4:28 p.m. – Game 4 of Rivalry Saturday is 3 minutes away. Cedar Rapids Kennedy (10-3), the fourth-ranked team in Class 4A, faces 3A No. 5 Davenport Assumption (12-2). The Knights were 2008 2A state champs.
4:40 p.m. – Much of the crowd has exited and the intensity level has lulled since the Linn-Mar-Ballard game. Kennedy leads 3-0 through three minutes.
4:46 p.m. – It took 5 minutes, 31 seconds, but Assumption’s finally on the board. Cougars led, 6-1.
4:53 p.m. – Still no field goals for the Knights. Kennedy leads, 8-3, after …

2:41 p.m. – We’re 4 minutes away from the headline game of the day: 4A #1 Linn-Mar (13-0) vs. 3A #1 Ballard (14-0). The Lions are averaging a 36-point victory margin while the Bombers are blasting the competition by 35 ppg.
2:48 p.m. – Game time. Probably the biggest crowd right now in Rivalry Saturday history.
2:50 p.m. – Ballard two scores, Linn-Mar two fouls. 3-0, Bombers.
2:55 p.m. – Midway through the first quarter, Linn-Mar still without a field goal. 3-1, Ballard.
3:00 p.m. – Two free throws for Printy. Linn-Mar takes its …

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8:18 p.m. – We’re running about 25 minutes behind for the finale of Rivalry Saturday. No introductions are necessary. MFL MarMac (15-0) is ranked No. 1 in Class 2A and was the state runner-up last year. Springville (14-0) carries a 27-game winning streak, a run that included the 2008 1A state championship. The Orioles are top-ranked in 1A. Five minutes to tipoff.
8:21 p.m. – MFL’s Whitney Wubbena has a contraption of some sort on the right shoulder. She’s fiddling with it … maybe the adhesiveness is an issue. …

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12:45 p.m. – We’re 12 minutes from tipoff of Game 2 at Rivalry Saturday. Marion (11-1, 7-0) is ranked No. 4 in Class 3A and threatening to run away with the Wamac West. Vinton-Shellsburg (8-6, 3-5) is struggling but always brings its A-plus game for Marion.
12:54 p.m. – Scot Moenck: Attendance is way up from last year.
12:59 p.m. – Intros and tip.
1:04 p.m. – Good vocal crowd for Vinton. Vikettes up 4-2.
1:07 p.m. – Fish. Swish. For three.
1:10 p.m. – Back to back hoops for Allison Emrich. Vikettes …

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11:13 a.m. – OK, we’re up and running for Game 1 at Rivalry Saturday. It’s Mount Vernon (11-3 overall, 6-2 Wamac East) and DeWitt Central (11-3, 7-0). The Sabers can pretty much lock up the divisional crown with a win.
11:16 a.m. – Intros. Opening attendance: Maybe 200. There’s a row of Mount Vernon girls, maybe fifth-graders, in white uniforms. They look ready to play.
11:21 a.m. – Early nomination for Mount Vernon Coach Bob Kintzel as best-dressed coach. Maroon shirt with black pants and multi-color tie. Sharp.
11:23 a.m. – …

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**Want more live blogging from Rivalry Saturday? Catch Jacob Kopp’s live blog on iowaprepsports.com**
DeWitt Central 32, Mount Vernon 23 (3:51 3rd)
1 p.m. – Vinton-Shellsburg (8-6) vs. Marion (11-1)
2:45 p.m. – Ballard (14-0) vs. Linn-Mar (13-0)
4:30 p.m. – Cedar Rapids Kennedy (10-3) vs. Davenport Assumption (12-2)
6:15 p.m. – Maquoketa Valley (11-4) vs. North Linn (10-4)
8 p.m. – Springville (14-0) vs. MFL MarMac (15-0)
      
Source: Jeff Linder – Blog

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The roads were surprisingly bad on the way to and from Van Horne last night.
But the boys’ basketball game between Solon and Benton Community made it worth the white-knuckle driving.
Benton’s Levi Montague hit a desparation 3-pointer as time expired in regulation, but Solon owned overtime and prevailed, 78-68.
This was excellent basketball. Solon has a bevy of playmakers, most notably UNI signee Matt Morrison (20 points, 8 steals) and post Tucker Wentzien (17 points, 14 rebounds). Benton sophomore Zach Twedt (22 points) is going to be terrific.
The Bobcats stayed close …

By Jeff Linder
The Gazette
jeff.linder@gazettecommunications.com

VAN HORNE — It was still their game.
Even after a miraculous 3-pointer sent it to overtime. Even after they fell behind by four points in the first minute of the extra session.
Still their game.
The Class 2A second-ranked Solon Spartans scored the final 14 points and outlasted 3A No. 9 Benton Community, 78-68, in a Wamac Conference interdivisional boys’ basketball thriller last night at Benton Community High School.
Levi Montague’s off-balance 25-footer along the sideline prolonged the game. But Solon (13-0) owned overtime.
“You see somebody make a shot like …

By Jeff Dahn
The Gazette
jeff.dahn@gazettecommunications.com

MARION — Nate Hutcheson swears it isn’t something he and Linn-Mar teammate Zach Bohannon practice.
But the way the two executed the Bohannon-missed-layup-followed-by-the-Hutcheson-dunk play in last night’s 65-44 win over Cedar Rapids Washington, it sure looked like something they’ve worked on from time to time.
Class 4A third-ranked Linn-Mar enjoyed a 17-2 run in the first half and a 15-2 run in the second, with follow-up dunks from Hutcheson in both spurts, in a Mississippi Valley Conference game in front of 2,000 fans at Linn-Mar.
“I always know if it’s …

Cedar Rapids Jefferson Coach Dick Briggs informed me Thursday night that Saturday’s J-Hawk JV tournament (Jan. 24) will be named in honor of long-time Jefferson assistant John Hegarty, who served the last of his 28 years as a wrestling coach last year. Briggs also wanted to get the call out to ALL former Jefferson wrestlers to stop by and help honor Hegarty, who guided, influenced and made a difference in the lives of so many young adults.
Below is a release from Coach Briggs:
“Proud to be J.V.”
This was Coach John Hegarty’s rally …