Metro Sports Report

Washington's Colby Bjornsen (12) squeezes off a shot over the top of Waukee's Anna Kollmorgen during Tuesday night's Class 5A regional tournament final at Ankeny. Bjornsen hit a pair of clutch 3-pointers and scored 11 points to help the Warriors upset No.6 Waukee, 61-54. (Photo by Ken Gilchrist)

Tough Wash girls earn trip to state

Tue - 19 Feb Written by Jim Ecker

ANKENY - Cedar Rapids Washington Coach Frank Howell read the girls on his basketball team a 10-page paper on toughness a few weeks ago.

The lesson paid off beautifully Tuesday night.

The Warriors carved their way through several layers of adversity and whipped No.6 Waukee, 61-54, in the Class 5A regional finals to earn a spot in the state tournament next week in Des Moines.

Washington (17-6) will face second-ranked Ankeny (19-4) in the opening round next Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. at Wells Fargo Arena.

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Xavier's Ashley Stulken (50) deflects an inbounds pass from Washington's Johannah Vittetoe during the second quarter of Tuesday's Class 4A regional final at Kennedy. The deflection turned into a turnover that the Saints converted into two points en route to a 51-15 victory. (Photo by Joe Bishop)

Xavier destroys Demons for state berth

Tue - 19 Feb Written by Tom Fruehling

Just like the Xavier girls, players from Washington, Iowa, pass a baton to one another when coming in and out of the game.

That’s where the resemblance between two teams ended Tuesday night at Kennedy.

In a David versus Goliath match-up (or, if you will, Demons versus Saints), heavily favored Xavier crushed its underdog foe 51-15 to earn a trip to the Class 4A state tourney next week in Des Moines.

It is Xavier's second straight tourney berth and will be the 10th tournament appearance for the Saints since the school opened 15 years ago.

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Washington's Austin Bergstrom (4) plays in your face defense against Kennedy's Anthony Carter during Monday night's Class 4A substate quarterfinal game at Kennedy. Bergstrom scored 11 points and Washington beat Kennedy for the third time this season, 48-42. (Photo by Ken Gilchrist)

Sanchez has special feeling again

Mon - 18 Feb Written by Jim Ecker

Adam Sanchez sat on the bench as a graduate assistant coach at Drake University five years ago when the Bulldogs had their magical 28-5 season, cracked the national rankings and reached the NCAA tournament for the first time in eons.

The rookie head coach had that special feeling again Monday night after his upstart Washington Warriors clipped Kennedy, 48-42, in the quarterfinals of the Class 4A substate tournament at Kennedy.

The Warriors (7-15) did not win a single game last season, but they're feeling good about themselves heading into Friday's encounter with No.3 Western Dubuque (21-0) in the semifinals at Epworth.

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Jefferson's Jacob Olson (2) puts up a floater out of the lane for two of his 28 points Monday night in a Class 4A substate quarterfinal game at Jefferson. The J-Hawks won, 79-57. (Photo by Joe Bishop)

Jefferson thumps Ottumwa

Mon - 18 Feb Written by Don Taylor

Jefferson hosted Ottumwa in a Class 4A substate quarterfinal boys basketball game Monday night and came away with a decisive 79-57 victory.

The J-Hawks (12-10) came out aggressively and built a 19-4 lead by the end of the first quarter and eased to the victory from there.

“Offensively we moved the ball pretty well and we got some good looks,” said Jefferson Coach Stu Ordman. “We aren’t used to building that kind of a lead; I got a little worried about keeping our intensity.

“We decided to man up to begin the second half to keep everybody focused. We trapped their wings and (Creighton) Robinson and (Jacob) Olson collected a few turnovers that resulted in points.”

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Xavier's Matt Nelson (32) battles Clinton's Jalen Jones (23) for a rebound during Monday night's Class 4A substate quarterfinal at Xavier. Nelson scored 16 points and the Saints won easily, 73-38. (Photo by Justin Tedford)

McDermott, Saints shoot down Clinton

Mon - 18 Feb Written by Mike Koolbeck

Adam McDermott made his first shot.

Then he made his second, third, fourth and fifth.

"You just keep firing away," said McDermott, whose 14-point flurry in the first quarter propelled Xavier to a 23-4 lead. The Saints rolled over Clinton, 73-38, Monday night in a Class 4A substate quarterfinal boys basketball game at Xavier.

Xavier (11-11) advances to play No.4 Dubuque Senior (20-1) Friday at Dubuque. The Saints lost a 42-34 game to the Rams at Dubuque on Jan. 29.

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