Class 1A, 2A district finals on tap for boys basketball

CEDAR RAPIDS - Once you get to the district final round in Class 1A and 2A boys basketball, all the games are ones to watch.

But we chopped the 10 games involving Gazette-area schools in half here for our daily “Five To Watch” segment.

All games Tuesday night begin at 7 p.m. Enjoy!

Montezuma (20-4) at Lynnville-Sully (23-0)

Class 1A District 7 final

These South Iowa Cedar League rivals played once in the regular season. It was at Montezuma, and Lynnville-Sully won, 58-51. That game was January 15 and was Lynnville-Sully’s closest so far. Montezuma’s Brady Boulton has had a wonderful career, surpassing 2,000 points. He’ll need to be at his best here.

South Winneshiek (20-3) at Wapsie Valley (17-7)

Class 1A District 4 final

These teams played back on January 15 at Fairbank (OK, rural Fairbank), with Wapsie Valley capturing a 78-61 victory. Has South Winneshiek closed the gap on the Warriors since then? Has it closed the gap by 17 or 18 points? The Warriors won nine of 10 since that defeat, the only loss coming to Class 2A Waukon. Five of Wapsie Valley’s seven losses are to teams still alive in the postseason, including four still in the hunt in Class 2A. The North Iowa Cedar League is tough.

Cascade (15-7) at Monticello (16-6)

Class 2A District 8 final

These neighboring communities along Highway 20 always provide good basketball games. They played twice in the regular season, with Monticello winning both of them: 60-57 at Cascade and 49-41 at home. Individually, this is a matchup of the Co-MVPs in the River Valley Conference’s East Division in Mick Hoffman of Cascade and Conley Schauf of Monticello. Look for a slower-paced game and a tight one.

Dyersville Beckman (13-10) at Denver (15-7)

Class 2A District 6 final

If you are looking for an “upset,” maybe this is the game. Maybe. Yes, Denver is the top district seed and part of a really good North Iowa Cedar League, but the Cyclones had a four-game losing streak late in the regular season. And Beckman looked really good in a district semifinal win at second-seeded Alburnett last week, 59-33. The Blazers have been beset by injury and illness, but finally have everyone together. That includes head coach Michael Molony, who coached against Alburnett despite a case of the stomach flu.

Waterloo Columbus (14-8) at Union Community (20-3)

Class 2A District 11 final

Here’s another game that is a rematch from the regular season. These teams met way back Dec. 16 in LaPorte City, with Union coming out on top, 65-54. Eighth-ranked Union lost its second game of the season (to Wapsie Valley), then went on a school-record 18-game win streak before falling to sixth-ranked Aplington-Parkersburg and unranked South Hardin back to back. It rebounded by handing fifth-ranked Grundy Center its only loss so far. All of Columbus’ losses have been to teams still kicking in the postseason, including Waterloo West, which is a 4A school.

Other 1A district finals in the area

Hillcrest Academy (20-4) at Calamus-Wheatland (22-2)

Maquoketa Valley (19-5) at Bellevue (20-3)

Springville (15-8) at Bellevue Marquette (21-2)

Other 2A district finals in the area

Central Lee (15-7) at Iowa City Regina (20-1)

Mid-Prairie (16-6) at Northeast Goose Lake (16-7)

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Here is the entire Tuesday schedule for Class 1A and Class 2A.

CLASS 1A DISTRICT FINALS

Area

Hillcrest Academy (20-4) at Calamus-Wheatland (22-2)

Maquoketa Valley (19-5) at Bellevue (20-3)

Montezuma (20-4) at Lynnville-Sully (23-0)

South Winneshiek (20-3) at Wapsie Valley (17-7)

Springville (15-8) at Bellevue Marquette (21-2)

State

Ankeny Christian (20-4) at Fort Dodge St. Edmond (21-2)

Audubon (15-9) at Coon Rapids-Bayard (22-1)

Baxter (19-5) at East Marshall (17-6)

Fort Madison Holy Trinity (16-7) at Burlington Notre Dame (22-2)

LeMars Gehlen (16-7) at Boyden-Hull (16-7)

Martensdale-St. Mary’s (18-6) at Madrid (19-4)

Nashua-Plainfield (18-6) at Algona Garrigan (21-2)

North Union (14-9) at Belmond-Klemme (17-5)

Oakland Riverside (13-10) at Bedford (19-4)

Sibley-Ocheyedan (15-8) at Marcus MMCRU (23-1)

Woodbine (15-8) at Council Bluffs St. Albert (19-5)

CLASS 2A DISTRICT FINALS

Area

Cascade (15-7) at Monticello (16-6)

Central Lee (15-7) at Iowa City Regina (20-1)

Dyersville Beckman (13-10) at Denver (15-7)

Mid-Prairie (16-6) at Northeast Goose Lake (16-7)

Waterloo Columbus (14-8) at Union Community (20-3)

State

Cherokee (15-6) at Tri-Center (20-2)

Clarion-Goldfield-Dows (15-8) at Southeast Valley (20-1)

Crestwood (18-5) at Aplington-Parkersburg (20-3)

Garner-Hayfield-Ventura (9-15) at Roland-Story (17-5)

Grand View Christian (13-9) at Pella Christian (12-10)

OABCIG (17-5) at Underwood (18-4)

Ridge View (19-4) at Treynor (20-3)

Rock Valley (15-8) at Western Christian (16-6)

South Hardin (13-9) at Carroll Kuemper (20-3)

Van Meter (14-8) vs. Grundy Center or Pleasantville

West Lyon (11-12) at Orange City Unity Christian (20-2)

Comments: (319)-398-8258, jeff.johnson@thegazette.com