Metro Sports Report

KCC's Sneed bounces back at right time

Ariel Sneed was a junior college All-American for Kirkwood last season, but she's been slowed by a pair of knee injuries this year and has lost her spot in the starting lineup.

That's OK with Sneed. Compared to what she's been through in her young life, a few injuries and coming off the bench are child's play.

"I lost my grandma a few years ago. That's who raised me," Sneed said after starring for Kirkwood in the regional tournament Thursday night. "I know my mom and stuff, but I've just been kind of on my own.

"It's been tough," she said, "but I've been able to manage."

Sneed, a 6-foot sophomore from Harvey, Ill., looked like her old self Thursday as the seventh-ranked Eagles destroyed Iowa Central, 95-48, in the semifinals of the Region XI tournament at Johnson Hall.

Warriors dumped by No. 1 Trojans

Cedar Rapids Washington’s 6-foot-7, 300-pound mountain man Julian Good-Jones, scholarship-bound to Iowa State next fall to play football, knows top talent when he sees it.

And he saw plenty of it Tuesday night at the U.S. Cellular Center as his Warrior basketball team was steamrolled by unbeaten and top-ranked Iowa City West, 79-50, in a Class 4A substate final.

“They’ve got five Division I players,” a worn-out Good-Jones said with admiration afterward. “And all of them are very athletic.

"It’s hard to compete against dudes like that. They just run and gun and keep on going.”

Washington Coach Adam Sanchez thought he had a good game plan against the 23-0 Trojans, who have won three straight state championships and seem to be the team to beat again in the tournament that starts next week.

No magic for Saints against Harlan

DES MOINES - Returning to face the opponent it won a state championship against in 2013, the Xavier Saints could not find the same magic this year in the opening round of the Class 4A state tournament.

The eighth-ranked Saints lost to top-ranked Harlan, 54-31, at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

Saints never got comfortable against the Cyclones' zone defense and length inside, struggling to make shots from the opening tip until the very end. Xavier finished the year with a 17-7 record.

The story coming in was how Coach Tom Lilly would try to counteract Harlan's post tandem of Taylor Frederick and Jess Schaben. Unfortunately for him, Xavier didn't have much of an answer all night as Frederick went off for 27 points and 15 rebounds.

No. 8 Kirkwood men sink Iowa Lakes

The Kirkwood men's basketball team is healthy, playing fairly well and playing at home so far in the Region XI tournament.

It was a good combination Tuesday night.

The eighth-ranked Eagles dunked Iowa Lakes for the third time this season, 83-59, in the quarterfinals of the postseason tournament and will host the semifinals on Thursday.

Kirkwood (24-6) will play Southwestern on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Southwestern downed Iowa Central, 86-74, to advance on Tuesday night.

Jordan Ashton popped in 22 points and the Eagles got strong contributions up and down the lineup Tuesday. The Eagles have been practicing and playing for six months and have the normal amount of wear and tear, but they appear to be on an up-tick in March.