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 …

WINTHROP — At one time the Lisbon Lions were regulars at the State Duals tournament.
Heck, they were fixtures in the finals from 1987-91, placing third in 1992. This year’s Lions provided a blast from the past.
Ninth-ranked Lisbon caught fire halfway through the meet to win seven straight matches and toppled No. 4 East Buchanan, 42-31, in a Class 1A regional dual last night at East Buchanan High School. The Lions will compete in the State Duals tournament Feb. 27 at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids, earning their eighth …

I’m in Winthrop for the Class 1A regional duals, featuring Alburnett, No. 4 East Buchanan, No. 9 Lisbon and West Branch. Regional dual semifinal match-ups are East Buchanan vs. West Branch and Alburnett vs. Lisbon.
I am going off the program and the pre-meet introductions. Some wrestlers may need to edited later if I don’t catch a lineup change.
We’re starting at 130.
Mitch McGraw (EB) receives a forfeit; Grant Henderson (A) majors Seth hall, 15-2. EB up 6-0 and Alburnett up, 4-0.
At 135, Matt Smith (WB) edges Travis Johnson, 6-4. East Buch …

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 …

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 …

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 FALLS — It promised to be a highly-competitive football game, but it played out differently than expected.
South Winneshiek and West Branch fielded two powerful offenses, but defense stole the show.
The Warriors’ defensive effort was slightly better, powering the ninth-ranked Warriors into their first ever state championship game after beating No. 3 West Branch, 14-7, in a Class 1A state semifinal Saturday at the UNI-Dome.
The Warriors advance to face No. 2 Council Bluffs St. Albert (13-0), which trounced No. 4 Prairie Valley, 49-21. The 1A championship game is Saturday, Nov. …

CEDAR FALLS – West Branch is heading back to familiar territory.
Travis Kaufman threw two touchdown passes and ran for another to lead No. 3 West Branch past No. 8 Clayton Ridge, 27-7, Friday night in a Class 1A prep football playoff quarterfinal game at the UNI-Dome.
West Branch (12-0) plays South Winneshiek in the semifinals a week from today at the UNI-Dome. South Winn beat Turkey Valley, 22-20, last night. The Bears are in the semifinals for the second straight year. They were beaten by Emmetsburg in last year’s game. West …

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: …