After shredding three straight man-to-man defenses, it’s time for Mount Vernon to get honed in on the zone.
The Mustangs take aim at No. 1 Cascade in a Class 2A regional final Monday. Tipoff is 7 p.m. at Cedar Rapids Jefferson.
“We’re playing extremely well right now,” said Mount Vernon Coach Bob Kintzel. “The kids seem to be on a mission.”
Postseason scores would indicate that. Mount Vernon (21-3) destroyed its first three regional opponents — Iowa Valley, BGM and Sigourney — by 34, 47 and 34.
Obviously, it gets more challenging tonight against …

MONTICELLO — Time of drought: 23 minutes, 10 seconds.
That’s how long it was between field goals for Monticello. The result was predictable.
Top-ranked Cascade smothered Monticello with its zone and cruised, 35-20, in a Class 2A regional semifinal girls’ basketball game Friday night at Monticello High School.
“We just focus on keeping teams down,” said Cascade post Holly Hosch. “We rely on our defense first.”
The Cougars (23-1) will face Mount Vernon in a regional final Monday at Cedar Rapids Jefferson. The winner advances to the state tournament.
Mount Vernon (21-3) dismantled Sigourney, 61-27.
Cascade …

It’s Monticello. It’s regionals. It’s on the road.
But Cascade Coach Mike Sconsa is reasonably relaxed. Or at least diplomatic.
“There are no perfect systems, and if I throw a fit, the girls will throw a fit,” Sconsa said. “We just have to get ready. It’s another game, and we’re going to be playing tough teams.”
No. 1 Cascade (22-1) travels to Tri-Rivers Conference rival Monticello (18-6) in a Class 2A regional semifinal.
Tipoff is 7 p.m. Friday.
There’s a history here, and not a pleasant one for Sconsa.
Cascade was taken out in regionals by …

Here it is. Once again, where are right, and where are we wrong?
CLASS 4A Record Pts Prv
1. Ames (11) 15-0 110 1
2. Linn-Mar 14-1 99 2
3. Cedar Rapids Jefferson 13-1 78 4
4. Des Moines Hoover 14-1 70 5
5. Southeast Polk 12-2 59 3
6. Sioux City East 14-2 58 7
7. Bettendorf 12-3 42 9
8. Johnston 12-2 39 8
9. Clinton 12-3 18 6
(tie) Cedar Falls 11-2 18 10
Others receiving votes: Council Bluffs Jefferson 8. Council Bluffs Lewis Central 3. Cedar Rapids Kennedy 2. Waukee 1.
CLASS 3A Record Pts Prv
1. Norwalk (7) 15-0 …

CASCADE — Al Marshall really knows how to celebrate.
The Cascade boys’ basketball coach picked up his 400th career victory Saturday night when his Cougars rallied past Fulton (Ill.), 41-40.
There was no big postgame ceremony or anything for the 63-year-old Marshall. No one made a cake to enjoy on the bus ride home.
“We stopped at McDonald’s,” Marshall said with a laugh. “I had a Chicken Select.”
Don’t go overboard now, Coach.
Marshall said the achievement nonetheless was special. He is in his 40th year at Cascade and has a 600-307 record, seventh all-time …

Poetry in motion? Not the Cascade Cougars.
“We’re not flashy by any stretch of the imagination,” said Coach Mike Sconsa.
Style? Maybe not. Substance? Plenty of it.
Class 2A state runners-up a year ago, the Cougars have held seven straight opponents in the 20s and have rattled off 13 consecutive victories.
“We don’t like to be the team that everybody’s looking at,” said senior Amber Meyer.
Always a stingy outfit, Cascade (13-1 overall, 11-0 Tri-Rivers Conference) keeps opponents down with a variety of zone defenses.
The bread and butter is a basic 2-3, though Sconsa will …

The top six teams in the rankings have a number of wrestlers on the list. All of them have at least five wrestlers ranked. Defending state champion Ballard still leads the way with Denver-Tripoli and Davenport Assumption close behind. The state tournament could be very interesting depending upon the number of qualifiers each can take to Des Moines.
Top 10 State Tournament Teams (# of ranked wrestlers)
1. Ballard (6)
2. Denver-Tripoli (8)
3. Davenport Assumption (7)
4. Independence (6)
5. Forest City (5)
6. East Marshall (5)
7. Centerville (3)
8. Emmetsburg (4)
9. Dallas Center-Grimes (4)
10. Sgt. Bluff …

CEDAR RAPIDS — Scot Moenck chose Waukon and MFL MarMac as a Rivalry Saturday matchup simply because … well, because both teams are darn good.
He may have stumbled onto a historical moment.
Waukon Coach Gene Klinge goes after his 939th career victory in the 4:30 game at the U.S. Cellular Center.
That would give him sole possession of the all-time record among Iowa girls’ basketball coaches. Currently, he shares the mark with the late Bob Mullen.
“I didn’t expect Coach Klinge to have a chance to break it on our night,” said Moenck, …

We’re on holiday break from the winter prep sports, but that’s not stopping us from producing a faux Super 10. There actually were a few games played last week on Monday and Tuesday.
So here we go. Comments and suggestions are encouraged, as always:
SUPER TEN
1. Linn-Mar (5-1 record, 1 previous)
2. Cedar Rapids Kennedy (5-1, 2)
3. Cedar Rapids Jefferson (4-1, 3)
4. Iowa City West (5-1, 4)
5. Iowa City High (4-2, 5)
6. Cedar Rapids Washington (2-4, 3)
7. Western Dubuque (7-1, 10)
8. Washington, Iowa (5-0,
9. Maquoketa (5-2, NR)
10. Solon (6-1, 7)
Class 4A - …

METRO/IOWA CITY
C.R. Jefferson 37, Cedar Falls 34
C.R. Kennedy 42, Dubuque Hempstead 31
C.R. Prairie 48, Waterloo East 22
C.R. Washington 43, Dubuque Senior 24
Dubuque Wahlert 48, C.R. Xavier 30
Independence 59, Marion 21
Iowa City West 52, Linn-Mar 16
Marion 52, Waterloo Columbus 24
AREA
Alburnett 48, Ed-Co 30
Alburnett 53, Cascade 27
Camanche 46, Midland 30
East Buchanan def. Central City/Springville (no scores provided)
East Buchanan 55, Valley Community 12
East Marshall 37, Lisbon 34
Independence 69, Waterloo Columbus 12
Lisbon 39, Hudson 33
Lisbon 60, South Hardin 13
Maquoketa Valley 54, Starmont 30
Maquoketa Valley 36, North Linn 25
Monticello 64, Central City/Springville 12
Monticello 39, East …