DES MOINES — So we’re down to 1-vs.-2.
Twice.
The girls’ state basketball tournament concludes today with a pair of championship-game showdowns.
In Class 3A, top-rated Sioux City Heelan (25-1) faces No. 2 Waukon (25-1) at 6 p.m.
And in 4A, it’s No. 1 Linn-Mar (25-0) vs. No. 2 Des Moines East (25-0) at 8.
“We just don’t have a lot of size,” said Waukon Coach Gene Klinge. “Our kids will play hard. They’ll battle hard. But we’ll have our hands full.”
Heelan and Waukon have been 1-2 all season.
“Heelan is a great team,” said Waukon’s …

As voted by coaches.
2009-10 All-Metro Boys’ Basketball

DES MOINES — Morgan Paige had the points. Carli Tritz had the help.
Top-rated Sioux City Heelan dominated the glass and defeated No. 8 Marion, 69-61, in a Class 3A quarterfinal at the girls’ state basketball tournament Tuesday afternoon at Wells Fargo Arena.
Afterward, Indians Coach Sherryl Gaffney-Paige announced her resignation.
“Our administration knows,” she said. “It’s time for me to watch my son (Marcus, a sophomore at Linn-Mar). I’ve missed a lot of his games.
“I’ll miss it, but it’s time for a change.”
Gaffney-Paige closes a 10-year career at Marion with a 126-96 …

A look at the action at the girls’ state basketball tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Tuesday.
CLASS 2A QUARTERFINAL
Mount Vernon (22-3) vs. #11 Audubon (21-1)
Time: 11:30 a.m.
Coaches: Mount Vernon Coach Bob Kintzel is in his third season, and owns a 57-11 mark. Derek Sonderland is 81-33 in five years at Audubon. He also had a successful run at Tri-Center.
Top players: Liz Skotowski (5-7, soph.) paces a young Mount Vernon team, averaging 12.0 points per game. Amanda Platte (6-1, jr.) adds 10.2 ppg. Mykel Brannan (5-6, sr.) leads …

To heck with the Mississippi Valley Conference.
Forgive the Marion Indians if they choose a word that’s stronger then “heck” in this case. They lost four basketball games this season, and three of them were to MVC teams.
That includes Dubuque Wahlert, which pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 59-50 win in a Class 3A district final last night at Cedar Rapids Kennedy.
“I knew it was going to be a battle coming in,” said Wahlert sophomore guard Jake May, brother of Iowa freshman Eric May, who led his team with …

MARION — Now it gets significantly more difficult for the Marion Indians.
Marion won its 14th straight last night, dusting away Vinton-Shellsburg for the third time this season, 62-45, in a Class 3A district opener.
It’s Dubuque Wahlert of the predominantly 4A Mississippi Valley Conference up next for the Indians (19-3) in a Thursday night district final at Cedar Rapids Kennedy. If they win that, it’s probably Davenport Assumption of the predominantly 4A Mississippi Athletic Conference in substate.
As they say, the kidding around is pretty much over.
“Vinton is a big, long athletic …

CLASS 4A REGION 3
#5 CEDAR RAPIDS KENNEDY (19-2) vs. #9 CEDAR RAPIDS WASHINGTON (14-8)
Site: Cedar Rapids Prairie H.S.
Time: 7 p.m.
Notable: Kennedy pursues its third straight win over the Warriors this season. The Cougars claimed regular-season victories of 77-56 and 64-50. University of Iowa recruit Jade Rogers leads the senior-laden Cougars at 18.8 points and 11.2 rebounds per game. Tia Dawson averages 15.8 points and 12.1 boards per game for Washington, which rallied from an early 10-point deficit to oust Cedar Rapids Xavier, 54-47, in the regional semifinals Saturday. Washington outscored the …

Cedar Rapids Kennedy ended an 11-game losing streak to Cedar Rapids Washington this season, sweeping the Warriors in regular-season play.
But to accurately say they’re cured of the Warriors’ hex, the Cougars must win one more time.
Fifth-ranked Kennedy (19-2) faces No. 9 Cedar Rapids Washington (15-8) in a Class 4A regional final girls’ basketball showdown Tuesday.
Tipoff is 7 p.m. at Cedar Rapids Prairie.
“I hope we can jump out, get a lead early and play loose,” said Kennedy Coach Dennis Roloff.
The Kennedy-Washington matchup is one of four involving area 4A teams.
Elsewhere:
* No. 1 …

MARION — Sherryl Gaffney-Paige exited the locker room and exhaled.
“I’m glad to get that one done,” she said.
No. 8 Marion navigated Benton Community’s constantly changing defense and sidestepped the Bobcats, 65-55, in a Class 3A regional quarterfinal girls’ basketball game Wednesday night at Marion High School.
“I couldn’t tell what they were running,” said Brittany Fish, who scored 20 of her game-high 25 points in the second half to carry the Indians (21-1) to their 15th straight win.
Marion will host Vinton-Shellsburg (12-10) in a regional semifinal at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Morgan Paige …

Think Waukon is looking ahead? Think again.
Marion? Fat chance.
The area’s two best Class 3A teams, No. 2 Waukon and No. 9 Marion are on full alert as regionals open Wednesday.
“We’re only concerned about Decorah,” said Waukon Coach Gene Klinge, whose squad was forced to overtime by the Vikings 15 days ago. “Last time we played them, we made some mistakes and almost got beat.
“Hopefully that will be a blessing in disguise.”
Regionals open in 3A and 4A throughout the state. While Waukon (20-1) hosts Decorah (9-11) in Region 4, Marion (20-1) …