Metro Sports Report

Late game heroics save Marion boys

Sub-par shooting didn’t stop middle school girls with Indian jerseys and war-painted faces from asking to pose for photos with Dusty Albaugh and Kasey Semler after Wednesday night’s game.

For the Marion seniors are not only teen heartthrobs, they’re bona fide stars.

With the white-knuckler of a game with Center Point-Urbana on the line, knotted-up with just seconds to go, it was Albaugh and Semler who pulled it out for their team.

“It’s fitting that it was the two of them that came through in the end,” said Marion Coach Mike Manderscheid after the 55-51 home victory over CPU in a first round Class 3A substate matchup of Wamac rivals.

“They’ve been doing it all year.”

And they’ll likely be called on to do again when they face Mount Vernon or Independence Thursday night in a substate semifinal at Kennedy.  Independence's game against Mount Vernon scheduled for Monday night was postponed to Tuesday because of icy road conditions.

The Indians (15-7) and Stormin’ Pointers (10-12) faced each other twice in the regular season with Marion winning both, 86-78 and 72-60.

“We knew we’d get their A game,” said Albaugh. “They’re a good team, and they play hard. And, yeah, it was pretty intense.”

It was a see-saw struggle of two well-prepared, gritty fighters all night long.

McLaughlin takes over in OT for Xavier boys

OTTUMWA -- The mark of a true competitor is to never back down, come ready to play and fear no one.

The Cedar Rapids Xavier boys hoops squad got the memo.

The Saints (7-15) and Coach Matt Jenkins made the long haul down to Wapello County and promptly knocked off the Ottumwa Bulldogs, 61-54, in overtime in a Class 4A substate quarterfinal at Evans Middle School Monday night.

"Our guys just made plays. That's what it boils down to. Guys gutted it out. We sensed the moment," said Jenkins.

Up next for the Saints is the top dog in the state, in the form of undefeated and top-ranked Linn-Mar (21-0) in the substate semifinals Friday night at Linn-Mar.

Xavier is no stranger to its league rival. It played the top power in the large-school class twice and lost by 19 and 20 points, although the Saints were tied at halftime in the first fray.

"They are a phenomenal team. We wouldn't have it any other way," said Jenkins. "To be the best, you've got to beat the best. We'll see what happens."

Xavier senior point guard Mitch McLaughlin drained seven free throws in the extra session and accounted for nine points in overtime. McLaughlin talked about playing in the extremely strong Mississippi Valley Conference,­ a big reason the Saints came ready to play right off the bat.

"Everyone asked, 'What's wrong with your record?' We kind of just ignored it. We knew we were better than what we were showing," said McLaughlin, who finished with a game-high 19 points.

J-Hawk booster club has raised $1.8 million

“It’s amazing how much money can be made by selling a candy bar or bag of popcorn one item at a time,” says Mark Fiala, technology facilitator at Jefferson High School.

Is “amazing” a bit of an exaggeration?  Well, recently the Jefferson Athletic Booster Club, of which Fiala is currently president,  gave JHS athletics  a $50,000 contribution, and it was the second $50,000 check the club has given this school year. That brings the total to more than $1.8 million over the years.

 Yes, ”amazing” sums it up pretty well.

 “Vital” would work, too.  Just ask Athletics Director Scott Kibby.

The club has been in existence since the 1957-58 school year, but “Most of that ($1.8 million) has come recently,” said  Kibby, “about $800,000 in just the past nine years.”

The club’s goal is $100,000 per year. Of that $100,000, Kibby said about $60,000 is needed “just to make ends meet,” to cover operating expenses.  Hiring officials, alone, costs about $45,000 a year, he said.

J-Hawks' Herman trims Nagle for state title

DES MOINES -- Conner Herman waddled around Wells Fargo Arena at the state wrestling tournament last year as a 250-pound heavyweight. Or maybe it was 260.

"I was pretty big," he said Saturday night. "I was not the healthiest person ever."

Now he's the picture of good health, and the trimmer Cedar Rapids Jefferson senior has the Class 3A 215-pound state title as a satisfying reward.

Herman beat Ben Nagle of North Scott, 5-3 in overtime, Saturday at Wells Fargo Arena to claim Jefferson's first title since Tim Ironside won a championship for the J-Hawks in 1998.

Herman thanked Jefferson assistant coach Matt Orton, a former J-Hawk state champion himself in 1989, for "beating on me" in practice and giving him dietary advice.

Orton's advice?

"Eat stuff that spoils," Herman said. "Don't eat anything that doesn't spoil."

Nagle, ranked second in the state, tried to spoil Herman's goal of winning Jefferson's first state title in 13 years by taking a 2-0 lead with a reversal in the second period, but Herman fought back.

Herman got an escape and a takedown for a 3-2 lead with 30 seconds left in the third period, but Herman locked his hands while trying to protect the lead and was called for a penalty point to tie the match 3-3 with 11 seconds to go.

"It was a dumb move on my part," he said.