(Radio Iowa) — Ranked fourth in the final NAIA Poll Grand View opens the national playoffs at home on Saturday against Concordia of Michigan. The Vikings closed out the season with a record of 11-0. Concordia finished 8-2 as a member of the Mid-States Football Association. Grand View was a member of the Mid-States before moving to the Heart of America Conference.

Vikings Coach Joe Woodley says home field does not guarantee anything in the playoffs but it is an advantage.

Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Trae Berhow had 20 points as Northern Iowa rolled past Cornell College 88-66 on Wednesday night. James Betz had 16 points for Northern Iowa which earned its sixth consecutive victory to open the season.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Strong defense and 21 points from Mark Smith gave Missouri the edge over Morehead State 70-52. Missouri jumped out to a 14-4 lead and kept Morehead State scoreless for a five-minute stretch.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Oskar Sundqvist and David Perron scored to lead the St. Louis Blues past the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-1, spoiling Pat Maroon’s much-anticipated return after helping his hometown team to a Stanley Cup title last season. Maroon, a St. Louis native, made his first trip back to the city since signing a one-year contract with the Lightning in the offseason.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Gibson Jimerson had 25 points as Saint Louis defeated High Point 67-55. Jordan Goodwin had 19 points and eight rebounds for Saint Louis (4-1). Hasahn French added nine points and nine rebounds. Yuri Collins had seven assists for the hosts.

The Atlantic City Council kicked-off their meeting Wednesday evening by recognizing the achievements of the Atlantic High School Swim Team. Members of the team, including Senior Anna Lowery, Freshman Alexis Reynolds, Senior Claire Christensen, Junior Dazia Sorensen, and Sophmore Aza Bruckner represented the team.

Swim team members (Left-to-right) Senior Anna Lowery, Freshman Alexis Reynolds, Senior Claire Christensen, Junior Dazia Sorensen, and Sophmore Aza Bruckner. (Ric Hanson photo)

Coach Dean Junker couldn’t make it to the meeting because he was with the “Flying Sharks” swim team, but Lowery read from a statement saying the team went to State in six out of 11 events, including four different individuals. Both of the Freestyle Relays participants made it, and there was a total of 10 on the team. Junker stressed how hard the team was working over the summer, and he was really happy how the season ended and they all swam faster at State, and he “Was quite proud.”

Lowery said the team scored points in four out of the six events, and most of the schools that beat Atlantic’s team were Class 4-A or 5-A Schools. The State meet was held at the Marshalltown YMCA.

The Audubon Wheelers (12-1) will face the Don Bosco Dons (12-0) for the 8-Player State Football Championship on Thursday morning at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. The Wheelers came out with a strong performance in their first trip to the Dome since 1977 last week with a Semifinal win over Remsen, St. Mary’s 39-28. Now the Wheelers get a shot at their first State Championship this week against another strong opponent. Don Bosco rolled to a 50-6 win over Turkey Valley in the Semifinals last week. Audubon Head Coach Sean Birks was really proud of the way his team played in the Semis.

The Dons have rolled through their schedule this season with the closest game of the year for them coming in a 39-point Quarterfinal round win over Easton Valley. The Dons have been on this stage many times before as well, notching State Championships in 2013, 2016, and 2017. Coach Birks said they have a lot of respect for the Don Bosco program.

Don Bosco is led on Offense by junior Quarterback Cael Frost and senior Running Back Thomas Even. Frost has thrown for 1,269 yards and 30 touchdowns with just 1 interception and has also run for 1,147 yards and 19 more scores. Even is pushing up on a 2,000 yard rushing season with 1,940 yards and 25 touchdowns so far this year. Coach Birks said the Wheelers will need to be tough up the middle to slow down the Dons attack.

Audubon counters with a number of offensive weapons. Senior Quarterback Skyler Schultes has rushed for 1,789 yards and 28 touchdowns, while also passing for 678 yards and 10 more scores. Gavin Smith has been strong in the passing game as well with 834 yards and 14 touchdowns through the air as the change of pace QB. Kaiden Smith has been a strong weapon out of the backfield with 637 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns to go along with 361 yards receiving and 7 more scores. Coach Birks said they will need to be ready to attack in multiple ways and take care of the ball to have success in this one.

The Wheelers and the Dons are set for a 10:00am kickoff at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. Chris Parks and CAM Head Coach Joe Wollum will have the call on KJAN with pregame starting at 9:00am. Tune in on AM1220, FM101.1, and online at kjan.com.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Despite some continued struggles from 3-point range, Iowa State had no trouble blowing past Southern Miss.

The stakes get much higher next week, starting in eight days against Michigan in the Bahamas.

Solomon Young scored 14 points, Prentiss Nixon added 13 and Iowa State thumped Southern Miss 73-45 on Tuesday for its second straight win.

Tyrese Haliburton had 12 points with nine assists and three steals for the Cyclones (3-1), who used a 15-2 run to close the first half as they pulled away.

But things won’t be so easy at the upcoming Battle 4 Atlantis tournament. After facing the Wolverines, Iowa State will get either Alabama or North Carolina the following day, followed by an undetermined opponent next Friday.

“It was ugly games at times. It was a physical game at times. I’m proud of the way we closed the first half,” Iowa State coach Steve Prohm said. “Some things we’ve got to get better at from an offensive standpoint…it’s early, we’ve got to continue to grow. We’ve got a great test ahead of us next week with Michigan and a host of really good teams.”

After a sluggish start, Iowa State held the Golden Eagles scoreless for nearly five minutes in building a 33-20 halftime lead. The Cyclones then reeled off 11 points in a row to make it a 60-34 game midway through the second half.

Iowa State once again struggled from beyond the arc though. After going just 3 of 25 in a win over Northern Illinois its last time out, Iowa State was 5 of 22 against the Eagles.

“I don’t think they’re bad looks,” Haliburton said. “We just shot the ball rough.”

George Conditt had nine points, six rebounds and four blocks off the bench for the Cyclones.

Boban Jacdonmi scored 10 points for the Golden Eagles (1-3). Southern Miss went 0 of 16 from the 3-point line and didn’t shoot its first free throw until there was 2:47 left.

UP NEXT

Iowa State plays Michigan in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in the Bahamas on Nov. 27

AMES, Iowa – Sophomore Ashley Joens put up the first 30-point, 20-rebound performance in school history on Tuesday to lead Iowa State (2-1) to a 79-59 victory over Texas Southern (1-2) at Hilton Coliseum. Joens’ 20 rebounds are tied for the third-most in a single game in program history, and her 16 made free throws tied the single-game program mark, set by Angie Welle (vs. Nebraska, ’02).

How It Happened
The Cyclones got off to a slow start offensively on Tuesday morning, plagued by a 1-9 start from the field that had them playing from behind for much of the first stanza. The scrappy Tiger defense allowed TSU to lead 12-11 after 10 minutes of action, holding Iowa State to 3-18 from the field in the first quarter.

Joens went to work and flipped the script, hitting consecutive triples to open the second quarter. Iowa State surged with Joens, as the sophomore tallied 11 points in the period after being held scoreless in the first, and also had 10 boards to secure her third career double-double before halftime.

Iowa State continued to pull away after the intermission, led by Joens’ outburst. With the Tigers unable to contain her off the dribble, the native of Iowa City, Iowa, earned trip after trip to the free throw stripe in the second half, and made the most of it. Joens connected on 15-of-16 from the charity stripe after intermission.

The Cyclones would outscore TSU 29-16 in the fourth quarter, shooting 8-13 from the field, including 2-2 from beyond the arc in the final stanza to put the game away.

Up Next
The Cyclones head north to Fargo, N.D., to take on North Dakota State on Friday at 7 p.m. Mediacom will carry a live telecast of the game on its local TV channel, MC22.

The 7:20-a.m. Sportscast with Jim Field.

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Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Solomon Young scored 14 points, Prentiss Nixon added 13 and Iowa State eased past Southern Miss 73-45 for its second straight win. Tyrese Haliburton had 12 points with nine assists and three steals for the Cyclones (3-1), who used a 15-2 run to close the first half to pull away.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Longtime Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz has been more open to giving freshmen a shot at playing time in recent years. Ferentz’s new-found openness might have saved the Hawkeyes’ offense this fall. Redshirt freshman receiver Tyrone Tracy and true freshman running back Tyler Goodson, both third options entering this season, have become invaluable to Iowa’s attack.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — With three games left, Iowa State is in position to put up the best scoring season in school history. The Cyclones enter Saturday’s home finale against Kansas with a chance to move closer to breaking the program’s record for points per game of 33.5 set in 1976. Iowa State is averaging 35.1 points a game in 2019.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs have struggled to put away teams this season, including in a loss just over a week ago in Tennessee. But after a late touchdown by the Chargers made their game in Mexico City a nail-biter, the Chiefs defense finally stepped up in a crucial moment. It picked off Philip Rivers and preserved a 24-17 victory heading into the Chiefs’ bye.

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Obi Toppin had 21 points and Ryan Mikesell scored 16 to lead five Dayton players in double figures as the Flyers defeated Omaha 93-68. Rodney Chatman added 13 points, Trey Landers 11 and Ibi Watson 11 for the Flyers.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Udoka Azubuike pounded home 21 points, Devon Dotson added 19 and fourth-ranked Kansas weathered East Tennessee State’s second-half charge to escape with a 75-63 victory. Marcus Garrett added 13 points for the Jayhawks, who led by as many as 18 early in the game before the Pirates closed within 61-56 with just over 5 minutes to go. Bo Hodges led the Pirates with 22 points.

UNDATED (AP) — Kyle Pitts has been crucial to Florida’s success even after losing quarterback Feleipe Franks to a season-ending knee injury. He has the second-most catches and fifth-most yards receiving among tight ends nationally, averaging 4.2 catches per game and hauling in five touchdowns. It’s why Pitts, despite being left off the Mackey Award semifinal list, is a legitimate All-America candidate.

The Audubon Wheelers are prepping for the 8-Man State Football Championship Game on Thursday morning against Don Bosco. A pep rally and free will donation meal will be held Tuesday night for proud Wheeler fans and supporters.

The event will be held at the Audubon High School with the meal in the lunch room from 5:30pm-6:45pm and the pep rally in the gym at 7:00pm. Money raised tonight will go towards lodging and travel costs for the team.

A public sendoff for the team will be held following classes on Wednesday and the public is encouraged to come out to support the team then as well. The charter bus will be guided down Stadium Drive to Albert the Bull Park then towards the Elementary to the square and down main street back to Highway 71.

The Wheelers meet the Dons for the title on Thursday morning at 10:00am at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. We’ll have coverage on KJAN with pregame at 9:00am.

The 7:20-a.m. Sportscast with Jim Field.

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