The Kennedy Cougars and Linn-Mar Lions have drawn byes in the opening round of the Class 4A boys substate basketball tournament and will have to win only two games to reach the state tournament in Des Moines, but it's certainly no cakewalk.

Kennedy might have to knock off fourth-ranked North Scott to make the state tournament and Linn-Mar might have to upset No.1 Dubuque Senior to get there.

The Class 4A substate and Class 3A district pairings were announced Wednesday by the IHSAA, and all of the Metro teams could face stiff battles.

The Xavier Saints might have to tangle with No.2 Dubuque Wahlert to reach the Class 3A state tournament.

Kennedy will play Washington or Clinton in the substate semifinals Feb. 28 at Kennedy. Jefferson is in the same substate and will meet visit Pleasant Valley in the opening round Feb. 24, with a date with North Scott waiting for the winner. The substate finals will be held March 4 at Clinton or Pleasant Valley.

Linn-Mar will meet Dubuque Hempstead or Waterloo East in the substate semifinals at Linn-Mar. The substate finals will be played at Hempstead or Western Dubuque.

Prairie will host Marshalltown in the opening round of the substate tournament, with the winner visiting No.3 Iowa City West in the semifinals.

Xavier will meet Vinton-Shellsburg and Marion will play Center Point-Urbana in the opening round of the Class 3A district tournament Feb. 24, with both games at Xavier. The winners will meet Feb. 27 at Linn-Mar in the district finals, with the substate finals set for March 3.

CLASS 4A SUBSTATE PAIRINGS

SUBSTATE NO.3

Quarterfinals
Feb. 24
Waterloo West at Cedar Falls, 7
Waterloo East at Dubuque Hempstead, 7

Semifinals
Feb. 28
Cedar Falls/Waterloo West at Dubuque Senior, 7
Hempstead/Waterloo East at Linn-Mar, 7

Finals
March 4
At Hempstead or Western Dubuque, 7

SUBSTATE NO.4

Quarterfinals
Feb. 24
Jefferson at Pleasant Valley, 7
Washington at Clinton, 7

Semifinals
Feb. 28
Jefferson/Pleasant Valley at North Scott, 7
Washington/Clinton at Kennedy, 7

Finals
March 4
At Clinton or Pleasant Valley, 7

SUBSTATE NO.6

Quarterfinals
Feb. 24
Marshalltown at Prairie, 7
Ottumwa at Newton, 7

Semifinals
Feb. 28
Prairie/Marshalltown at Iowa City West, 7
Newton/Ottumwa at Iowa City High, 7

Finals
March 4
At Prairie or Iowa City West

CLASS 3A DISTRICTS

DISTRICT 7

Semifinals
Feb. 24
Independence at Dubuque Wahlert, 8
Western Dubuque vs. West Delaware, at Wahlert, 6:30

Finals
Feb. 27
At Dubuque Senior, 7

DISTRICT 8

Semifinals
Feb. 24
Marion vs. Center-Point Urbana, at Xavier, 6:30
Vinton-Shellsburg at Xavier, 8

Finals
Feb. 27
At Linn-Mar, 7

CLASS 3A SUBSTATE FINALS
March 3
At Western Dubuque or West Delaware, 7