Jeff Johnson

Cedar Rapids Washington’s boys’ basketball program graduated virtually all of its top players from last season, with this season’s team filled with very inexperienced varsity players. But those guys have formed a 5-2 record so far, including a 56-51 overtime win Tuesday night at Cedar Rapids Xavier.

Iowa forward has degree in kinesology, but wants to keep hockey option open, too

The Toledo Walleye are the best team in the ECHL’s Central Division right now, which was evident this weekend as they swept three games from the Iowa Heartlanders at Xtream Arena. But Iowa got a standings point in a 5-4 overtime loss Sunday, and the Heartlanders are right in the middle of a six-team pack right behind the Walleye in the division.

Linn-Mar’s boys’ basketball team was 4-0 to start this season, those wins coming by four points, three points (twice) and two points. That made a 76-63 win Friday night over previously unbeaten Iowa City West a veritable blow out.

Coe College’s men’s basketball team had to win its final two regular-season games just to qualify for last season’s American Rivers Conference Tournament. The Kohawks then won three road games to capture the league title and qualify for the NCAA Division III tournament. That momentum has carried over to this season, as Coe is 10-1 approaching the holiday break.

Calling it both ways, Jeff Johnson and Jeff Linder talk area high school basketball and current rankings for girls and boys basketball.

Decorah’s boys’ basketball team has high aspirations for this season. That’s seems warranted, as the Vikings return senior all-stater Ben Bockman, some other key senior pieces, the return of point guard Trey McCain, who didn’t play last season because of a torn ACL and the additions of transfer guard Zach Driscoll and 6-foot-11 sophomore Cael LaFrentz.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy’s boys’ basketball team swept through last regular season, playing only one game decided by single digits. That came against Cedar Falls, which played the Cougars even tougher Tuesday night at Kennedy, this one a 51-47 game.

Forward Amine Hajibi has been productive for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders since being acquired in an early season trade from the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers. Born in Montreal, the 18-year-old forward spends time each summer in Morocco, where his parents are from and where he lived as a youth.

Williamsburg’s Derek Weisskopf and Monticello’s Preston Ries are The Gazette’s 2023 football co-players of the year. Both are future Iowa Hawkeyes.

Linn-Mar’s boys’ basketball team has won its first three games this season, all on the road and by four points or less. That includes Friday night’s come-from-behind 62-59 win at Cedar Rapids Xavier.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels announced Friday that the 2024 Minnesota Twins Winter Caravan will make a stop in town January 23. The event will be at The Annex hitting facility adjacent to Veterans Memorial Stadium and will feature appearances by Twins players Willi Castro and Caleb Thielbar, as well as longtime Twins radio broadcaster and former Twins outfielder Dan Gladden.

Maquoketa Valley’s boys’ basketball team lost its best player to graduation and is still trying to find its identitiy as a team. But the Wildcats picked up a monster early season win Tuesday night when it knocked off Alburnett.

The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders have picked up just one win at home so far this United States Hockey League season. The club has a chance to right that ship with two home games this weekend. The Iowa Heartlanders secured one win last weekend on a three-for-three road trip.

Marion’s boys’ basketball team lost its season opener earlier this week by 49 points, but the Wolves rebounded Saturday by beating Cedar Rapids Washington, 70-61. Both teams came into the season inexperienced.