DES MOINES – A Tough shooting night kept the Bettendorf Bulldogs from winning their third boys basketball title Saturday night at Wells Fargo Arena.
The top-seeded Bulldogs hit just 16-of-53 shots from the floor (30.2 percent) in dropping the battle of unbeatens 54-36 to Iowa City West. It leaves the Bulldogs with their second state Class 4A runner-up finish in the last six years as the Trojans won their second straight 4A title.
Mississippi Athletic Conference champ Bettendorf couldn't match Iowa City West's height and length inside, not getting any offense in the paint.
The Bulldogs also didn't have an answer for tourney MVP Wyatt Lohaus. The son of former Iowa Hawkeye standout Brad Lohaus scored 22 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out three assists. Just a junior, he has already committed to the University of Northern Iowa.
Jeremy Morgan, whose dad Michael Morgan was a Hawkeye teammate of Brad Lohaus, added nine points for the Trojans.
Kris Klabunde led BHS with nine points and Nicholas Baer added eight.
Bettendorf's Kendall Jacks, who was just 1-for-7 in the title game after two strong outings, was selected to the all-tourney team.
The teams were tied at 7 midway through the first quarter before ICW finished the frame on a 7-0 run. By halftime, with the Bulldogs struggling from the field, the Trojans blew out to a 28-13 lead and never looked back.
Knights rally for third: Davenport Assumption watched Dallas Center-Grimes score the first seven points of Saturday's Iowa Class 3A third-place game, but rallied for a 55-45 victory at Wells Fargo Arena. Nick Schebler scored a game-high 14 points to lead the Knights (19-6) as Matt Vonderhaar added 13 to go with his eight rebounds. MAC Player of Year Billy Daniel scored nine points and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds.
Today is Friday, May 24, the 144th day of 2013. There are 221 days left in the year. 1863 -- 150 years ago: A military escort will be at the square at 9 a.m. tomorrow forthe funeral of Lieut. Joseph Eaton. The county judge is absent in Chicago, which willaccount for his not being in the procession. 1888 -- 125 years ago: Rock Island's City Council last night appropriated $95,000 forexpenses for the 1888 and 1889 fiscal year. 1913 -- 100 years ago: Mrs. F.W. Reimers last night was re-elected president of the RockIsland Musical Club at a meeting in the New Harper Hotel. 1938 -- 75 years ago: Seven members of Boy Scout Troop 21 got their Eagle badges lastnight. They were Ralph Hurt, Robert Nelson, Howard Schersten, Cecil Nelson, RobertFryxell, Clarence Stone and Rollin Hurt. 1963 -- 50 years ago: Mayor Morris Muhleman has resorted to a form letter in an effort toanswer objections to the wheel tax increase. "It was my hope that I could, in some way,restore the faith of the citizens in our city. In order to do this I knew I must face the factthat I would become very unpopular."All they are trying to do is protect the citizensproperty and build their town. 1988 -- 25 years ago: RICCA, the Rock Island County Council on Addictions, inconjunction with the Quad City Downs, will hold its annual "Night at the Races" June 2.The benefit "Night at the Races" will raise funds locally to assist in maintaining the twohalfway houses, New Hope Lodge (for women) and Beacon House (for men).