Jeff Johnson

The drought is over for the Linn-Mar boys’ basketball team. The Lions beat West Des Moines Dowling, 62-50, Tuesday night in a Class 4A substate final basketball game, qualifying for next week’s state tournament in Des Moines. Linn-Mar hasn’t been there since 2012.

Second-ranked Decorah led Cedar Rapids Xavier by 17 points in the third quarter of a Class 3A substate final Monday night at Decorah. But the Saints regrouped and rallied to win in overtime, 62-59.

The Iowa Heartlanders are in second place in the ECHL’s Central Division and looking very, very good for getting into the league’s playoffs. This has been the most successful season for the five-year club on the ice, without a doubt. How is has fared in one-goal games is the big reason for that.

The eight boys’ state basketball tournament qualifiers in Class 4A will be determined Tuesday night around the state. The winners of the eight substate final games advance next week to Des Moines.

The eight boys’ state basketball tournament qualifiers in Class 3A will be determined Monday night. The winners of the eight substate final games advance next week to Des Moines. Decorah and Cedar Rapids Xavier play each other, with Solon on the road to face top-ranked Clear Lake.

The North Linn boys’ basketball team rallied from 11 points down in the second half and five down after three quarters to beat Burlington Notre Dame, 56-52, in a Class 1A substate final Saturday night at Iowa City High. That’s 9 consecutive years as a state qualifier for the Lynx.

Cedar Rapids Prairie’s boys’ basketball team had a great first quarter Friday night in a Class 4A substate semifinal at Prairie, but Bettendorf had an even better second quarter to take a halftime lead. The Hawks regrouped in the second half for a 72-60 victory. Prairie faces Dubuque Senior on the road in substate final Tuesday.

The first 16 boys’ state basketball tournament qualifiers will be determined Saturday. Class 1A and 2A substate finals will be played around the state. That includes Gazette-area schools Union Community, North Fayette valley and Jesup playing in 2A and North Linn in 1A.

Call It Both Ways: High school basketball podcast with Gazette sportswriters Jeff Linder and Jeff Johnson talking area high school basketball.

Cedar Rapids Xavier’s boys’ basketball team did enough offensively and defensively in the final couple minutes to beat Dubuque Wahlert, 56-51, in a Class 3A substate semifinal Thursday night. Zander Murray had a game-high 20 points, 16 in the second half.

North Fayette Valley’s boys’ basketball team ran the table in the regular season but has never been included in the Iowa High School Athletic Association’s rankings this season and was given a ‘2’ seed in its district. The TigerHawks beat top-seeded Aplington-Parkersburg in a Class 2A district final Tuesday night and are a win away from their first state tournament appearance.

The eighth-ranked North Linn boys’ basketball team got 24 points from Mason Bechen and 14 from Cole Griffith as it beat Hillcrest Academy, 65-43, in a Class 1A district final Tuesday night. The Lynx play Burlington Notre Dame in a Friday night substate final in search of a 9th straight trip to the state tournament.

Senior center Josef Briesemeister and junior forward Kellen Haverback have led Mount Vernon’s boys’ basketball team offensively all season. They were just as effective in their team’s 66-57 win Monday night over Fairfield in a Class 3A substate opener

The Iowa High School Athletic Association released its final rankings Monday afternoon for Class 3A and 4A. Cedar Falls and Clear Lake are the final No. 1s.

The Tri-Rivers Conference has released its all-conference teams for boys’ basketball. Mason Bechen of North Linn is the West Division Player of the Year, Hakeal Powell of Clinton Prince of Peace the East Division Player of the Year.