Metro Sports Report

Washpun stars; City High routs Cougars

DES MOINES - Kiera Washpun has not decided where she'll play college basketball next season, but one thing was perfectly clear Wednesday night at Wells Fargo Arena.

The 5-foot-6 point guard from Iowa City High is going to make a college coach very, very happy.

"I hope so," she said with a bright smile.

Washpun tied the Class 5A scoring record with 31 points Wednesday as the top-ranked Little Hawks bounced Kennedy, 68-34, in the quarterfinals of the state tournament.

Iowa City superstar Haley Lorenzen had a routine game (for her) with 16 points and nine rebounds, but Washpun destroyed the Cougars with her 3-point shooting, slashing drives and ballhawking on defense.

Kennedy stuns N. Scott for trip to state

CLINTON — As Marlon Stewart's potential game-tying 3-point shot at the end of regulation missed everything, Class 4A third-ranked North Scott again was denied a trip to the state tournament, falling to Cedar Rapids Kennedy 46-43 in the substate final at Yourd Gymnasium.

"I just shot the ball, hoped it would go in and it didn't go in," Stewart said. "That was it ... it's not a good feeling."

The junior-heavy Lancers (21-2) had steamrolled over the majority of their competition all year as North Scott looked to get back to the state tournament for the first time since 2003. The Cougars' aggressive zone-man combination defense had other plans, forcing 18 turnovers in the win.

Dogged Linn-Mar falls short against Senior

DUBUQUE – It was a classic playoff role reversal, the long-hunted becoming the giant hunter.

The Linn-Mar Lions, who punched numerous state tickets by hurdling underdog Dubuque Senior teams in past substate battles, found themselves on Tuesday night looking up and up against the towering and Class 4A top-ranked Rams on Dubuque soil.

The Lions weren't giving an inch while putting white-knuckle fear of playoff eviction in the eyes of Rams fans looking for their team's third consecutive state tournament berth.

Completely neutralizing Senior's vaunted post game for much of a thrilling Class 4A Substate 3 final, Linn-Mar pushed the Rams to the brink before Rams all-state guard Kyle Haber took over late and elevated No. 1 Senior to a breathless 52-47 triumph before a standing-room-only crowd of 2,200 at Hempstead High's Moody Gym.

KCC men win playoff thriller in OT

Johnson Hall was a place for grown men with steel in their veins Tuesday night.

Men like Joseph Tagarelli, who left the Kirkwood gym with a welt under his left eye. And Jalen Currie, who played the game of his life. And Taylor Olson, whose sore ankle won't get the rest it needs for at least another few days.

The Kirkwood Eagles topped NIACC, 75-71, in an overtime thriller in the opening round of the Region XI junior college basketball tournament.

Kirkwood (21-9) will visit Iowa Lakes (22-8) in the semifinals Thursday night in Estherville. The regional finals are Saturday.