-19) at Newell-Fonda (17-4)

Northeast Hamilton (5-15) at Algona Garrigan (17-5)

Ackley AGWSR (14-8) at Turkey Valley (21-1)

Rockford (17-4) at Northwood-Kensett (18-4)

Region 4

Gladbrook-Reinbeck (12-10) at Colo-Nesco (20-1)

Don Bosco (12-10) at North Tama (19-3)

Dunkerton (14-8) at Janesville (20-1)

Tripoli (16-6) at Lansing Kee (19-3)

Region 5

HLV (4-18) at Lynnville-Sully (20-1)

Belle Plaine (12-10) at Iowa Valley (15-7)

Calamus-Wheatland (8-14) at Springville (18-3)

Midland (16-6) at Bellevue Marquette (15-5)

Region 6

New London (11-11) at Burlington Notre Dame (20-1)

Van Buren (10-12) at Fort Madison Holy Trinity (13-9)

Sigourney (13-8) at English Valleys (16-5)

WACO (15-7) vs. Iowa Mennonite (5-17), at Keota

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