Prep golfers hit the course for Iowa High School Athletic Association championship meets today as 35 sectional meets in all three classes across the state.
Decorah senior Andrew Peter will look to defend his individual state title, and help lead the Vikings back to the Class 3A state meet. The Vikings, who placed fourth at state last season, travel to Charles City for a sectional with Clear Lake, Crestwood, Forest City, Hampton-Dumont, Iowa Falls-Alden and New Hampton. The top four individuals and top two teams advance to next week’s district play, joing a Manchest …

The western thumb of the Big East Conference, Lisbon is somewhat isolated.
“We’re on the outside edge,” said Jim Schultz, the school’s athletics director. “Eight (of our 11 conference rivals) are at least an hour and 15 minutes away.”
So it’s time to look elsewhere.
Lisbon has formally applied for membership into the Tri-Rivers Conference. If its application is accepted, Lisbon will join in 2012-13.
Tri-Rivers athletics directors and principals have green-lighted the expansion, with superintendents scheduled to vote at their annual meeting June 2.
“They’ve got some really nice athletic programs,” said North Linn …

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 …

Mother nature has caused a hiccup in the posteason season wrestling schedule. All but one regional dual across the state are postponed until tomorrow evening.
The Class 2A regional dual event at Winterset, featuring  Centerville, Harlan, Creston/orient-Macksburg and Clarke (Osceola) is the only one that will be competed. All others are scheduled for Wednesday at 6 p.m.
CLASS 2A ASSIGNMENTS
AT: GILBERT (POSTPONED UNTIL WEDNESDAY, 2/10, SAME TIME)
Semi-Final Round
Bondurant-Farrar vs. Webster City
Ballard vs. PCM, Monroe
After the completion of the semi-final round, the winners will compete to determine
the team advancing to the State Dual Team Tournament.
AT: …

East Buchanan is attempting to claim its first state duals berth, but if the Bucs are going to end their season in Cedar Rapids they will have to earn it.
The third-ranked Bucs host a competitive Class 1A regional dual at Winthrop, featuring No. 9 Lisbon, Alburnett and West Branch. East Buchanan opens with West Branch, while Lisbon takes on Alburnett in the semifinals, starting at 6 p.m.
Opening round winners then compete for a trip to the state duals Feb. 27 at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids.
East Buchanan Coach …

If you listened real close, you heard John Rochford call “bank.”
OK, the beefy 6-foot-4 Central City center didn’t call his banked, game-winning, buzzer-beating jumper from just outside the free-throw line. But he’ll take it and that 48-46 win over Monticello at Rivalry Saturday.
“They defended what we wanted to do really well,” Rochford said. “I came out from the block, just tried to make a play. Catch it at the top.
“That’s a little out of my range, probably 15 to 18 feet. But I got the shot and it was good. When I shot …

That’ll be this Saturday at the U.S. Cellular Center. Tickets are $7 and available at the door.
The schedule is:
 
1:30 p.m. – Lisbon (8-7) vs. North Cedar (15-1)
  
3:15 p.m. –
Monticello (7-8) vs. Central City (8-7)
 
5 p.m. –
Mid Prairie (10-4) vs. Iowa City Regina (9-4)

6:45 p.m. –
Marion (12-3) vs. Benton Community (6-8)

8:30 p.m. – Cedar Rapids Washington (6-7) vs. Iowa City High (8-6)
Am intererested to see North Cedar and sophomore Jordan Hay. The best game looks like it could be the Cedar Valley Conference grudge match between Regina and Mid-Prairie.
The records are through …

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 …

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 …