Jeff Johnson

Two-time defending champion West Des Moines Valley tied this Class 4A state tournament semifinal Wednesday night against Linn-Mar with a putback at the buzzer, then won it in overtime, 58-56, on a made shot again at the buzzer.

Capsules for Thursday’s games involving area teams at the 2025 Iowa high school boys' state basketball tournament at Wells Fargo Arena.

North Linn’s boys’ basketball team had some good shots Wednesday morning in its Class 1A state basketball tournament quarterfinal. But not enough of them went in, and the Lynx fell to Gladbrook-Reinbeck, 61-55.

LaPorte City Union Community boys’ basketball players were certain Gavin Rohrbach was watching them play their Class 2A state tournament quarterfinal Tuesday night. The Knights lost to West Lyon, but surely Rohrbach, who died in September in an automobile accident, is proud of the season his teammates put together.

The Jesup boys’ basketball team had to win four games to get to the state tournament because it was a ‘3’ seed in its district. it upset Cascade, MFL MarMac and North Fayette Valley along the way. All of which made a 69-38 Class 2A quarterfinal loss to top-ranked Western Christian sting a lot less.

Cedar Rapids Xavier’s girls’ basketball team was an ‘8’ seed at last week’s state tournament but ended up winning a championship. Its boys’ basketball team is a ‘7’ this week, yet is on that title trajectory after a 52-37 win over unbeaten Knoxville in a Class 3A state tournament quarterfinal Tuesday.

Capsules for Wednesday’s games involving area teams at the 2025 Iowa high school boys' state basketball tournament at Wells Fargo Arena.

Linn-Mar’s first boys’ state basketball tournament appearance since 2012 didn’t change one thing. The Lions beat Waukee, 69-60, Monday in a Class 4A quarterfinal, moving the school to 11-0 all time in that game.

Waukee Northwest never trailed and beat Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 71-64, Monday morning in a boys’ state basketball tournament quarterfinal. It was the second loss this season to Northwest for the Cougars.

Capsules for Tuesday’s games involving area teams at the 2025 Iowa high school boys' state basketball tournament at Wells Fargo Arena.

The 2025 Iowa boys’ high school state basketball tournament smorgasbord: Brackets, predictions, top players and more for the coming week at Wells Fargo Arena.

Linn-Mar’s boys’ basketball team beat West Des Moines Dowling in a Class 4A substate final this past week, qualifying for the state tournament for the first time since 2012, which was the final year of a nine-year run. The Lions take a 15-game win streak and No. 2 ranking and seeding to Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

The Cedar Rapids-Marion All-Metro boys’ basketball team has been revealed

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.