Metro Sports Report

Hembera leads Metro girls in scoring

Fri - 28 Dec Written by Jim Ecker

The leading scorer among all the girls basketball players in the Metro area does not play for one of the big Mississippi Valley Conference schools.

In fact, she plays for one of the smallest schools in the state.

Shelby Hembera, a slender 6-foot sophomore, leads the Metro in scoring at the holiday break with a 19.7 average for Cedar Valley Christian.

Hembera ranks second in Class 1A in scoring and is seventh overall in the state, according to the IGHSAU.

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Kirkwood women earn date with No.1 team

Fri - 28 Dec Written by Metro Sports Report

EAST PEORIA, Ill. - Kianna Jacobs scored 21 points and grabbed eight rebounds Friday as Kirkwood pulled away from Cincinnati State, 75-60, in the opening round of the Illinois Central Classic.

The 7th-ranked Eagles (11-3) will face top-ranked Lake Michigan (10-1) in the semifinals at 6 p.m. on Saturday.

Kirkwood led 31-30 at halftime, but Jacobs, Friday Chuol and Whitney Henderson combined for 26 points in the second half to help secure the victory.

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Jacob Olson scores two of his 31 points in a game earlier this month at Washington. Olson scored but 28 points all last season, but leads the Metro in scoring this season with an 18.6 average. (Photo by Ken Gilchrist)

Olson leads Metro and MVC in scoring

Thu - 27 Dec Written by Jim Ecker

Jacob Olson scored a total of 28 points for the Cedar Rapids Jefferson boys basketball team last season and averaged just 1.4 per game.

He scored more points than that in a single outing last week when he poured in 31 markers in a victory over Cedar Rapids Washington.

Olson, a 5-foot-10 junior, leads all Metro players in scoring this season and also leads the entire Mississippi Valley Conference at a healthy 18.6 points per outing at the holiday break, according to the IHSAA.

Jefferson Coach Stu Ordman said Olson has a high basketball IQ and basketball "savvy," helping him capitalize on opportunities as the team's point guard.

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Holiday wishes from the Metro Sports Report

Tue - 25 Dec Written by Jim Ecker

The Metro Sports Report would like to extend 1,931,136 holiday wishes to all of our friends this year.

That's how many pageviews we've had since we launched our website on Jan. 3, 2011, as of 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve.

Mike Koolbeck and I did not have the time to send 1,931,136 cards and thank-you notes to all of you, so please accept these friendly words instead from the MSR co-owners.

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Kirkwood women playing in top event

Thu - 27 Dec Written by Metro Sports Report

EAST PEORIA, Ill. - The Kirkwood women's basketball team will play in the prestigious Illinois Central Classic this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The eight-team holiday tournament features four teams that are ranked in the latest NJCAA Division II poll with No.1 Lake Michigan, No.7 Kirkwood, No.8 Illinois Central and No.13 South Suburban Chicago.

The Eagles (10-3) will face Cincinnati State (11-1) in the first round at 4 p.m. Friday and could face top-ranked Lake Michigan (9-1) on Saturday.

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