Metro Sports Report

Injury hinders Gould's state meet quest

DES MOINES - Cedar Rapids Prairie junior Austin Gould wrestled in significant pain at the Class 3A state tournament in Des Moines this week, a harness keeping his right shoulder in place and a constant grimace on his face.

He hurt his shoulder three weeks ago during a dual meet against Waterloo West. He extended his right arm while making a move that night and something went wrong.

Trcka's 279 leads Xavier girls to state

Xavier junior Tara Trcka figured her chance at repeating as Class 1A state bowling champion went down the gutter when she threw a 148 in her first game in the regional tournament Thursday afternoon at Lancer Lanes.

She leads the state, after all, with a 217 average.

Like a true champion, however, she rebounded in her second game with 11 strikes and a near-perfect 279 score.

Trcka’s 427 series gave her the regional title and an automatic place among individuals in the state tournament next Friday in Des Moines.

Speedy Harrington helps sink Cougars

James Harrington is the fastest kid in Iowa and a prolific scorer for the Cedar Falls basketball team, but there's something else you need to know about him.

He's also a terrific defensive player.

Harrington starred on both ends of the floor Thursday night as the third-ranked Tigers clipped No. 8 Kennedy, 66-58, on Senior Night in the Kennedy gym.

Plenty of bright spots in boys basketball

The regular season of high school boys basketball has been put to bed and now we get ready for the run to the state championships. Like my colleagues in Indiana, I still long for the days of one champion. However, that's not going to happen.

So how was it in the Metro this year? I can start off by saying this was not a vintage year for high school basketball, but there were plenty of bright spots.

I would remind those people who would like to see a star player to catch a Linn-Mar tournament game and take a look at Marcus Paige, because the North Carolina signee has had a super year and will be a factor in Linn-Mar's attempt to, once again, get back to the state tournament. Marcus is an exceptional talent and he should have an exceptional college
career for the Tar Heels.