Metro Sports Report

Inspired Mustangs earn trip to NAIA tourney

A season that began with a horrible tragedy has turned into a year of glory and remembrance for the Mount Mercy University men's basketball team.

Inspired all season by the death of teammate Danny DeBacker in September, the Mustangs pulled together and have accomplished one of the most remarkable seasons in school history.

The 13th-ranked Mustangs overcame serious foul problems Sunday night and dispatched William Penn, 93-76, in the championship game of the Midwest Collegiate Conference tournament at the Hennessey Recreation Center to claim the program's third trip to the NAIA Division II nationals.

Picked to finish last in the league, the Mustangs instead have compiled a 26-4 overall record and captured the MCC regular-season and tournament titles. They have the plaque, the championship banner and the deep feelings to prove it.

"If you would have told us September 1st that this would be happening, I would have called you crazy," said senior Jake Misener. "But September 29th, after Danny passed, I knew for a fact it was going to be something like this.

"It's jut amazing," said Misener. "It's been crazy, some of the stuff that's been happening. And to think he hasn't been at every single game with us is ludicrous. He's been looking. It's awesome. It's amazing. And he's been a part of it every single day."

Muhl nets 19th ICCAC title with Eagles

Tyra Polite was looking forward to helping the Kirkwood women's basketball team compete for the regional title this season and a possible run at the national tournament, but that's not how it turned out for the talented 5-foot-9 sophomore from Pennsylvania.

Polite spent the final game of the regular season at the end of the Kirkwood bench Saturday with a broken bone in her ankle and crutches at her side, done for the year with an untimely injury that has finished her career with the Eagles.

Kirkwood defeated Iowa Central without her, 63-48, and will be the No. 1 seed for the regional tournament, but Polite's absence is a big loss for the seventh-ranked Eagles.

"Leadership," said Kirkwood Coach Kim Muhl, pointing to Polite's best attribute. "She's left-handed, she's our assist leader, she'd hit a three. She was just good with the ball."

No. 9 Eagles crush Iowa Central by 50

The Kirkwood men's basketball team will be riding a wave of confidence into the regional tournament after crushing Iowa Central, 95-45, in the final game of the regular season at Johnson Hall Saturday.

It was Kirkwood's most lopsided victory in the ICCAC conference this season and lifted the ninth-ranked Eagles to a 23-6 overall record heading into the postseason. The Eagles finished second in the league with a 9-3 record behind DMACC.

Kirkwood will host Iowa Lakes (16-14) in the quarterfinals of the Region XI NJCAA Division II tournament Tuesday at 7:30. The Kirkwood women will meet Ellsworth in the first tournament game Tuesday at 5:30.

Mount Mercy women sail into finals

DES MOINES - The Mount Mercy women's basketball team dumped Grand View, 71-51, in the semifinals of the Midwest Collegiate Conference tournament Saturday and is now one victory away from reaching the NAIA Division II national tournament.

The surging Mustangs (19-13) will host Clarke (19-12) in the MCC tournament finals Monday at 7 p.m. at the Hennessey Recreation Center.

Mount Mercy knocked off the No. 2 seed Saturday when it whipped Grand View by 20 points. Now the Mustangs - seeded No. 3 for the tournament - will be facing the No. 4 seed in Clarke for the title.

Abby Herb poured in 22 points for Mount Mercy against Grand View. Alisa Weiland and Paige Last scored 10 points apiece. Christa Oldham had eight points and eight rebounds. Makenzie Zeitler provided six points and seven rebounds.