Class 2A Semifinals

10:00 a.m. –  Dike-New Hartford (24-1) vs. Sibley-Ocheyedan (22-3)

11:45 a.m. –  Central Lyon (23-0) vs. Pocahontas Area (21-4)

Class 1A Semifinals

1:30 p.m. – Algona Bishop Garrigan (24-1) vs. Remsen-St. Mary’s (24-1)

3:15 p.m. – Newell-Fonda (23-2) vs. North Linn (23-1)

Class 5A Championship

6:00 p.m. – Johnston (24-1) vs. Pleasant Valley (25-0)

Class 3A Championship

8:00 p.m. –  Benton Community (23-3) vs. Sioux Center (20-5)

The UNI men’s basketball team advanced to the Quarterfinal round of the Missouri Valley Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament with a 75-62 win over Illinois State on Thursday afternoon. The Panthers jumped out to a nice lead in the first half and led 44-28 at the break. Illinois State would climb back as close as 6 points with just under 8 minutes left but the Panthers responded with a Bowen Born 3 to push the lead back out and seal the win.

Born finished with 23 points to lead all scorers and he added 5 assists. Michael Duax added 19 points and Tytan Anderson poured in 16. UNI improved to 14-17 on the season.

Illinois State was led by 19 points from Seneca Knight and 18 from Kendall Lewis. The Redbirds end the season at 11-21.

UNI advances to face top seeded Bradley on Friday at Noon in the Quarterfinals.

Class 5A semifinals

10:00 a.m. –  #2 Johnston 42, #6 Ankeny Centennial 35
Box Score | Game Summary

11:45 a.m. –  #1 Pleasant Valley 50, #4 Dowling Catholic 33
Box Score | Game Summary

Class 3A Semifinals
1:30 p.m. – #4 Benton Community 51, #8 Vinton-Shellsburg 42
Box Score | Game Summary

3:15 p.m. –  #6 Sioux Center 46, #2 Solon 44
Box Score |Game Summary

Class 4A Semifinals

5:00 p.m. –  #1 Dallas Center-Grimes 33, #4 Ballard 32
Box Score | Game Summary

6:45 p.m. –  #2 North Polk 53, #3 Bishop Heelan 41
Box Score | Game Summary

The second ranked Iowa wrestling team opens the Big Ten Championships Saturday morning at Michigan. The Hawkeyes finished the regular season 15-1 in duals.

That’s Iowa coach Tom Brands feels the health of the lineup is improving. The Hawkeyes struggled with injuries during a good portion of the season.

Top ranked Penn State is an overwhelming favorite to win the team title.

The Iowa State and UNI wrestling teams travel to Tulsa this weekend for the Big 12. Tournament. The Cyclones are ranked fifth after finishing 16-3 in duals and coach Kevin Dresser says the postseason is a new challenge.

Dresser hopes the Cyclones are a better tournament team this season.

UNI is ranked 18th and coach Doug Schwab says the competition this weekend will be tougher than last year.

Schwab says it will take a complete effort for the Panthers to have a shot at the team title.

Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger says he remains a fan of Caleb Grill even though he is no longer part of the team. Otzelberger dismissed ISU’s top three point shooter from the team on Wednesday, just days before the Cyclones close the regular season at seventh ranked Baylor.

Grill played for Otzelberger at UNLV and followed him to Ames when he took the Iowa State job. He averaged nearly 10 points while playing in 25 games this season.

In a statement Grill said the dismissal stemmed from a word he said that he regrets. Otzelberger did not want to discuss any specific incident.

Otzelberger says he has to balance what is best for the player against what is best for the team.

The Cyclones have lost four straight games heading into Saturday’s contest at Baylor.

All RVC 1st Team

Name School Grade

Eva Steffensen, CAM Jr. Unanimous

Quinn Grubbs, Exira-EHK, Sr. Unanimous

Shay Burmeister, Exira-EHK, Sr. Unanimous

Breeley Clayburg, Coon Rapids-Bayard, Jr.

Paige Klocke, Glidden-Ralston, Sr.

Nicole Shearer, Woodbine, Sr.

Charlie Pryor, Woodbine, So.

Maclayn Houston, West Harrison, Jr.

All RVC 2nd Team

Tiela Janssen, Glidden-Ralston, Jr.

Kiera Nichols, CAM, Jr.

Amanda Newton, Woodbine, Jr.

Becca Anderson, Paton-Churdan, Fr.

Meredith Rich, CAM, Jr.

Maggie Regaller, ArWeVa, Sr.

Malia Clayburg, Coon Rapids-Bayard, Fr.

Addison Erickson, Woodbine, Sr.

Class 5A semifinals

10:00 a.m. –  Johnston (23-1) vs. Ankeny Centennial (18-6)

11:45 a.m. –  Pleasant Valley (24-0) vs. Dowling Catholic (20-4)

Class 3A Semifinals
1:30 p.m. – Vinton-Shellsburg (18-7) vs. Benton Community (22-3)

3:15 p.m. –  Solon (23-2) vs. Sioux Center (19-5)

Class 4A Semifinals

5:00 p.m. –  Dallas Center-Grimes (21-3) vs. Ballard (19-3)

6:45 p.m. –  North Polk (22-2) vs. Bishop Heelan (23-2)

Drake seniors Roman Penn and D.J. Wilkins are healthy are ready to make one more post season run. The duo grew up in northwest Indiana and both got off to slow starts after offseason surgery. Wilkins suffered an ACL injury late last season and Penn underwent two surgeries to repair a broken foot. Both played their best basketball during a stretch run that saw the Bulldogs win 10 of their last 11 games.

After playing the end of last season on a broken foot Penn is happy to be pain free.

Like Penn, Wilkins was focused on rehab during the summer and it took a while to round into game shape.

After a string of frustrating injuries Wilkins is happy they are both available for the Missouri Valley Tournament.

After falling at Bradley in the winner take all regular season finale Penn says the Bulldogs are focused on the tournament title.

The Bulldogs are the second seed and open Friday night in St. Louis against the winner of Thursday’s game between Murray State and Valparaiso.

The 23rd ranked Iowa State women cut a 17 point fourth quarter deficit to three but could get no closer in a 98-93 loss at Kansas.

That’s Cyclone coach Bill Fennelly. Kansas was 11 of 20 from three point range.