SICL proves its worth

The feeling is one of being unappreciated. They don't think the South Iowa Cedar League gets nearly the love it should.

'As coaches, we always talk about how the SICL gets bashed around,” Belle Plaine boys' basketball coach Justin Northrop said. 'It's because we play all league games. We don't get the chance to play up against anyone else or anything.”

When you're allowed 21 regular-season games and 20 are within your conference, there is no opportunity to showcase your strength or weakness. It certainly has been 'strength” this season, with both Belle Plaine and Sigourney playing Class 1A substate final games Saturday night.

Neither school has ever qualified for the state tournament. The SICL has never had two schools make it in the same season.

This would be quite the accomplishment.

'It's been a great year for our conference,” said Sigourney Coach Mitch Eslick. 'I've never seen our conference so balanced toward the top. It's about as deep as our league has ever been at the top. I think that's helped us prepare for the tournament.”

Belle Plaine rallied from 13 points down Thursday night to knock off Montezuma, while Sigourney defeated Lynnville-Sully. That meant four South Iowa Cedar League clubs made it to district final games.

Belle Plaine (23-1), which won its first SICL championship in 39 years, plays Bellevue Marquette (19-4) in its substate final at Cedar Rapids Prairie. Sigourney (18-5) gets Danville (24-0) at Fairfield.

'I played basketball here when wrestling was doing so well,” Northrop said. 'To see that gym last night so full ... You couldn't have fit one more person. People are excited about what we've done. It's been a great ride.”

'To make it to state would be huge,” Eslick said. 'The support I got in school today from people. Everyone is just so fired up.”

Substate finals in 1A and 2A are played around the state Saturday night, with 7 p.m. tipoffs for each game. Class 3A and 4A substate finals are Monday and Tuesday night.

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CLASS 1A SUBSTATE FINALS

Belle Plaine (23-1) vs. Bellevue Marquette (19-4)

- Location: Cedar Rapids Prairie

- Scouting Report: The Plainsmen won the South Iowa Cedar League for the first time in 39 years, losing only to Montezuma, 45-44. They rallied from 13 points behind at halftime to beat the Braves in a district final, 48-46. Four players average double figures in scoring, led by Justin Jacobi (15.5). While BP has never been to state, Marquette has been there eight times, all between 1993 and 2006. Logan Schroeder leads Marquette in scoring (17.1).

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Sigourney (18-5) vs. Danville (24-0)

- Location: Fairfield

- Scouting Report: Sigourney seeks its first state tourney appearance. Second-ranked Danville has been there six times since 2001, including two championships and a third-place finish in 2013. Matus Stevko (from Slovakia) leads Sigourney in scoring (19.2). Blaine Gretter averages 17 points and 10 rebounds. Danville has played only one game decided by less than 11 points.

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West Central (21-3) vs. Gladbrook-Reinbeck (24-0)

- Location: Independence

- Scouting Report: West Central has been to state twice (1995 and 1996). Gladbrook-Reinbeck has never been there. West Central is led by 6-foot-10 center Ethan Steinbronn, who averages 22 points and 13 rebounds. One of the Blue Devils' three losses was to Jesup, which lost twice to Gladbrook-Reinbeck, including 71-53 in a district final.

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State

Grand View Christian (23-1) vs. Earlham (22-2) at Johnston

Maple Valley/Anthon-Oto (23-1) vs. Lawton-Bronson (14-10) at Sioux City North

Nodaway Valley (18-6) vs. Fremont-Mills (20-5) at Atlantic

South O'Brien (21-3) vs. Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire (19-4) at Spencer

West Hancock (21-4) vs. Nashua-Plainfield (15-8) at Mason City

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CLASS 2A SUBSTATE FINALS

Iowa City Regina (19-4) vs. West Burlington (14-10)

- Location: Muscatine

- Scouting Report: Can the Regals follow up a state football title with one in basketball? Regina lost three of its final four regular-season games and escaped Wilton in a district final, 45-42. Iowa Hawkeye quarterback commit Drew Cook leads Regina in scoring (22.7). Regina has been to state 14 times, winning five titles. The last appearance was in 2002. West Burlington has never qualified for the state tourney.

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Monticello (21-2) vs. Cascade (21-2)

- Location: Dubuque Senior

- Scouting Report: These teams played twice in the regular season, Cascade winning in overtime and Monticello winning in regulation by two. Center Devin Green leads Cascade in scoring (16.8 average). Center Garrett Rieniets leads Monti (15.7), though four Panthers average double figures. Cascade has been to state six times under legendary Coach Al Marshall, including finishing fourh last season. Monticello advanced to state in 1959 and 1960.

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State

Aplington-Parkersburg (23-1) vs. New Hampton (22-1) at Cedar Falls

Pella Christian (15-7) vs. Des Moines Christian (19-4) at Bondurant-Farrar

Pocahontas (18-5) vs. Forest City (22-2) at Algona

Sioux Center (13-10) vs. Western Christian (21-2) at MOC/Floyd Valley

Treynor (20-3) vs. IKM-Manning (22-1) at Harlan

Woodward Academy (15-7) vs. Panorama (18-4) at Waukee

l Comments: (319) 398-8259; jeff.johnson@thegazette.com