TROY MILLS -- Small-school athletics are generally a cycle of waxing and waning, ebbs and flows, high tides and low tides.When Brian Wheatley took the girls' basketball job at North Linn nearly nine years ago, the program was at rock bottom. The Lynx had endured ...

TROY MILLS -- And that's a wrap.Class 2A third-ranked North Linn surrendered just 10 second-half points and clinched the Tri-Rivers Conference girls' basketball championship Tuesday night with a 57-40 victory over 3A No. 13 Monticello at North Linn High School.Undisputed, and still undefeated: North Linn ...

Area softball players to watch for 2012:HANNAH PETERSEN, P, sr. Cedar Rapids Jefferson -- 18-5, 0.88 ERA, 177 K and 24 BB in 144 IP. Batted .329 with 10 doubles. Class 4A first-team all-state.ARRAN WEECES, P, sr., Solon -- 15-3, 0.73 ERA, 202 K and 38 ...