Metro Sports Report

Sharma helps Lions stifle Saints

Linn-Mar senior Niki Sharma is the kind of basketball player every good team needs.

“She does all those things that don’t show up on the stat sheet,” said her coach Jaime (Printy) Brandt Tuesday night after the resurgent Lions (14-7) smothered Xavier, 42-24, on the Saints' home floor.

A lithe and nimble 5-foot-11 forward, Sharma looks to others first, passes with precision, handles the ball easily and guards tenaciously. She’s also like a ringmaster on the court, directing traffic and shouting encouragement.

"Nikita’s the glue that holds everything together out there,” Brandt said.

Kirkwood baseball headed for chilly weekend

It was 66 degrees in Kansas City this past weekend, but those balmy temperatures will be a distant memory by the time the Kirkwood Community College baseball team gets there this week to begin the season.

The Eagles are scheduled to play a four-game series against Johnson County Community College in the Kansas City area this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The forecast for Friday is for 47 degrees, but the high temperature on Saturday is supposed to be 30 and the high on Sunday is ticketed for 37.

Kirkwood plans to leave Cedar Rapids on Thursday and play as many games as possible. Coach Todd Rima and the Eagles feel they have practiced inside long enough.

"We're excited," Rima said Monday. "You can tell it's game week. We had practice last night and the energy was there. I think we're at the point where we need to play. Put them on the field and let them go."

Metro scoring derby is red-hot

Craig Engle of Marion, Adam McDermott of Xavier and Jordan Bohannon of Linn-Mar are waging a super-tight battle for the scoring lead in Metro boys basketball this season.

The three top contenders are separated by only 9-100ths of a point with Engle at 16.61 points per game, McDermott at 16.56 and Bohannon at 16.52.

Bohannon had 11 assists against Jefferson Jan. 30, which is tied for the most in Class 4A this year. Zach Daniels of Kennedy had eight steals Jan. 20 against Johnston, which equals the best in 4A.

Injured Cedar Valley Christian star Shelby Hembera will win the Metro scoring and rebounding titles, but there's a good battle for second place in both categories between Stephanie Botkin of Kennedy and Amanda Ollinger of Linn-Mar.

Lions, Cougars, Warriors draw byes

The stage has been set for the boys basketball teams from Linn-Mar, Kennedy and Washington to play in the Class 4A substate finals at the U.S. Cellular Center on Tuesday, March 3.

Now all they have to do is win one game to get there.

Linn-Mar, Kennedy and Washington have all received first-round byes in the substate tournament. That sends all three Metro teams into the substate semifinals on Friday, Feb. 27, with the winners advancing to the substate finals.