O's turn up the D

By Jeff Linder The Gazette Fifty to three. Yeah, Springville has hit its in postseason stride. The defending state champion, top-ranked Orioles (22-1) have allowed just 44 points in their first two regional girls' basketball games. In a 69-15 triumph over Lone Tree on Tuesday, they outscored the Lions, 50-3, through the final three quarters. “Our defense is really starting to come around,” said Springville Coach Brian O'Donnell. “It's back to where it was last year at tournament time. I think we're quicker to the ball, and our post defense has been phenomenal.” Class 1A and 2A regionals hit the semifinal round Friday. The Orioles meet Keota (13-9) at Cedar Rapids Prairie. Tipoff is 7. Four area 1A teams and six area 2A squads are still alive. Friday's survivors will play for state-tournament berths Monday. O'Donnell feels a strong late-season schedule is paying dividends. “The last three weeks, we're seen everything you can see,” he said. “We've seen quickness, we've seen size. It has helped us a lot.” Two ranked teams will meet in a 1A showdown at Oelwein: No. 9 Valley Community (20-2) tangles with No. 14 Wapsie Valley (19-5). Wapsie won a regular-season battle, 47-35. Tri-Rivers Conference foes Maquoketa Valley (17-6) and Cascade (19-3) tangle in a 2A encounter at 8 p.m. at Monticello. Cascade swept the two regular-season games. The Cougars traditionally play a smothering zone defense, and this year is no exception. They are allowing 29.9 points per game. “They always have a bunch of 5-9, 5-10 kids with long arms, and that makes it tough,” said Maquoketa Valley Coach Scot Moenck. “We'll have to knock down shots and get some rebounds. One way to beat a zone is to beat it down the floor. “There's no magic remedy. We just have to make shots.” MFL MarMac (22-1), the top-rated 2A team, hosts Turkey Valley (17-5) in the other 2A Region 7 game. In Region 8, No. 7 Tipton (22-1) hosts Northeast (16-7) while Iowa City Regina (19-4) meets No. 11 Mediapolis (22-1) at West Liberty. In the other area 1A game, Midland (19-5) hosts No. 8 Bellevue Marquette (21-1). n Contact the writer: (319) 368-8857 or jeff.linder@gazcomm.com