Conference realignment continues to be a topic on Call It Both Ways, The Gazette’s Iowa high school basketball podcast. This week’s episode begins with the latest updates as the Northeast Iowa Conference appears on the brink of collapse. Then, we take a look at more postseason brackets released by the IGHSAU (5A and 4A) and IHSAA (2A and 1A) and the big games involving top teams last week.
The postseason in boys’ basketball is upon us. Opening-round district games in Class 1A begin Friday. Here’s a closer look at the districts and substates involving schools from The Gazette area.
Girls’ basketball Super Ten: Status quo from last week to this week; Clear Creek Amana remains a firm No. 1.
Top-seeded district boys’ basketball teams in Class 1A and 2A include Keota, Lansing Kee, North Linn, MFL MarMac, Monticello and Alburnett. The Iowa High School Athletic Association released all postseason brackets for the classes Monday afternoon.
North Linn’s boys’ basketball team lost a couple of weeks ago to Alburnett and slipped from first to second in the Iowa High School Athletic Association’s rankings in Class 1A. The Lynx went from second to third last week despite not losing. But a 69-60 win this past Friday night at then-No. 1 Bellevue Marquette has moved North Linn back to the top spot in the class this week.
North Linn’s boys’ basketball team doesn’t lose very often, so a loss a couple of weeks ago to rival Alburnett got everyone’s attention. It seems to have refocused the Class 1A third-ranked Lynx, who knocked off No. 1 Bellevue Marquette, 69-60, Friday night.
No. 1-ranked teams in Iowa high school basketball picked up some big wins last week: Class 1A’s top-ranked North Linn girls beat 3A No. 1 Mount Vernon, while the 4A top-ranked Cedar Rapids Kennedy boys handled West Des Moines Valley. And there’s another big boys’ game on Friday, when 1A No. 1 Bellevue Marquette hosts No. 3 North Linn. The Call It Both Ways podcast discusses those games on this week’s episode, plus more notable performances.
Despite an overtime loss at West Des Moines Valley, Cedar Rapids Prairie continues to climb in The Gazette’s area high school girls’ basketball Super Ten rankings.
Cedar Rapids Kennedy notched an impressive 60-43 win Saturday afternoon over fourth-ranked West Des Moines Valley to put a stranglehold on the top spot in Class 4A in this week’s Iowa High School Athletic Association boys’ basketball rankings. The other No. 1s remain the same: Bellevue Marquette in 1A, West Lyon in 2A and Clear Lake in 3A.
Girls’ basketball: Class 1A top-ranked North Linn hit 13 3-point shots, committed only three turnovers and upended 3A No. 1 Mount Vernon, 60-48.
The Class 4A boys’ rankings saw a big shake-up this week (though Cedar Rapids Kennedy is still the clear No. 1) and that leads this episode of Call It Both Ways, a podcast about Iowa high school basketball.
The top-ranked team in Class 1A since the start of the season, North Linn is in the midst of a typically outstanding winter. The Lynx (15-1 overall, 12-0 Tri-Rivers Conference West Division) wrapped up their third straight divisional title — and their 10th in the last 12 years — with a 60-25 win over Central City on Tuesday.
North Linn lost its first game of the season last week to Linn County rival Alburnett and slipped from first to second in Class 1A in this week’s Iowa High School Athletic Association boys’ basketball rankings, with fellow Tri-Rivers Conference mate Bellevue Marquette assuming the top spot.
Girls’ basketball Super Ten: Snow, wind and cold limit the schedule. Cedar Rapids Prairie climbs to No. 4.
Girls’ basketball Super Ten: The first one after the holidays has the same top six as previously, led by Clear Creek Amana.
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