Marion Girls Basketball

Knapp's 19 lead Marion girls to win

DE WITT -- Beth Knapp scored 19 points to lead Marion to a season-opening 38-25 win Tuesday night in girls basketball.

Marion had one fewer field goal, but knocked down three 3-pointers. The Indians also outscored Central 17-5 at the free-throw line.

Knapp drained 12 of 14 free throws.

MARION (38): Emi Banes 0 0-2 0, Micaela Combs 0 0-1 0, Amanda Sahm 1 2-3 4, Paige Perkins 2 0-0 4, Beth Knapp 3 12-14 19, Tessa Jordan 2 0-0 6, Michalyn Mohr 1 3-8 5. Totals 9 17-28 38.

DEWITT CENTRAL (25): Gretchen Henningson 0 1-2 1, Hailey Saunder 0 0-0 0, Sarah Schoel 0 0-0 0, Allison Keitel 1 0-2 2, Amanda Brainerd 4 1-4 9, Miranda Meland 3 1-2 7, Abby Willis 2 1-2 5, Steph Schrader 0 0-0 0, Emily Burke 0 1-2 1. Totals 10 5-14 25.

3-point goals - Marion 3 (Jordan 2, Knapp), Central 0.

Edwards, Vis making debuts in Jamboree

Jason Edwards and Tony Vis will make their debuts as Metro head coaches Friday night in the Girls Basketball Jamboree at Jefferson High School.

Edwards is the new head coach at Jefferson, having succeeded Larry Niemeyer. Vis is the new head coach at Kennedy, having succeeded Dennis Roloff.

Corby Laube, who previously coached the Marion boys team, takes over from Brian O'Donnell as coach of the Marion girls.

The Jamboree will begin at 5 p.m. with Kennedy facing Benton Community. Prairie meets Alburnett at 5:45, Washington faces Marion at 6:15, Linn-Mar plays Solon at 7 and Jefferson ends the Jamboree against Mount Vernon at 7:45.

Roloff is the new head coach at Mount Vernon.

Each scrimmage will consist of two eight-minute quarters.

Laube named Marion girls basketball coach

Corby Laube did not have to look far to find a new girls basketball coach for Marion High School.

He's taking the job himself.

Marion High School Principal Greg Semler announced Friday morning that Laube will coach the girls basketball team next season in addition to his duties as the school's activities director.

Laube succeeds Brian O'Donnell, who resigned to become the new principal at St. Piux X Elementary School in Cedar Rapids.

The Marion school district does not have any rules that prohibit an administrator from also serving as a coach. Once Laube expressed interest in the coaching job, he removed himself from the search process and deferred to others.

Laube has an extensive background in basketball. He starred at Mount Mercy University, where he ranks No. 3 on the career scoring list, and was a senior in 1995-96 when the Mustangs won 29 games, captured a conference title and reached the Sweet 16 of the NAIA national tournament.

Laube served as Marion's boys basketball coach from 1999 to 2008 before becoming the activities director four years ago. He was named the Wamac Conference Coach of the Year four times and led the Indians to three straight league titles in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Laube continued to coach youth teams in Marion after he became the activities director and also worked with individual players during that time. "It's something I love to do," he said.

Laube said he did not anticipate becoming a coach again, but things changed when O'Donnell decided to leave Marion after two years. "I had tons of people approach me right away and ask me," he said. "It was a flood of people."

Laube had concerns about the logistical problems of serving as a coach and activities director at the same time, but he's been assured by Semler that he'll get the help he needs.

"I would never have done this if they were not encouraging me to go through with it and it would be fine," said Laube. "The big thing was I wanted to make sure I could do this job (serving as activities director) 100 percent."

The Marion girls basketball team compiled a 15-9 record last season and reached the regional finals with a young team. "I'm really excited to get in there and work with those kids," he said.

Laube has a bachelor's degree from Mount Mercy and a master's degree from Coe. He and his wife, Ami, have three children.

Dani Peyton commits to Loras basketball

Marion High School senior Dani Peyton has decided to play basketball at Loras College in Dubuque next season.

Peyton, a 5-foot-5 guard, averaged 11 points this season and helped Marion compile a 15-9 record and reach the Class 3A regional finals.

Peyton was named third team all-state and first team all-Wamac Conference.