Two meetings in four days for Mount Vernon, Solon

It's a bracket of familiarity.

When 10th-ranked Mount Vernon (15-6) hosts Solon (8-13) in a Class 3A girls' basketball regional quarterfinal Saturday, it will be their second meeting in four days.

'It was hard trying to decide what to do when we played (in the regular-season finale Wednesday),' Mustangs Coach Dennis Roloff said. 'I thought about resting all the starters, but we ended up playing everybody.'

Mount Vernon won that game, 61-41, at Solon. Now the site flips, the winner advances and the loser is done.

It's the same scenario at Manchester, where West Delaware (8-13) hosts Anamosa (9-13) in a rematch of Tuesday's game at Anamosa, won by the Raiders, 56-43.

Regionals tip off at 7 p.m. Saturday statewide in 3A and 2A. Roloff is seeking to guide Mount Vernon to the state tournament for the third straight year. The Mustangs beat Solon in the regional finals last year.

Senior Kaitlyn Volesky averages 16.1 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, and is among the state's most accurate shooters at 66.7 percent.

The Mustangs will have to deal with Solon's Josie Durr, who leads the state with 157 steals (7.5 per game).

'She's at the top of their 1-3-1 zone, and you can't pass over her,' Roloff said. 'She'll pick your pocket.'

The area's top 3A team is No. 3 Center Point-Urbana (18-3), which opens at home against East Marshall (7-14). State semifinalists last year, the Stormin' Pointers are fueled by balance — seven players average at least 6.6 points per game, led by Wisconsin-Green Bay recruit Allie Wooldridge (12.9).

No. 6 Union (19-2) hosts Vinton-Shellsburg (1-20).

The 2A postseason series begins with first-round games, with the top teams like No. 1 Iowa City Regina (22-0) and No. 5 North Linn (21-1) earning byes and beginning play Tuesday.

Tipton (6-15) is at Alburnett (11-10) in the best area 2A first-rounder Saturday.

SATURDAY'S CLASS 3A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS

(All games 7 p.m.)

Region 4

Dike-New Hartford (13-9) at Clear Lake (13-9)

Oelwein (6-14) at Osage (16-4)

Hampton-Dumont (11-9) at Humboldt (14-6)

Baxter CMB (10-11) at North Polk (15-6)

Region 5

Waukon (11-10) at Crestwood (17-1)

North Fayette Valley (10-9) at New Hampton (14-7)

Solon (8-13) at Mount Vernon (15-6)

Anamosa (9-13) at West Delaware (8-13)

Region 6

Vinton-Shellsburg (1-20) at Union (19-2)

Dyersville Beckman (8-13) at Monticello (13-8)

West Liberty (0-21) at Davenport Assumption (12-7)

Northeast (7-14) at Camanche (15-7)

Region 7

East Marshall (7-14) at Center Point-Urbana (18-3)

Williamsburg (7-15) at South Tama (12-9)

West Burlington (2-19) at Mid-Prairie (15-6)

Davis County (4-16) at Central Lee (18-3)

SATURDAY'S CLASS 2A REGIONAL FIRST ROUND

(All games 7 p.m.)

Region 5

Nashua-Plainfield (3-19) at Waterloo Columbus (10-11)

Denver (4-17) at Sumner-Fredericksburg (17-4)

Belmond-Klemme (5-14) at Central Springs (13-8)

Saint Ansgar (4-17) at Lake Mills (12-8)

Region 6

Colfax-Mingo (5-16) at North Mahaska (15-6)

Conrad BCLUW (9-12) at Aplington-Parkersburg (9-12)

MFL MarMac (8-10) at Jesup (15-6)

South Winneshiek (2-19) at Wapsie Valley (8-14)

Region 7

Tipton (6-15) at Alburnett (11-10)

Lisbon (4-16) at Wilton (12-9)

Calamus-Wheatland (7-13) at Durant (4-17)

Louisa-Muscatine (7-14) at North Cedar (8-13)

Region 8

Pleasantville (6-15) at Martensdale-St. Marys (10-11)

Cardinal (1-19) at Van Buren (15-6)

Columbus Community (11-10) at Danville (12-9)

Wapello (12-9) at Mediapolis (15-6)

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