Waukee Northwest, Cedar Rapids Xavier, Central Lyon and Grand View Christian were your No. 1 boys’ basketball teams in the first-ever Iowa High School Athletic Association rankings, released just prior to the holidays. Monday’s second rankings see those teams stay at the top in their respective classes.
West Delaware’s Will Ward battled back from a considerable deficit with a third-period pin to claim the 195-pound title and help the Hawks to a runner-up finish Saturday at the Bobcat Jerry Eckenrod Invitational at Benton Community.
Girls’ basketball season reset: North Linn looks like the area’s heaviest league-title favorite, and the race of highest intrigue, again, is the Wamac West.
Area girls’ basketball Super Ten (Dec. 21): North Linn takes over the top spot; Benton Community makes a big jump.
North Linn senior Cael Bridgewater wants to score lots of points and make his final season fun. He captured the 138-pound title at the Lynx Invitational Saturday, scoring 58 total match points in three technical falls. Benton edged Cedar Rapids Xavier in the team race.
Girls’ basketball notes: Clear Creek Amana shares the ball, and shoots the ball, remarkably well on its way to a 5-1 start.
North Linn’s boys’ basketball team is defending Class 1A state champions and has played in a state title game an unprecedented five years in a row. The Lynx lost three starters to graduation, including all-state point guard Austin Hilmer. Yet, as a 65-51 win over Dyersville Beckman proved Monday night, this Lynx team remains really, really good.
Area girls’ basketball Super Ten (Nov. 30): Iowa City West, Cedar Rapids Xavier, North Linn remain 1-2-3; Center Point-Urbana, Clear Creek Amana leap into the top 5.
Here is a quick look at each of the conferences involving Gazette-area boys’ basketball teams. And our predicted winner for each.
Girls’ basketball: 16-point lead melts to 2 in the final minutes, but North Linn holds off Vinton-Shellsburg, 63-56, at Rivalry Saturday.
Girls’ basketball: Xavier-Heelan rematch highlights Rivalry Saturday, which features 12 ranked teams and five newcomers.
Iowa City West starts on top in The Gazette’s preseason area Super Ten girls’ basketball rankings.
Capsules for 10 Gazette area Iowa high school state football quarterfinal games.
North Linn’s football team lost starting quarterback Tate Haughenbury to mononucleosis at the end of the regular season. But the Lynx still have won two playoff games, including 28-14, Friday night over Mason City Newman. North Linn is in the quarterfinals for the second time in school history.
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