A record setting performance highlighted the opening round at the John Deere Classic in the Quad Cities. George McNeilly reports.

Hayden Springer tied a tournament record with a 12-under 59. He has made only six of 18 cuts this season.

Springer was thinking about a course record after shooting eight under on the front nine.

Springer on his round.

The CAM Cougars baseball team had a dramatic 8-7 win over the Riverside Bulldogs on Saturday night in the first round of the 1A Substate 2 postseason tournament. The 1st inning saw no runs come in for either side as the bats seemed slow to wake up. Then in the top of the 2nd Riverside scored 2 runs thanks to a 2 RBI single to put them up 2-0. The Cougars then had a 3-run response in the bottom of the 2nd from a Kegan Croghan sac fly, RBI single towards left field by Austin Eblen, and an RBI base hit up center field from Carson Mckee to give CAM their first lead of the day at 3-2. Riverside tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the 3rd with an error thrown towards first, allowing Mason McCready to slide home. The Cougars did gain the lead again in the bottom of the 3rd with a base hit towards second by Lukas James and a mistimed throw towards home, being unable to throw Jack Follmann out. The top of the 4th saw Riverside create another stalemate the with Keaton Rieken brining in the tying run after being hit by a pitch, making it 4-4.

The Bulldogs created space in the top of the 6th, when McCready hit a single at left field to bring Hough home creating a 5-4 lead. The Cougars countered in the bottom of the 6th with an RBI single through Carson McKee and a sac fly via Bradyen Chester give CAM the lead once more at 6-5 as it headed into the 7th. Riverside knew time was running out and witnessed Cole Jeppsen initiate the inning with a single. Kyler Rieken also reached first on a bobbled fielder’s choice to put the go ahead run at 1st base. Two crucial errors from the infield allowed Cole Jeppsen and Kyler Rieken to both get home, putting Riverside up again 7-6. The Cougar’s initial response in the bottom of the 7th was 3 base hits in a row to load the bases. Lukas James took the walk to bring the tying run in at 7-7 and Croghan had the walk off ground hit towards second to give CAM an 8-7 win at home.

Cougars head coach Drew Ticknor explained how Saturday’s win came from his team’s grit.

CAM had multiple players stand out like Carson McKee who went 2-4 with 2 RBI’s and Brayden Chester going 1-4 with a double and RBI. But coach Ticknor respected the way relief pitcher Brody Paulsen got the win for his team pitching 3 2/3 innings, giving up 3 runs, 3 hits, 3 strikeouts, and 1 walk.

CAM’s victory in the first round of their substate will have them play Woodbury Central next Tuesday in Moville. It’s a game coach Ticknor will not take lightly.

Riverside’s loss in the post season ends their season at a record of 8-14.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – University of Iowa guard Lucy Olsen was named to the women’s 2024 USA 3×3 Nations Leagues team USA Basketball announced on Friday. The squad is set to compete at the 2024 FIBA 3×3 Nations League Americas Conference July 22-28 in Mexico City.

The 2024 USA 3×3 Women’s Nations League Team features NCAA Division I athletes, including Christina Dalce (University of Maryland), Morgan Maly (Creighton University), Cotie McMahon (Ohio State University), Lucy Olsen (University of Iowa, Mikaylah Williams (LSU) and Serah Williams (University of Wisconsin).

In April, Dalce, Olsen and Mikaylah Williams participated in the 2024 USA Basketball 3×3 Women’s National Team training camp in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Dalce, Maly and Olsen competed at the 2023 FIBA 3×3 U21 Nations League, qualifying for and eventually winning the 2023 FIBA 3×3 Nations League Final as representatives of the USA U21 squad.

Per FIBA, the seventh edition of the 3×3 Nations League will feature 13 conferences including U23 and U21 teams. The 2024 FIBA 3×3 Nations League includes seven conferences from Europe, including three U21, two from Africa and Asia, and one each from Americas and U21 Asia-Pacific.

The Americas Conference will feature six three-game tournaments in seven days. The six team members can substitute as needed for each day’s four-person entry.

For the first time, the FIBA 3×3 Nations League will be a qualification route to the FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup 2024. Conference winners will qualify for the event, set for Sept. 11-15 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The 2024 FIBA 3×3 U23 Nations League will stream live on YouTube.

Different than five-on-five, 3×3 is played on a half-court with a 10-minute game clock and 12-second shot clock. Play is continuous, as teams “clear” the ball behind the 2-point line following a made basketball, defensive rebound or steal. The first team to score 21 points via 1-pointer field goals or 2-pointers behind the arc is victorious; or if time expires then the team leading wins.

LEVERKUSEN, Germany – Iowa State women’s basketball alum Hannah Belanger has signed WINGS Leverkusen to begin her professional career. Belanger played one season at Iowa State following an impressive four-year career at Truman State.

Belanger played in all 33 games for the Cyclones while making 32 starts. She averaged 9.3 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game while shooting nearly 39 percent from 3-point range. Belanger also finished her career with 2,189 points and 368 made triples.

“We are all excited for Hannah as she signs her professional contract.  In one year, she made a huge impact on and off the court at Iowa State,” said Iowa State women’s basketball head coach Bill Fennelly. “It is exciting to see this dream of hers become a reality.”

She will make the move overseas in August while WINGS begins regular season play on September 30.