SOLON — The Solon Spartans are alive and kicking in their bid for back-to-back Class 2A state basketball championships because of a kid from Mount Vernon. How weird does that sound?
Technically, Zach Velez-Westphal lives in Lisbon, but he transferred from Solon’s biggest rival and was the difference maker last night as the No. 4 Spartans survived Iowa City Regina, 47-38, in a 2A second-round district game.
“I don’t really know why I came here,” Velez-Westphal said. “It was for basketball. I’m glad I made the change. Hopefully we make it to …

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 …

The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union is effective and creative in splitting power when drawing postseason brackets.
But there are bound to be exceptions. And a few cropped up in Class 2A girls’ basketball regional first-round games.
For instance:
** Iowa City Regina (17-4) hosts West Branch (16-5) in a battle of the first- and second-place teams in the Cedar Valley Conference.
** Monticello (16-6) travels to Maquoketa Valley (17-4) in a matchup of perennially strong Tri-Rivers Conference foes.
** Surging Iowa Valley (14-7) travels to Mount Vernon (18-3).
All games start at 7 p.m. …

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 …

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. …

SOLON — It’s prep football for Generation Net and beyond.
As the game is turning high tech, the Solon Spartans lead the way.
“The game has evolved,” Solon Coach Kevin Miller said. “This is right up our kids generations’ alley. This is what they’re familiar with.”
The latest evolution is the web-based video analysis software called Hudl, that the Spartans have begun to use to break down game film this season.
Solon, one of 13 schools in Iowa and 400 high schools and colleges nationwide to use the product, was approached by Agile Sports …

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: …