Metro Sports Report

Betsworth pumped up for 8-man football

Ed Betsworth is working on his playbook for the Cedar Valley Christian Huskies football team this season, but the veteran coach doesn't have as many X's and O's to worry about.

In fact, he's got three less X's and three less O's than normal, because the Huskies are going to play eight-man football in 2011 with a brand-new program on the southeast side of Cedar Rapids.

Betsworth, 46, is currently the athletic director at Holy Catholic Middle School, but he was the head football coach at Lincoln Community of Stanwood (1991-92) and Dunkerton (1993-96) and knows how to run a program. He's also been an assistant high school coach and has worked with Xavier's grade-school program.

Betsworth has four children in the Cedar Valley Christian school system (K through 12) and is excited about starting a new program from scratch. Cedar Valley is a small school with approximately 80 students in grades 9 through 12, but Betsworth thinks there are enough talented boys to pull this off.

"There's athletes there. The talent is there. Our pool isn't dry," he said. "But, it's going to be a learning experience for them and for me and my coaches. We have to keep it simple, because a lot of these kids haven't played football.

"We might get a couple of wins," he said. "Then again, we might not."

Ruling may impact future prep coverage

As it has for years, coverage of high school sports is evolving.

Newspapers, radio and television have provided the bulk of information on games for some time, but now websites – such as Metro Sports Report  – and other online options have become available.

Where it goes is anyone’s guess. But it could be that a three-judge panel in Chicago will have a lot to say about the way high school sports are brought to you.

The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals will issue a ruling in the coming months on a case that began in 2008 between the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association and a newspaper. The WIAA sued the Appleton Post-Crescent after the paper streamed live coverage of high school football playoff games.

A U.S. District judge ruled in favor of the WIAA last year, claiming its exclusive deal with a production company did not violate the Constitutional rights of newspapers and other media. The Chicago judges heard the case in January.

Stokes in national spotlight

Linn-Mar senior Kiah Stokes will step onto the national stage Wednesday when she plays in the 10th annual McDonald's All-American women's basketball game at the United Center in Chicago.

The game will be televised by ESPNU with tipoff scheduled for 6:30.

Stokes was named Iowa Miss Basketball this season and is the two-time Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year. She led Linn-Mar to the Class 4A state title in 2010 and steered the Lions to the semifinals of the state tournament this season.

Stokes, a 6-foot-3 center, set a state record with 515 blocked shots during her four-year career. She scored 1,704 points and grabbed 1,239 rebounds (fourth most in state history).

Stokes averaged 16.8 points, 12.2 rebounds and 5.1 blocks for her career.

Stokes has signed with Connecticut, one of the most prestigious women's college basketball programs in the country, and she'll be joined in the McDonald's All-American game tonight by two of her future college teammates -- Brianna Banks (Fayetteville, Ga.) and Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (Santa Ana, Calif.).

Bohannon MVP of IBCA All-Star Games

GRIMES -- Linn-Mar senior Matt Bohannon was named the MVP of the Iowa Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA) All-Star Games that were played at Dallas Center-Grimes High School on Saturday.

Bohannon averaged 21 points in two games to help the Northeast Team win the championship. He scored 22 in a 131-70 victory over the Southeast Team in the opening round, then popped in 20 in a 116-99 verdict over the Southwest Team in the finals.

Cedar Rapids Jefferson senior Jarrod Uthoff poured in 26 points for the Northeast Team in the finals after not playing in the opening round. Uthoff won the 3-Point Contest and was named to the All-Tournament Team, along with Bohannon.

Wes Washpun (Cedar Rapids Washington), Josh Oglesby (Cedar Rapids Washington) and Kasey Semler (Marion) also played for the Northeast Team. Semler played both games and averaged 15 points. Washpun (16 points) and Oglesby (11 points) played in the opening round, but did not play in the finals.

Alissa Oney of Cedar Rapids Washington played in the girls IBCA All-Star Games and averaged 10 points in two games for the Northeast Team.