In the first of what surely will be many appearances on ESPN, Ames senior forward Harrison Barnes did not disappoint. 
Harrison Barnes, Ames
File photo by Nicholas Koza
MaxPreps’ fourth-rated senior scored 26 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as the Little Cyclones blew out last year’s Illinois 4A runner-up Waukegan, 87-59, in a game played at Iowa State’s Hilton Coliseum.
Senior forward Doug McDermott, son of Iowa State coach Greg McDermott, was equally impressive. The future Northern Iowa big man had 25 points and 12 rebounds.
Ames, which is nationally ranked in all of the major polls, entered the holiday break with a 5-0 record and 31 consecutive wins dating back to the start of last season.
In its year-ending issue, The Sporting News tabbed Barnes as its High School Athlete of the Year for 2009. Barnes, who signed with North Carolina at a nationally televised news conference last month, averaged 20 points per game and led the Little Cyclones to the 4A state title last season.
KLINGE TIES RECORD: Waukon defeated Charles City, 69-53, in a girls basketball game Monday night, allowing coach Gene Klinge to tie Bob Mullen as the state’s all-time leader in victories. Klinge, now in his 48th season as a head coach, has 938 wins and 217 losses. His teams have reached the state tournament 15 times and, in 2004, won the 3A state title. Mullen went 938-420 at eight schools over 54 seasons.
Nebraska basketball
JUNIOR JAYS OPEN NEW GYM WITH BIG WINS: You couldn’t ask for a much better grand opening for the new Heider Center, located on the campus of Creighton Prep. The top-ranked Junior Jays won their first two games in the building, blowing out a pair of state-ranked foes: Lincoln Southwest, 66-52, in a rematch of last year’s state championship game; and Omaha Burke, 69-53. Senior guards Caleb Steffensmeier and Cole Martin, who helped lead Creighton Prep to the Class A title last season, appear comfortable in their new confines. Steffensmeier scored 22 against Lincoln Southwest and Martin exploded for 30 points against Burke.
SUPER SOPH GESSELL LEADS CARDINALS: South Sioux City, a longtime power in girls basketball, is off to a 3-1 start in boys hoops this season. The Cardinals’ only loss was to defending Iowa 3A champion Sioux City Heelan. Sophomore guard Mike Gessel – arguably the state’s best overall player – is averaging 21.5 points per game. South Sioux City has not reached the state tournament in boys basketball since 1991 and has never won a championship. However, in girls basketball, the Cardinals have won 11 Class B state titles since 1995.
ROUGHRIDERS STUMBLE OUT OF THE GATE: Things have gone from bad to worse for the Southwest (Indianola) boys basketball team. After going a miserable 0-21 last season, the Roughriders are off to an 0-7 start. What’s worse is the margin of defeat is a staggering 472-148, or an average of 67-21 per game. On three occasions Southwest has been held to 15 points or less, including a 91-15 loss to Hayes Center that was 61-3 at halftime.
Iowa wrestling
GO-HAWKS BOUNCE BACK: A week after losing to Iowa City West at the Five Seasons Duals, defending 3A champion Waverly-Shell Rock got back in the win column with a convincing 40-24 defeat of state-ranked Cedar Rapids Prairie in the championship dual of Prairie’s Holiday Wrestling Classic. All four of the Go-Hawks’ wrestlers ranked No. 1 in the state by The Predicament were victorious. Senior Jake Ballweg, who is top-rated at 140, dropped down to 135 and defeated state No. 2 Jake Rizzio by major decision, 10-1.
THREE IOWA SQUADS NATIONALLY RANKED: Amateur Wrestling News released its second Prep 40 high school team rankings of the season. Three Iowa teams were represented, headed by Class 3A titans Iowa City West at No. 19 and Waverly-Shell Rock at No. 20. Defending 2A champion Ballard is ranked No. 28. The No. 1 team in the nation is Blair Academy of New Jersey.
Nebraska wrestling
GRAND ISLAND PICKS UP WHERE IT LEFT OFF: Defending champion Grand Island doesn’t seem to have missed a beat from the level that allowed it set three team records at the Class A state meet last season. So far, the top-ranked Islanders have defeated state No. 2 Kearney twice as well as collecting a pair of lopsided wins against Class C’s top-ranked team, Mitchell (58-15), and top Class A contender Omaha North (49-18).
ISLANDERS IN NATIONAL RANKINGS: Grand Island is the only Nebraska team included in Amateur Wrestling News’ most recent Prep 40 rankings. The Islanders are No. 24 in the poll released December 16, up one spot from their position in the preseason poll. There are two Nebraska grapplers included in AWN’s individual rankings: 140-pounder Alex Bridgeford from Omaha Burke and Boys Town 189-pounder Kevin Barrett. However, Barrett will not wrestle for Boys Town this season because he has already used up his high school eligibility.
News from the rest of the Iowa and Nebraska high school sporting world
FLOOD AND DECKER PLACE AT NATIONAL MEETS: With Iowa cross country domination already unquestionably achieved, Dowling Catholic seniors Katie Flood and Ashlie Decker hit the national circuit earlier this month with excellent results. Flood, who won the 4A state title her freshman, sophomore and senior seasons, captured first place at the Nike Cross Nationals on Dec. 5 in Portland, Ore. Decker, state champion as a junior and runner-up this year, placed fourth at the Nike event. A week later, Flood finished eighth and Decker ninth at the Foot Locker Cross Country Nationals in San Diego.
Jamie DeMoney has covered high school sports and recruiting for more than 15 years. He is editor and founder of PrepNation.com. You can reach him at PrepNation@aol.com.
