DES MOINES — Instead of dwelling on what could have been, the Linn-Mar Lions chose to think about what could be Saturday afternoon. Metro basketball fans should be doing the same thing.
Linn-Mar beat Sioux City East, 62-57, in the Class 4A consolation game at Wells Fargo Arena to finish its season 24-2. The Lions tied a record held by Cedar Rapids Regis with their seventh consecutive state tournament trip and set a record with their seventh straight finish of fourth or better.
“I didn’t know that,” Linn-Mar Coach Chris Robertson. “I …

There are the divisions for the MVC in 2010-11 and 2011-12:
MISSISSIPPI DIVISION
Cedar Rapids Kennedy
Cedar Rapids Washington
Dubuque Senior
Dubuque Wahlert
Iowa City High
Linn-Mar
Waterloo West
VALLEY DIVISION
Cedar Falls
Cedar Rapids Jefferson
Cedar Rapids Prairie
Cedar Rapids Xavier
Dubuque Hempstead
Iowa City West
Waterloo East

DES MOINES — So we’re down to 1-vs.-2.
Twice.
The girls’ state basketball tournament concludes today with a pair of championship-game showdowns.
In Class 3A, top-rated Sioux City Heelan (25-1) faces No. 2 Waukon (25-1) at 6 p.m.
And in 4A, it’s No. 1 Linn-Mar (25-0) vs. No. 2 Des Moines East (25-0) at 8.
“We just don’t have a lot of size,” said Waukon Coach Gene Klinge. “Our kids will play hard. They’ll battle hard. But we’ll have our hands full.”
Heelan and Waukon have been 1-2 all season.
“Heelan is a great team,” said Waukon’s …

DES MOINES — A semifinal stumbling block? Not any more.
Kiah Stokes controlled the battle in the paint, and top-rated Linn-Mar downed No. 5 Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 58-53, in a Class 4A semifinal at the girls’ state basketball tournament Friday afternoon at Wells Fargo Arena.
“This has been one of our goals the entire time I’ve been here,” said Linn-Mar’s Kayla Klopfenstein. “This is nice to accomplish, but we’re not done yet.”
A semifinal casualty in 2008 and 2009, Linn-Mar (25-0) faces No. 2 Des Moines East (25-0) for the 4A title Friday …

A look at the action at the girls’ state basketball tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Friday.
CLASS 4A SEMIFINAL
#1 Linn-Mar vs. #5 Cedar Rapids Kennedy
Time: Noon
Coaches: Mike Brandt is 145-62 in nine seasons at Linn-Mar. Dennis Roloff is 287-145 in 19 seasons at Kennedy. Both are seeking their first trip to the finals.
Top players: Kiah Stokes (6-3, jr.) paces Linn-Mar at 19.3 points and 12.8 rebounds per game. Kayla Klopfenstein (5-9, sr.) adds 12.1 points per game. Jade Rogers (5-11, sr.) averages 18.8 points and 11.2 rebounds per …

DES MOINES — When Linn-Mar defeated Cedar Rapids Kennedy in January, Kiah Stokes had perspective.
“It’s not going to matter that much in the long run,” Stokes said at the time. “Our No. 1 goal is a state championship.”
To get there, the Lions must repeat the feat Friday.
No. 1 Linn-Mar (24-0) faces No. 5 Kennedy (21-2) in an all-Metro Class 4A semifinal at the girls’ basketball state tournament. Tipoff is noon at Wells Fargo Arena.
“It’s our turn to win,” said Kennedy’s Laura Boenish. “And now would be the best time to …

As voted by coaches.
2009-10 All-Metro Boys’ Basketball

Here it is. Chris Robertson of Linn-Mar and Bob Fontana of Cedar Rapids Kennedy are the division coaches of the year. Cedar Rapids Jefferson’s Jarrod Uthoff and TrayVonn Wright of Waterloo West were players of the year.
Striking how much better the Valley Division was this season than the Mississippi Division. Three MVC are at the state tournament next week, all from the Valley Division.
2009 10.PDF All MVC Hoops

DES MOINES — Sure, the Kennedy Cougars are disappointed by the lack of support from their peers.
But not surprised.
“We’re used to not having many fans at our games,” said senior Kristen Hahn.
“It really doesn’t bother us any more.”
It’s state-tournament week at Wells Fargo Arena. It’s also trimester finals week at Cedar Rapids Kennedy.
So while the Cougars were rallying to defeat Ankeny, 46-44, in a Class 4A quarterfinal, the vast majority of their classmates were testing.
About 40 Kennedy students showed up Wednesday, making arrangements by moving their Wednesday exams to Tuesday …

DES MOINES — It’s usually a death sentence.
A seven-point deficit. In the fourth quarter. To Ankeny.
But Jade Rogers and the Kennedy Cougars got a last-minute reprieve.
Rogers scored eight of her game-high 14 points in the final 5:32 as fifth-ranked Cedar Rapids Kennedy rallied for a 46-44 win over No. 4 Ankeny in a Class 4A quarterfinal at the girls’ state basketball tournament Wednesday afternoon at Wells Fargo Arena.
“It was an amazing game,” said Kennedy’s Kristen Hahn. “Blowouts are fun, but these are the games you live for and remember.
“I’ll remember …