Metro Sports Report

Angry J-Hawks stick Kennedy, 39-21

The Jefferson J-Hawks sent a clear message to all the wrestling coaches in Iowa who pooped all over them in the latest IWCOA rankings.

You guys were dead wrong.

The angry J-Hawks captured nine of 14 bouts Thursday night and defeated Kennedy, 39-21, in a dramatic Mississippi Valley Conference showdown at the Jefferson gym.

The coaches who vote in the IWCOA rankings dropped Jefferson from No. 5 to No. 9 in the poll that was used by the IHSAA to determine the assignments for the regional dual meet tournaments next Wednesday. At the same time, the coaches lifted Kennedy from No. 9 to No. 7 and effectively gave the Cougars a nice assignment at home in the regional tournament while shipping Jefferson to Johnston.

The top eight teams in the IWCOA rankings get to host the regionals and everyone else has to travel. Jefferson drew a tough assignment in the regional at Johnston that features the fifth-ranked Johnston Dragons and Dowling Catholic.

J-Hawks dumped by No. 2 IC West

Jefferson coach Brandon Horman thought about ways to slow down Iowa City West, but none of them seemed to be a good option.

So he let his J-Hawks run with the state’s second-ranked team and they literally got run out of their own gym Friday night.

Scoring one way or another nearly every time they had the ball, the tall and fast Trojans stampeded Jefferson 102-74. And that was even with subs playing the last couple of minutes.

Horman said he considered several defensive ploys, including a full-court press and a zone defense.

"But they get down the floor in about a half-second,” he said, “and they can shoot over the zone.

“Really, it’s tough to slow down a team as good as Iowa City West.”

Jean Berger named director of IGHSAU

The Board of Directors of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union have selected Winterset native Jean Berger as the organization’s fifth executive director.  Berger succeeds Mike Dick, who is retiring Aug. 31.

“We are pleased to announce that Jean Berger will be the next leader of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union,” said IGHSAU Board of Directors president Roger Francis. “Jean brings a wealth of administrative experience to the IGHSAU. The future of the Iowa Girl is very bright with Jean leading our organization.”

Berger currently serves as the Interim Director of Athletics at the University of Northern Iowa, succeeding former IGHSAU Executive Director Troy Dannen.

“I am honored, humbled and very excited to be selected as the next Executive Director of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union” said Berger. “I am looking forward to working with the IGHSAU board of directors and staff along with all of the athletic administrators and coaches in Iowa.”

Berger has been at Northern Iowa since 2008. She is the supervisor for five Panther sports: women’s basketball, softball, tennis, soccer and volleyball. She oversees academic services and athletic training while monitoring Northern Iowa’s gender equity plans.

No. 21 Mustangs top Saint Ambrose

The Mount Mercy men's basketball team took a step in the right direction Wednesday night.

Alex Houston muscled in 22 points and grabbed eight rebounds as the 21st-ranked Mustangs defeated Saint Ambrose, 84-73, in an NAIA game at the Hennessey Recreation Center.

Mount Mercy got burned for 99 points in a 99-92 loss to Waldorf in its previous game last Thursday and Coach Aaron Jennings put a heavy emphasis on the defensive end of the floor in the practices since then.

"The whole practice," Houston reported about the club's renewed emphasis on trying to stop people from scoring. "Defense is going to win the game.

"Communication is key," he said. "Communication will eliminate a lot of things, with switches and stuff. Communication is our main focus right now on defense."