Metro Sports Report

Paige is Metro's top basketball player

The conversation may continue about whether Marcus Paige is the best boys basketball player ever in Metro history.

But there is no doubt about who was the best boys basketball player in the Metro this season.

Paige, who was tabbed the best player in the state earlier in the week when he was named Mr. Basketball, was announced as Metro Player of the Year on Wednesday.

Niemeyer steps down as Jeff girls coach

Larry Niemeyer announced Tuesday that he has resigned as girls basketball coach at Jefferson High School.

Niemeyer, 74, told The Gazette and KCRG that he was stepping down after 34 years at Jefferson, where his teams compiled a 537-261 mark, including a state title in 1993. He also coached at Adel and has a 52-year career mark of 871-352. The 871 wins rank third in state history behind Gene Klinge and Bob Mullen.

District investigating Lombardi complaints

The Cedar Rapids Community School District is investigating a complaint filed by parents of Cedar Rapids Washington students against Washington coach Tony Lombardi.

Some of the parents involved with the complaint met Tuesday evening with Jill Cirivello, the executive director for human resources for the school district, along with two attorneys who are assisting the school district with the probe.

Washington parents have complained that Lombardi, the school's football coach since 2006, has used inappropriate language in his dealings with their children in his official capacity as a teacher and coach at the high school.

Boys tourney week and 'Mr. Basketball'

The Boys State Basketball Tournament is in the rear-view mirror and we now look ahead to the spring sports season, thanks in part to the record temperatures this week!

Let's take a look back at what we saw.

The 100th Anniversary Tournament was an unusual one. The week was chock-full of blowouts, yet will be remembered for several great games that will go down in the annals of history in Des Moines. Of the 32 games played during the week, a total of 20 were decided by 15 points or more.

But, four beauties will stand out. Well. maybe three beauties and a game a lot of folks around Boone would like to rewrite.