Big weekend awaits area hoops teams
As January draws to a close, area high school basketball teams are positioning themselves for a postseason run in February.
Many big games await those teams this weekend, starting with Thursday’s Bryan Cage Classic championship game between fourth-ranked Bryan and No. 5 Lincoln High. Bellevue East and Ralston meet in the consolation game.
Bryan used a fourth quarter rally to get past pesky Bellevue East Tuesday night and faces a Lincoln High team many consider to be the best team in the Capitol City. In fact, the Lincoln Journal-Star has the Links as Class A’s No. 1 team, although they didn’t look it in a 39-38 win over Ralston Tuesday.
The Bears have been on a nice run since the New Year and a win over the Links would further solidify them as a contender in March.
Bellevue West-Central might not have the same luster in previous meetings, but when these two take the floor in boys basketball, they rarely disappoint.
Their rivalry continues Friday night at West in a game that is a rematch of Class A state title games in 2006 and 2007 as well as a thrilling district final won by the Thunderbirds in the final second a year ago.
Central is No. 1 in Class A but the T-birds are struggling with a 5-8 record. A win over Central might be the springboard the T-birds need to make a run at their seventh consecutive state tourney appearance.
The No. 1 Thunderbird girls face a big challenge the following night when No. 2 Millard West visits the Thunderdome.
It’s a rematch of the Metro Holiday Tournament title game, won by the T-birds, 49-46. Bellevue West has yet to lose to a team from within the state this season while the Wildcats’ only blemish is the loss in the Holiday tourney finals. Could very well be a preview of the state title game in March.
The Tournament of Champions makes its stop at Bellevue East this year with four proud girls traditions taking the floor. Sioux City North, ranked second in Class 4-A in Iowa, meets Class A No. 9 Lincoln Southeast in Friday’s first game at 6:15, followed by Class B No. 5 South Sioux City and the host Chieftains at 8. Saturday’s consolation game is at 1:15, followed by the title game.
East has battled through inconsistencies for a 7-7 record and will face a stern challenge from a pair of quality programs. Lincoln Southeast is the defending champion.
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