Xavier High School - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Kamryn Finley fires a 3-pointer for the Linn-Mar Lions during their 47-41 victory over Xavier Tuesday night. (MSR photo by Margaret O'Banion).

No. 12 Lions hold off Xavier

Tue - 26 Jan Written by Jim Ecker

Just a few short years ago, Tom Lilly battled against Jamie Printy when she was a star player for the Linn-Mar Lions.

Now Lilly is battling against Jamie (Printy) Brandt in her new role as the young girls basketball coach of the Lions, continuing their rivalry and friendship on a different level.

Brandt and the Lions won their latest confrontation with Lilly and the Xavier Saints, 47-41, in a Mississippi Valley Conference game Friday night at Linn-Mar.

When it was over, Lilly congratulated Brandt on a job well done and they both left the floor with smiles.

Lilly has won more than 500 games and four state titles at Xavier, and now he's competing against a new generation of coaches like Brandt, who comes from a successful basketball family.

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Last Updated on Wednesday, 27 January 2016 00:51

Max Techau (32) and one of his teammates celebrate Xavier's 68-63 victory Tuesday night at Linn-Mar. Techau led the Saints with 21 points. (MSR photo by Margaret O'Banion).

Ya gotta believe! Saints whip Lions

Tue - 26 Jan Written by Jim Ecker

If you did not believe in the Xavier Saints before they played at Linn-Mar on Tuesday night, it's time to start.

The Saints put on a sterling performance and whipped the Lions for the third straight year at Linn-Mar, this time 68-63 in the Metro Game of the Year so far.

Xavier is ranked No. 2 in Class 3A by the Associated Press and Linn-Mar is ranked No. 6 in Class 4A, but this game belonged to the gritty Saints who have taken dead aim on the first Mississippi Valley Conference title in school history.

"It's a quality win," Xavier coach Ryan Luehrsmann said. "Anytime you beat a program that's as strong as they are -- and well-coached -- you have to feel good about it.

"I'm really happy with our kids. They just stuck together, showed some toughness and battled it out. That's what you have to do on the road in the MVC."

Xavier trailed 54-49 with less than four minutes remaining, but the Saints went on an 8-0 run and outscored the Lions 19-9 coming down the stretch to emerge with the victory.

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Last Updated on Wednesday, 27 January 2016 09:36

Xavier boys climb to No. 2 in rankings

Mon - 25 Jan Written by Jim Ecker

These are heady times for the Xavier boys basketball team.

The Saints climbed to No. 2 in the Class 3A rankings by the Associated Press Monday after collecting two more wins last week.

The Saints (11-2) were ranked No. 3 a week ago, but they jumped ahead of Dubuque Wahlert this week after the Golden Eagles lost to Linn-Mar Friday night.

Pella (12-1) is ranked No. 1 in Class 3A and received 15 first-place votes. Xavier and Wahlert both received one vote for first place from the state-wide panel.

Linn-Mar (9-3) jumped two spots to No. 6 in the Class 4A poll on the strength of its big victories last week over Ankeny and Wahlert. All-state guard Jordan Bohannon put on a show in both of those games, netting 37 points in the overtime victory at Ankeny and 35 points against Wahlert.

Xavier enjoyed the best season in school history last year when it finished third at the state tournament with an 18-9 record, but the Saints graduated 76.7 percent of their points and 83.4 percent of their rebounds and expectations were fairly low this season with four new starters.

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Techau, Joens lead No.3 Saints

Sun - 24 Jan Written by Metro Sports Report

Max Techau scored 17 points Saturday afternoon and Jackson Joens netted 16 as the third-ranked Xavier Saints spanked Muscatine, 73-51, in a non-conference basketball game at Xavier.

The Saints raised their record to 11-2.

Techau grabbed seven rebounds for Xavier. Matt Mims contributed five points, six steals and six assists.

The Saints owned a commanding 35-15 lead at halftime.

XAVIER (73): Schulte 0 0-0 0, Burns 0 0-0 0, Burger 3 0-0 7, Mims 2 1-2 5, Butowski 3 1-1 9, Fettkether 0 0-0 0, Whitten 1 0-2 2, Joens 6 2-2 16, Demplewolf 0 0-0 0, Stulken 4 0-2 9, Houtakker 2 0-0 6, Lux 0 0-0 0, Techau 7 2-3 17, Johnson 1 0-0 2. Totals 29 6-12 73.

Halftime - Xavier 35, Muscatine 15. 3-point goals - Xavier 9 (Butowski, Joens 2, Houtakker 2, Burger 1, Stulken 1, Techau 1).

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Lembeck, Gerke lead Xavier grapplers

Sat - 23 Jan Written by Metro Sports Report

IOWA CITY - Clint Lembeck and Josh Gerke finished with 5-0 records for the Xavier wrestling team Saturday at the Clyde Bean Dual Tournament at Iowa City High.

Lembeck collected four pins and a major decision while Gerke had four pins and a technical fall. Both of them were named to the all-tournament team.

Xavier finished with a 2-3 record in the tournament and placed fourth out of six teams. The Saints defeated Oskaloosa and Muscatine, with losses to Iowa City High, Decorah and Keokuk.

Alex Francois went 4-1 for the Saints with four pins. Keegan Schultschik and Tommy Pudil went 3-2. Schultschik had two pins.

XAVIER 54, OSKALOOSA 30

106 - Peter Kennedy (X) won by forfeit
113 - Jeff Vipond (X) pinned Josh Diehl, 4:43
120 - Talon Munger (O) pinned Jaxson Konzen, 1:59
126 - Keegan Schultschik (X) pinned Kaia Graham, 1:39
132 - Drew Sams (O) pinned JP Segura, 0:34
138 - Clint Lembeck (X) pinned Zaiyan Mamun, 0:43
145 - Christian Klein (X) won by forfeit
152 - Josh Gerke (X) pinned Andy Bonilla, 1:42
160 - Braden Beerbower (O) pinned Jon Bell, 2:20
170 - Jason Beebe (O) pinned Sam Lampe, 0:39
182 - Kyle Krezek (X) won by forfeit
195 - Erik Rodriguez (X) pinned Tyson Breuklander, 3:22
220 - Callan Tomlin (O) pinned Alex Francois, 2:48
285 - Tommy Pudil (X) won by forfeit