Metro Sports Report

RoughRiders drop shootout in Waterloo

WATERLOO - The Waterloo Black Hawks trimmed the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, 4-3, in a shootout Thursday night in a USHL game before 3,056 fans at Young Arena in Waterloo.

The score was tied, 3-3, after three periods and neither team scored in overtime.

Waterloo won the three-man Shootout, 1-0, on a goal by Ronnie Hein. Ross Colton, Cal Burke and Hugh McGing of the RoughRiders failed to connect in the Shootout in one-on-one attempts against the Waterloo goalie.

Colton, McGing and Sam Sternschein scored for Cedar Rapids in regulation.

The RoughRiders were credited with one point in the USHL standings for the shootout and now have 37 points. They trail Dubuque by one point in the Eastern Conference standings.

Saints could be team to watch in 2016

If you're looking for a high school basketball team to follow all the way to the state tournament in Des Moines this March, the Xavier boys could be it.

The Saints have the size, playmakers, talent and coaching to go a long way in the Class 3A tournament this season. That's somewhat of a surprise, considering the Saints graduated four starters - including three who are playing basketball in college this season - but has rebuilt the team in a hurry.

The Metro area has some talented Class 4A clubs as well with Linn-Mar, Washington, Kennedy and Prairie, so don't count any of them out as we head into the new year and the heart of the campaign.

Xavier finished third in the Class 3A state tournament last year, but Adam McDermott, Calvin Winker and Michael Mims left for college ball and Connor Ramlo left for Division I soccer. The Saints looked like an ordinary club when they lost to Kennedy at home this season, but they were still trying to put the pieces together at that point.

If you saw the Saints drill Davenport Assumption right before the holiday break, you saw a ballclub that could do some serious damage this season. The Saints (5-1) are ranked No. 4 in Class 3A and look like a club that could go a long way.

Hayden wins Metro Spotlight Award

Sydney Hayden of Cedar Rapids Kennedy is the winner of the Metro Spotlight Award for high school girls this week, the Metro Sports Report announced Sunday.

Hayden, a 5-foot-5 senior, has been a major factor for the Kennedy basketball team this season with her outside shooting, ballhandling and defense. She is averaging 13.9 points and leads Class 5A with 38 3-pointers in 10 games.

Williams wins Metro Spotlight Award

Laveechie Williams of Cedar Rapids Washington is the winner of the Metro Spotlight Award for high school boys this week, the Metro Sports Report announced Sunday.

Williams, a 6-foot-5 senior, has blossomed into one of the top basketball players in the Mississippi Valley Conference this season. He is averaging a double-double with 14.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game despite playing with a broken nose.