DES MOINES — One team. One singular goal.
Throughout the season and all those wins, the postgame responses from the Linn-Mar Lions were generally the same.
Nice win, they would say, sometimes with a shrug. But it doesn’t mean much now. What matters is later.
Later has come and gone. That singular goal has been achieved.
Linn-Mar captured the Class 4A girls’ state basketball championship Saturday, capping a 26-0 season with a 38-35 win over Des Moines East.
“They had a focus. They had a goal,” said Linn-Mar Coach Mike Brandt. “From Day 1, they …

 
DES MOINES — The cameras clicked. The bulbs flashed.
The Mount Vernon Mustangs smiled. They swayed. They sang along with the late Freddie Mercury.
They are the champions, my friend.
Again.
Mount Vernon blazed in the fourth quarter and rallied past No. 2 Manson-Northwest Webster, 59-56, to win the Class 2A championship at the girls’ state basketball tournament last night at Wells Fargo Arena.
“The feeling is undescribable,” said Micah Wieditz, who provided a long-distance lift off the bench. “It feels like I’m in a dream right now.”
Yes, these are dreamy days for female athletes …

A look at the action at the girls’ state basketball tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Friday.
CLASS 4A SEMIFINAL
#1 Linn-Mar vs. #5 Cedar Rapids Kennedy
Time: Noon
Coaches: Mike Brandt is 145-62 in nine seasons at Linn-Mar. Dennis Roloff is 287-145 in 19 seasons at Kennedy. Both are seeking their first trip to the finals.
Top players: Kiah Stokes (6-3, jr.) paces Linn-Mar at 19.3 points and 12.8 rebounds per game. Kayla Klopfenstein (5-9, sr.) adds 12.1 points per game. Jade Rogers (5-11, sr.) averages 18.8 points and 11.2 rebounds per …

DES MOINES — By now, no accomplishment by these Mount Vernon girls should surprise you.
No victory, no championship seems out of reach these days.
The Mustangs put another notch into their recent run of glory Thursday afternoon, pulling away from No. 9 Roland-Story in the fourth quarter to win, 47-38, in a Class 2A semifinal at the girls’ state tournament at Wells Fargo Arena.
“It’s amazing,” said Liz Skotowski, who bounced back from an early-week flu bout to play a solid game. “This is what we’ve worked for all season.”
Mount Vernon (24-3) …

A look at the action at the girls’ state basketball tournament at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Thursday.
CLASS 2A SEMIFINAL
Mount Vernon (23-3) vs. #9 Roland-Story (25-1)
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Coaches: Bob Kintzel is 58-11 in three years at Mount Vernon. Mike Frisk is in his 10th year at Roland-Story and owns a 166-67 mark.
Top players: Liz Skotowski (5-7, soph.) paces Mount Vernon at 12.0 points per game. Amanda Platte (6-1, jr.) adds 10.2 ppg. Maddie Oliver (6-2, jr.) is Roland-Story’s top player at 16.0 points and 11.6 rebounds per game. …

DES MOINES — Noting was automatic. Or easy.
“But we just kept pushing and we were able to get through it,” said Taylor Dicus.
Mount Vernon rallied from a six-point deficit in the final 4 1/2 minutes of regulation, owned overtime and outlasted 11th-rated Audubon, 53-45, in a Class 2A quarterfinal at the girls’ state basketball tournament Tuesday morning at Wells Fargo Arena.
“We got to overtime, and I was so excited,” said Sarah Ryan, who prolonged the game with a baseline jumper that tied the game with 55 seconds left in regulation. …

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 …

MOUNT VERNON — Little Karly Cochrane was a handful.
“She was almost hyperactive as a little girl,” said her father, John Cochrane. “She was always moving. It was difficult to get her to sit still.”
Still in motion year-round, Cochrane’s energy is now channeled. And rewarded.
She has been a not-so-common denominator in Mount Vernon’s massive success in girls’ sports.
Since last May, Cochrane has been a key figure in two state championships (track and volleyball) and a sixth-place finish in softball.
Tuesday, Mount Vernon faces Audubon in a Class 2A quarterfinal at the state …

CEDAR RAPIDS — Cascade’s zone makes most foes shudder. It made the Mount Vernon Mustangs salivate.
Reserve Micah Wieditz was 4-for-4 from long distance in the first half to stake Mount Vernon to a comfortable lead, and the Mustangs toppled No. 1 Cascade, 52-33, in a Class 2A girls’ basketball regional final Monday night at Jefferson High School.
“I love to shoot the ball,” Wieditz said. “When you have the shot, you’ve got to take it.”
Wieditz torched Cascade from outside, Taylor Dicus did her damage inside, and the Mustangs achieved a “grand …

After shredding three straight man-to-man defenses, it’s time for Mount Vernon to get honed in on the zone.
The Mustangs take aim at No. 1 Cascade in a Class 2A regional final Monday. Tipoff is 7 p.m. at Cedar Rapids Jefferson.
“We’re playing extremely well right now,” said Mount Vernon Coach Bob Kintzel. “The kids seem to be on a mission.”
Postseason scores would indicate that. Mount Vernon (21-3) destroyed its first three regional opponents — Iowa Valley, BGM and Sigourney — by 34, 47 and 34.
Obviously, it gets more challenging tonight against …