Xavier Boys Basketball

Saints trim Cougars in MSR Classic

While the basketball season officially tips off for them next week, both the Xavier and Kennedy boys were still feeling the effects of football in their hardcourt matchup Saturday at the MetroSportsReport.com Pride Challenge at Johnson Hall.

Several Saints who may be starters sat on the sidelines since they've barely practiced after playing in last week's gridiron state championship. As for the Cougars, their few football players played but were still a tad rusty switching suddenly from one sport to another.

The game itself on the Kirkwood Community College campus sometimes had a scrum-like feel to it as 41 fouls were called, and each team made more free throws than field goals.

Xavier won it, 54-47, with a furious fourth-quarter comeback, mostly because nine of its 14 baskets came from 3-point range.

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Luehrsmann anxious to welcome gridders

Seven members of the Xavier boys basketball team are skipping practice this week, but they have a good excuse.

They also play for the Xavier football team, which is practicing this week for the Class 4A championship game against top-ranked Dowling Catholic Friday night in Cedar Falls.

The football players will not join the basketball team until at least next week, and it could be the week after that to give them a chance to catch their breath.

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Gutsy Saints fall to No.4 Senior

DUBUQUE – If points were scored for gutsy play, the Xavier boys might well be playing in next week’s Class 4A substate final.

Too bad, but grit doesn’t show up in the boxscore.

The undersized, overachieving Saints more than held their own for three quarters Friday night against once-defeated, fourth-ranked Dubuque Senior. In the end, they simply ran out of gas and stalled out 55-39.

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McDermott, Saints shoot down Clinton

Adam McDermott made his first shot.

Then he made his second, third, fourth and fifth.

"You just keep firing away," said McDermott, whose 14-point flurry in the first quarter propelled Xavier to a 23-4 lead. The Saints rolled over Clinton, 73-38, Monday night in a Class 4A substate quarterfinal boys basketball game at Xavier.

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