MARION — Shoot at the north basket in the Marion High School gym in the very near future, and you might get a make. Or a miss.
But not a swish.
The Marion Indians cut down the net after claiming their third straight league championship, defeating Vinton-Shellsburg, 57-47, in a Wamac Conference West Division girls’ basketball game Friday night.
“There used to be a lone number (1975) on our basketball (championship banner),” Indians Coach Sherryl Gaffney-Paige said after climbing the ladder and taking the final snip. “Now there’s three more up there.”
That would …

Jeff Linder’s area girls’ basketball Super Ten, through games played Feb. 3:
1. LINN-MAR (18-0)
Offensive average: 63.9. Defensive average: 39.6. Streak: Won 18. Last ranking: 1st. Notable: Has clinched a share of the MVC Valley Division title, and can wrap it up with a win Friday. Bidding to become the first MVC team since Cedar Falls (2000 & 2001) to go unbeaten in the league two straight years. Upcoming schedule: At Cedar Rapids Prairie on Friday, hosts Cedar Rapids Jefferson on Tuesday.
2. CEDAR RAPIDS KENNEDY (15-2)
Offensive average: 62.6. Defensive average: 45.1. Streak: Won 3. Last ranking: 2nd. Notable: …

Cedar Rapids Washington will host its Hall of Fame night Friday between games of its girls’/boys’ basketball doubleheader with Cedar Rapids Jefferson.
Here are the inductees:
Bob Bleakley  (1958, baseball, football, basketball)
Tom Proctor (1968, swimming)
Geoff Mykleby  (1971, swimming)
David Facion (1977, track)
Pat Dale (1981, football, baseball)
Ronnie Hendred  (1982, track)
Mark McDermott (1990, swimming)
Shannon Oster  (2003, cross country, track)
Coach Norm Byers (golf)
Contributor Bob Payne (wrestling announcer)

Morgan Paige saw open lanes to the basket. And she saw opportunity.
Paige set a school record with 43 points in Marion’s 80-64 girls’ basketball win over Benton Community on Tuesday.
The University of Wisconsin signee surpassed Kristin Popovics’ standard of 41, hitting two free throws with 8 seconds on the clock.
“It was kind of nerve-wracking. I didn’t know I was that close until the crowd erupted when I hit a layup to tie the record,” Paige said.
“They were leaving wide-open lanes to drive.”
Paige scored 29 points after halftime, and it wasn’t …

Wednesday was signing day at Cedar Rapids Washington. Six athletes signed national letters of intent Wednesday morning in the school cafeteria.
Erika Conner will play volleyball at Mount Olive, N.C.
Maddy Becker will run cross country at Iowa State University.
Shay Gutman will play football at Upper Iowa University.
Andre Dawson will play football at the University of Northern Iowa.
Saxon Dolan will play football at Grand View University.
Matt Huffer will play football at the University of South Dakota.

CEDAR RAPIDS — Iowa City High lit up a dark old gym Tuesday night.
The Little Hawks shot 56 percent from the field, including 70 percent in the second half, and punished Class 4A No. 9 Cedar Rapids Jefferson, 76-54, in a Mississippi Valley Conference girls’ basketball game at Jefferson High School.
“We just relaxed and hit some shots,” said City High Coach Bill McTaggart.
The game was originally scheduled for Jan. 5, but was moved back because of the Orange Bowl. The main gymnasium was booked by a wrestling meet, so the …

A new challenge awaits Kevin Miller and his football juggernaut at Solon High School.
The Iowa High School Athletic Association released its district assignments for the 2010 and 2011 seasons, and the Spartans will compete in Class 3A.
“We knew we’d be right on the (2A/3A) bubble. We figured we’d either move to 3A now, or in two more years,” Miller said.
Solon has won the last three 2A state championships and carries a 41-game winning streak.
“It’s a challenge, but with challenge comes opportunities,” Miller said. “We’re going to need more depth, and …

MARION — David Parry lives here. Most of his family is out there.
So his decision to attend Stanford University of somewhat of a homecoming.
An all-state lineman at Linn-Mar High School, Parry orally committed to play football as a preferred walk-on at Stanford. He visited the campus last weekend.
“Both of my parents were born and raised in San Francisco, and all of my cousins, aunts and uncles are out there,” said Parry, who stands 6-foot-2 and 295 pounds.
Oh, and the academics program doesn’t hurt, either.
“David is a very goal-oriented kid. He …

MVC MISSISSIPPI DIVISION Conf. All 
y-Cedar Rapids Kennedy 12-1 15-2
Iowa City West 9-4 13-4
Cedar Rapids Xavier 7-5 11-6
Iowa City High 6-6 9-7
Dubuque Wahlert 6-7 7-11
Waterloo West 5-8 10-8
Dubuque Hempstead 3-10 4-13
 
 

MVC VALLEY DIVISION Conf. All
 
y-Linn-Mar 13-0 18-0
Cedar Rapids Washington 10-3 11-6
Cedar Falls 8-4 10-6
Cedar Rapids Jefferson 7-5 11-6
Cedar Rapids Prairie 2-11 3-14
Dubuque Senior 1-12 1-17
Waterloo East 0-13 1-16
 
 

WAMAC EAST DIVISION Div. All
 
DeWitt Central 10-1 16-3
Mount Vernon 8-3 15-3
Anamosa 7-3 12-4
Solon 6-5 13-5
Western Dubuque 6-5 11-6
Maquoketa 4-7 7-10
West Delaware 2-8 5-11
Dyersville Beckman 0-11 0-18
 
 

WAMAC WEST DIVISION Div. All
 
Marion 10-1 16-1
Williamsburg 8-3 11-6
Vinton-Shellsburg …

MARION — Kiah Stokes was highly efficient, if not wildly prolific.
Stokes took only eight shots from the floor Friday night, but made every last one of them as Class 4A top-rated Linn-Mar won its 30th straight Mississippi Valley Conference girls’ basketball game, 48-34, over No. 12 Cedar Rapids Xavier at Linn-Mar High School.
“They were physical, so I wanted to be physical right back,” said Stokes, who scored 19 points in front of hopeful suitors like Iowa State women’s coach Bill Fennelly and two coaches from Purdue.
“Once I got the ball, I …