SOLON — Great game. Bizarre ending.
Hailee Michel scored the go-ahead free throws with 7 seconds remaining in overtime — after a technical foul, no less — and Solon outlasted Iowa City Regina, 82-78, in a Class 2A regional quarterfinal girls’ basketball game Tuesday night at Solon High School.
“It was crazy,” Michel said. “I knew I had to step up to the line and make the shots.”
The game was tied at 78-all when Regina’s Kylee Homewood went to the line to shoot two free throws with 8 seconds left in the …

IOWA CITY — Brian Joens called it “wild.”
Ali Browning proclaimed it as “hectic.”
With 73 turnovers, 56 fouls and 72 free throws, this was nearly two hours of yuck.
Iowa City Regina outlasted West Branch in a battle of survival, 78-64, in an extremely messy Class 2A first-round regional girls’ basketball game Saturday night at Regina High School.
“It was very physical. Both teams played hard,” said Joens, the Regals’ head coach. “It was a very wild atmosphere.”
Four players fouled out and six others finished the game with four fouls, including Browning, who …

CEDAR RAPIDS — This is a big weekend for Tanner Miller. He’s having an official visit with the University of Iowa football program, taking a tour of U of I facilities Saturday morning and hanging out with a Hawkeye player Saturday night.
But the young man has his priorities, and Saturday afternoon that was to be with his Mid-Prairie basketball team.
“I couldn’t miss this game,” Miller said after he helped the Golden Hawks past rival Iowa City Regina, 57-48, during Rivalry Saturday at the U.S. Cellular Center. “They probably would have …

The golden age of girls’ basketball at Springville has passed. In its wake, an era of growth.
After starting 2-7 in a year of transition, the Orioles have won five of their last six games and find themselves flirting with .500.
“We’ve seen a lot of growth and improvement,” said Orioles Coach Brian O’Donnell. “We’re starting to click a little bit.”
Gutted by graduation after two years of glory (a Class 1A state title in 2008, a runner-up finish in 2009), the Orioles are 7-8 overall, 5-6 in the Tri-Rivers Conference.
“We don’t have …

IOWA CITY — Iowa City Regina High School athletics director Chet Wisniewski confirmed Friday that Tom Howe has been suspended as Regals wrestling coach.
“He has been suspended indefinitely,” Wisniewski said.
The suspension came after Howe was arrested on drunk driving and drug charges. According to online records, Howe, 25, of 1422 Aber Ave., was arrested near the intersection of Riverside Dr. and Myrtle Ave. in the early morning hours of Jan. 6, He was charged with Operating a motor vehicle While Intoxicated and Possession of a Controlled Substance — Marijuana.
Wisniewski said …

Don Bosco remains on top with eight ranked wrestlers, including four top-ranked wrestlers and a fifth in the top two. East Buchanan is second with six in the rankings. Belle Plaine made a considerable drop, falling from fourth to eighth. The Plainesmen are led by top-ranked 103-pounder Zakk Buch and No. 3 Jack O’Brien at 125.
Top 10 State Tournament Teams (# of ranked wrestlers)
1. Don Bosco (8)
2. East Buchanan (6)
3. New London/WMU (3)
4. Eddyville-Blakesburg (4)
5. Louisa-Muscatine (3)
6. Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn (4)
7. Twin River Valley (3)
8. Belle Plaine (3)
9. Alburnett (2)
10. Coon Rapids-Bayard …

SOLON — James Morris certainly knows his way to the end zone and he showed that in his latest playoff performance.  Morris rushed for five first-half touchdowns leading No. 1 Solon to a 42-7 Class 2A state quarterfinal victory Friday night over host Iowa City Regina.
The Spartans eased Coach Kevin Miller’s uneasiness about playing four games in 14 days, winning a 39th straight game and racking up 347 rushing yards.
“I thought we came out and performed admirably well,” Miller said. “I thought we played physical,” Solon Coach Kevin Miller said. …

CLASS 4A
Cedar Rapids Xavier at Clinton
Time & place: 7 p.m., at Clinton.
Radio: KMRY-AM (1450), KGYM-AM (1600).
Records: No. 8 Xavier is 9-2; No. 3 Clinton is 11-0.
Notable: Four days after holding Linn-Mar’s Jer Garman to 32 yards in a 41-3 stroll, the Saints try to slow another prolific running attack. Clinton’s David Johnson has rushed for 1,304 yards and 27 touchdowns. The River Kings were champions of the Mississippi Athletic Conference, and the only MAC team to survive the substate round. Xavier has won eight straight games after a 1-2 start.
Linder’s pick: …

FORT DODGE — The Union Knights felt no heat to three-peat.
“There was no pressure on us,” said Ashley Frush. “The pressure was on the other teams to beat us.”
It didn’t happen. Almost, but not quite.
Union captured its third consecutive Class 2A girls’ championship at the state cross country meet Saturday at Lakeside Golf Course.
The Knights edged 2008 1A champion Pekin by a 57-60 margin.
“I knew it was close. I didn’t think we had it,” said Union Coach Andy McQuillen. “It’s pretty amazing. This group overachieved, overachieved and overachieved.
“I couldn’t be …

CLASS 4A
Cedar Rapids Xavier at Linn-Mar
Time & place: 7 p.m., at Armstrong Field.
Radio: WMT-AM (600).
Records: No. 8 Xavier is 8-2; No. 7 Linn-Mar is 9-1.
How they got here: Fifth-seeded Xavier advanced with a 38-21 substate win over Pleasant Valley; Fourth-seeded Linn-Mar rallied past Burlington, 37-14. The Lions beat the Saints, 14-7, in Week 2.
Linder’s pick: Xavier, 21-19.
 
Cedar Rapids Kennedy vs. Cedar Rapids Washington
Time & place: 7 p.m., at Kingston Stadium.
Radio: KGYM-AM (1600).
Records: Kennedy is 5-5; Washington is 8-2.
How they got here: Kennedy, the 14th seed in the 4A East, pulled the upset of …