Here’s a look at the four boys’ basketball games Saturday involving area schools. All games begin at 7 p.m.
CLASS 1A
Central City (13-11) vs. Calamus-Wheatland (19-5) at Clinton: Central City has been hurt by injuries to starters Jacob Etten and Mason Nielsen. Both are back in the lineup, which helped the Wildcats post district wins over Springville (42-40), Lone Tree (65-52) and Lisbon (63-46). Center John Rochford leads CC in scoring (15.2 ppg) and rebounding (11.3 rpg). Point guard Jeffrey Stevens averages 12.3 ppg … Calamus-Wheatland posted a big upset of …

CEDAR RAPIDS — It was the closing seconds and the outcome was decided. A North Cedar player mishandled a pass from a teammate in the backcourt and had the basketball squirt away out of bounds.
Never did a moment sum up a game more than that one.
A harassing full-court, trapping defense was more than enough to lift No. 4 Solon past the No. 10 Knights, 70-56, in a highly anticipated Class 2A district championship game last night before about 1,200 fans at Jefferson. It’s the sixth straight district title for Solon …

District games begin Monday, Feb. 15. Games also will be played on Feb. 18, 23 and 25.
District finals in 1A are the 25th, in 2A the 23rd.
Top seeds in Class 1A include Iowa Mennonite, Lynnville-Sully, Clinton Prince of Peace, Lone Tree and Elkader Central.
In Class 2A, they include MFL/Mar-Mac, Cascade, North Cedar and BGM.
By far, the most interesting district is Class 2A, District 9, where you’ve got North Cedar, Solon and Iowa City Regina. Solon and Regina are earmarked for a second-round game Feb. 18 that could be a dandy.
Here …

It was a busy week for the North Cedar Knights, but it turned out to be a really good one.
The eighth-ranked team in Class 2A won three times, surviving a lackluster first half to topple Lisbon, 63-51, to open Rivalry Saturday at the U.S. Cellular Center.
It was the 15th-straight win for North Cedar (16-1), which had a big overtime victory Friday night over Mid-Prairie. Maybe that contributed to a 31-25 halftime deficit to Lisbon (8-9), eh head coach Scott Jackson?
“I don’t know,” Jackson said. “That was a tough game last night against Mid-Prairie. …

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 …

After five years and a few thousand dollars, Dain Jeppson finally has built his Wall.
“It’s been said that the storyline of a school is what gives a school character,” said Jeppson, principal at North Cedar High School.
“We have a unique storyline and unique character. It’s fun to tell our story.”
Jeppson will dedicate the Ashley Himes Memorial Wall of Fame Friday night between games of a girls’/boys’ basketball double-header between Mid-Prairie and North Cedar.
The gym, and the Wall, are at the middle school in Clarence.
Jeppson undertook a similar project at Waukon, where he …

STANWOOD — Even their coach admits there may have been a few haters out there. But in the case of the North Cedar Knights, don’t player hate — congratulate.
The Knights are 13-1 and have won 12 games in a row, including four last week. Among the victims was highly regarded Mid-Prairie, which North Cedar beat at Wellman, 66-63.
“I think there may have been some people questioning us. Saying things like ‘Who is North Cedar?’” said head coach Scott Jackson. “That was a big win for us. The kids played with …

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 …

When North Cedar fell to 0-3 in its district, postseason prospects looked bleak at best.
They looked worse at Highland when it dropped to 0-6 overall.  Now opportunity awaits both teams. All they have to do is snatch it.
Late-season surges have lifted North Cedar (4-4 overall, 3-3 Class 2A District 5) and Highland (2-6, 2-3 A-5) to the brink of postseason football.
“There’s a vibe that we’re getting around the community. So many people here want this,” North Cedar Coach Clay Harrold said about the prospects of the first postseason appearance in …

When North Cedar fell to 0-3 in its district, postseason prospects looked bleak at best.
They looked worse at Highland when it dropped to 0-6 overall.
Now opportunity awaits both teams. All they have to do is snatch it.
Late-season surges have lifted North Cedar (4-4 overall, 3-3 Class 2A District 5) and Highland (2-6, 2-3 A-5) to the brink of postseason football.
“There’s a vibe that we’re getting around the community. So many people here want this,” North Cedar Coach Clay Harrold said about the prospects of the first postseason appearance in school …