Metro Sports Report

J-Hawks bounce Prairie on Senior Night

The Jefferson boys put together what their star player called the most complete basketball game for long while to dump Prairie 66-55 Thursday night at home to end both teams’ regular season.

The J-Hawks (13-8, 9-7 MVC) now await the winner between Marshalltown and Mason City for a home tilt next Friday in the second round of Substate 3 tournament play.

Meanwhile, the Prairie Hawks (9-12, 5-11 MVC) have a rubber match at Iowa City High Monday in round one of Substate 6. The teams split their series this season.

Prairie boys roll to state tournament

Going into the girls and boys Class 2A regional bowling tournament at Lancer Lanes Thursday morning, Prairie coaches Don Willfong and Kevin Cline knew both titles would be up for grabs.

“I thought we had a good shot,” Willfong said, “but I also knew Linn-Mar and Muscatine would right up there, too.

“Anytime you have three powerhouses in a bowling tournament, anything can happen.”

When it was all said and done, Prairie took the boys title and Muscatine the girls. Both automatically  qualify for next Friday’s state meet in Des Moines.

Linn-Mar, Prairie scramble at state duals

DES MOINES - There must be a better way.

That's what the coaches and athletes were saying Wednesday at the 2012 state dual meet wrestling tournament at the Wells Fargo Arena in downtown Des Moines.

There must be a better way. A better time. A better format.

The state duals are supposed to be a showcase for the top teams in Iowa. In a way they are, but not the way they were intended and not the way they're supposed to be.

Supporting cast sends Cougars past Lions

It’s no secret who has been carrying the Kennedy girls all season.

The key to their 63-50 regional basketball quarterfinal win over Linn-Mar at home Wednesday night was having others take some of the load off senior star Courtney Strait.