CEDAR RAPIDS — The big crowd gathered early, eager to grab the best available seat for what promised be a tight game between two of the state’s big-school best.
Quite unexpectedly, they had the opportunity to leave those seats early.
Class 4A third-ranked Linn-Mar built a 21-point halftime lead, kept its foot to the gas throughout the second half and whipped No. 2 Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 79-48, in front of a stunned sellout crowd of 2,180 fans packed in the Kennedy gym.
No one saw this coming, certainly not a 31-point blowout by …

By Mike Hlas
Gazette sports columnist
CEDAR RAPIDS — OK, so the billing wasn’t quite right this time.
Tuesday’s Gazette said last night’s boys’ basketball showdown between second-ranked Cedar Rapids Kennedy and No. 3 Linn-Mar “should be another cliff-hanging chapter” of their rivalry. That was written with good reason.
But, instead, the game turned out to be as suspenseful as hanging wallpaper.
The game appeared to have it all. Two teams with a combined record of 37-1. A recent history of terrific games between the two. A Kennedy gym stuffed with at least 2,180 fans, …

By Jeff Linder
The Gazette
CEDAR RAPIDS — Something had to give.
In the end, it was Cedar Rapids Kennedy. The Cougars gave up a lot more than usual.
Linn-Mar cut the vaunted Kennedy man-to-man defense to ribbons in a 79-48 Mississippi Valley Conference boys’ basketball laugher last night at Kennedy.
The Lions drove the lane relentlessly, scoring baskets and drawing fouls. Linn-Mar shot 29 free throws, making 20. In the second half, the Lions were in the bonus with less than 4 minutes elapsed.
“We’re a lot better when we’re aggressive and getting to the …

Mike Bixler, who coached North Cedar to the 2000 Class 2A girls’ basketball state championship, has turned in his resignation, according to a source within the Stanwood-based high school.
Aided by the Cavey sisters (Ann and Jamie), Bixler was extremely successful in the years immediately after the Lincoln/Clarence-Lowden merger. He led the Knights to a runner-up finish in 1996, the year after the reorganization. North Cedar returned to state in 1998 and lost in the first round to Solon.
It all came together in 2000, when North Cedar upset Council Bluffs St. Albert for …

A common theme in wrestling is that champions are made in the off-season.
West Delaware senior Nathan Vaske will see how that holds true during the Class 2A state wrestling tournament, starting at 9 a.m. Thursday at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.
Vaske, a three-time placewinner, dedicated himself after he placed fifth as a junior.
“I figured I’d take the next step and put in the extra time to get where I want to be,” Vaske said. “With the work we did in the off-season, this is probably the best year I’ve …

Here’s a link to the IGHSAU girls’ basketball page for Tuesday’s games. It will update as the night progresses.
http://www.ighsau.org/hoops/2009/0217rscores.htm

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Find it at iowaprepsports.com.

Source: Jeff Linder – Blog

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Jonathan D. Woods/The Gazette
WEST BRANCH – One look at Kyle Kober and “dominant heavyweight wrestler” doesn’t really pop into your mind.
At about 5-foot-10 and 240 pounds, he’s proven time and again looks can be very deceiving. The stout West Branch athlete is wrestling at 285 pounds and has made a habit of toppling bigger foes.
Expect more of those mammoths to fall when top-ranked Kober begins his quest to become the Bears’ first state champion today in the state wrestling tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. The …

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A common theme in wrestling is champions are made in the off-season.
West Delaware senior Nathan Vaske will see how that holds true during the Class 2A state wrestling tournament, starting at 9 a.m. Thursday at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.
Vaske, a three-time placewinner for the Hawks, dedicated himself after he placed fifth as a junior.
“I figured I’d take the next step and put in the extra time to get where I want to be,” Vaske said. “With the work we did in the off-season, this is probably …

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IOWA CITY – A familiar theme is prevalent among the Iowa City West wrestling team as they begin the Class 3A state wrestling tournament Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.
Win your battle and the team war will hopefully end successfully.
The second-ranked Trojans will look to dethrone defending state champions and top-ranked Waverly-Shell Rock.
“We’re sitting in a position if we wrestle up to our capabilities we have a legitimate shot,” West Coach Mark Reiland said. “Everybody’s got to do their part and score points …