IHSAA releases Class 3A, Class 4A boys' basketball postseason pairings

CEDAR RAPIDS — The Iowa High School Athletic Association released official postseason pairings for the top two classes in boys' basketball Monday.

One of the things you will notice is first-round games in both classes feature double-headers at specific schools. That's new in Class 4A.

For instance, Cedar Rapids Prairie will host a pair of first-round Substate 6 games Feb. 22 as the highest of the bottom four seeds in the substate. Cedar Rapids Jefferson and Cedar Rapids Washington play the first game there at 6:30 p.m., with Prairie and Ottumwa the nightcap at approximately 8.

In Substate 3, Cedar Rapids Kennedy plays Waterloo West in a first-round game at Waterloo East. The host Trojans face Marshalltown in the other game there.

Western Dubuque is in Substate 4, with its first-round game against Dubuque Hempstead at Dubuque Senior. Senior and Davenport North also play.

The Kennedy-Waterloo West winner plays a Substate 3 semifinal Feb. 26 at top-seeded Cedar Falls. If Western Dubuque wins its opener, it would play at top-seeded Davenport Central that same date.

The Wash-Jeff winner plays at Iowa City West on the 26th, the Prairie-Ottumwa winner is at Iowa City High. Substate finals are March 1, with a double-header scheduled at the U.S. Cellular Center that involves the survivors in Substate 4 and 6.

In Class 3A, Marion will face West Delaware in a first-round district game Feb. 22 at Dubuque Wahlert. The host two-time defending state champion Golden Eagles play Independence in the other encounter there.

Waverly-Shell Rock is the top seed and host school in corresponding District 5, with WSR playing Charles City, and Crestwood playing Decorah. District championships are Feb. 25 and the substate final Feb. 29 at the U.S. Cellular Center. The Substate 4 final also is scheduled for The Cell.

That will be the district winners in District 7 and 8. In District 7, Mount Vernon hosts Vinton-Shellsburg in the first round and also Benton Community and Center Point-Urbana.

In District 8, Maquoketa is the first-round host. The Cardinals play Davenport Assumption in the first round, with Solon and DeWitt Central also facing off.

Cedar Rapids Xavier is the top seed in District 9 and hosts Williamsburg in the first round. Clear Creek-Amana and Washington (Iowa) will be the first game there Feb. 22.

Mount Pleasant, Fairfield, Fort Madison and Keokuk are in the corresponding district. Their substate final is Feb. 29 at Iowa City West.

● Complete postseason pairings

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