Xavier, Cedar Rapids 67, Marion 60

Class 3A Quarterfinals

Xavier, Cedar Rapids 67, Marion 60

DES MOINES – Two-time defending champion Xavier, Cedar Rapids used 32 points from senior guard Matthew Mims to top local opponent Marion, 67-60, on Tuesday morning at Wells Fargo Arena. The win was Xavier’s eighth straight at the state tournament and means a fourth consecutive year in the Class 3A semifinals.

Marion (14-11) was a game No. 8 seed in the 3A field, refusing to back down from the Saints, even after multiple 14-point deficits in the fourth quarter. The Indians did not face their powerhouse neighborhood in the regular season, but had won seven of their last eight games before arriving in Des Moines. Chase Zielke (14 points), Alex Whalen (13), and Trevor Paulsen (11) led Marion in scoring, and coach Mike Manderscheid’s team outrebounded Xavier, 32-24.

The Saints (19-6) secured the win by shooting 59 percent from the field after halftime and getting balanced contributions from the starters around Mims. The stellar guard and South Dakota State recruit was 10-of-19 from the field, including 5-of-8 from 3-point range. Senior forward Jackson Joens added 14 points to the winning effort.

Xavier will meet the winner of Norwalk and Glenwood in Thursday’s 2 p.m. semifinal.

Quarterfinal Round – March 6

Xavier, Cedar Rapids 67, Marion 60 | BOX SCORE

1:00 p.m.—Glenwood vs. Norwalk

2:45 p.m.—Mount Pleasant vs. Waverly-Shell Rock

4:30 p.m.—Oskaloosa vs. Sergeant Bluff-Luton