Metro Sports Report

Wash, Linn-Mar familiar faces at girls state

It seems like you can't hold a girls state basketball tournament these days without inviting Linn-Mar or Washington -- or both.

This is one of those "both" years.

Linn-Mar qualified for the Class 4A state tournament in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010 and again this year. Washington made it to Des Moines in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and again this season.

This is the seventh straight year the Lions or Warriors -- or both -- have played in the state tournament. They've made a total of 10 trips to Des Moines during that span -- five trips apiece -- but ironically they've never played each other in Des Moines during that span.

That could change this week.

If Linn-Mar and Washington both win their opening-round games at the state tournament Wednesday, they'll clash in Friday's semifinals at noon at Wells Fargo Arena.

Getting to the semifinals won't be easy, however.

Two women, two daughters, one dream

Two women, seemingly not so much alike.

Julie Saddler, 47, is a doctor, an anesthesiologist who started medical school at the University of Iowa in her early 30s, long after first getting her college degree in business and working as an airline flight attendant.

She lives in a big, new home on the outskirts of Marion.

Sylvia Dawson, 48, is a civil servant, a senior clerk in the office of the Linn District Court criminal division who began working there 31 years ago right out of high school.

She lives more modestly in the Polk elementary school district in midtown Cedar Rapids.

They’ve both been divorced for a number of years. They’re small town girls, Julie from Anamosa  and Sylvia from Alburnett.

Bonded six years ago through their basketball playing daughters, both will be in the bleachers Wednesday morning at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines for the girls state basketball tournament.

When the Washington Warriors play first, at 10 a.m. against Iowa City West, the two friends will be rooting for Sylvia’s daughter, Tia Dawson.

Then, when the Lions of Linn-Mar take the floor with Ankeny at 11:45 a.m., they’ll be clapping for Julie’s daughter, Kiah Stokes.

Two tall and slender girls, with much in common besides unique and similar-sounding first names.

Best birthday present? A trip to state

Kasey Semler got the only present he wanted for his 18th birthday Monday night at the U.S. Cellular Center.

He can thank Dusty Albaugh and the rest of his buddies on the Marion High School basketball team for giving him a trip to the Class 3A state tournament in Des Moines.

Albaugh popped in 21 points and Semler netted 15 as the Indians trimmed Benton Community, 48-44, in the Class 3A substate finals before several thousand fans in downtown Cedar Rapids.

Marion (17-7) will face No.1 Waverly-Shell Rock (24-0) in the first round of the Class 3A state tournament on Tuesday, March 8 at 3:30 p.m. at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

Marion is seeded eighth in the eight-team tournament and Waverly-Shell Rock is seeded No.1, but the Indians embraced the challenge of facing the favorite club.

"We'll be ready to go," vowed Albaugh, who popped in four 3-pointers. "We want to see the best. We want to match ourselves up with them. It will be a good game."

It certainly was a good birthday for Semler, who played in the 2009 state tournament as a sophomore and was itching for icing on his cake Monday night.

Linn-Mar boys eye spot in state history

The Linn-Mar Lions can make history Tuesday night if they beat North Scott and earn their eighth straight trip to the boys state basketball tournament.

Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 Tuesday night at the U.S. Cellular Center in downtown Cedar Rapids.

Linn-Mar is currently tied with Cedar Rapids Regis for the longest streak in history with seven consecutive trips to state. Regis, which combined with LaSalle to form Xavier High School in 1998, made seven straight trips from 1989 through 1995.

Davenport High School (1947 through 1952) and Hull Western Christian (1988 through 1993) made six straight trips to the boys state basketball tournament, according to records posted on the IHSAA website.

Linn-Mar began its streak when it won the Class 4A title in 2004. The Lions also won the 4A crown in 2007. They finished second in 2005 and 2009, placed third in 2008 and 2010, and were fourth in 2006.