All-Metro boys team features three record-setting rebounders
By Jerry Giese, Journal sports writer | Posted: Friday, March 28, 2008
It's hard to not notice the big guys in the middle.
Augustana College recruit Eric Jorgensen, a 6-8 senior from East, was named to the All-Metro boys basketball team for the second straight season along with 6-9 junior Brennan Cougill of Bishop Heelan and 6-6 junior Alex Walker of North.
The team, selected by coaches from Sioux City and South Sioux City, also includes North senior Brian Wanner, East senior Dane Larson and Heelan sophomore Zach McCabe.
With the exception of Larson, each was a first-team selection on the Missouri River Activities Conference squad released last week.
The six selections were from squads that had a combined 54-18 record. Heelan, which won the MRAC championship with a 10-0 record, fell 64-40 in the first round of the Class 3A state tournament to eventual champion Dubuque Wahlert.
North and East shared second-place in the league with 7-3 marks. The two teams split against each other in the regular season, but the Stars snapped the tie with a 70-58 win in the Class 4A substate final. Then, for the second year in a row, North lost a first-round state tourney game to the eventual Class 4A champ, this time Iowa City High.
Cougill, a 260-pounder who has verbally committed to the University of Iowa men's basketball program, averaged 18.4 points and 11.2 rebounds. He shot 60.1 percent from the field and blocked 73 shots for Coach Tom Betz's 20-5 Crusaders.
Cougill is also Heelan's career leader with 675 rebounds.
Walker will enter his senior season atop North's list with 553 rebounds. The son of North girls basketball coach Kirk Walker paced Coach John Vanderloo's 17-7 squad with averages of 12.3 points and 10.5 rebounds.
Meanwhile, Jorgensen finished his career as East's rebound leader with 587 boards. A 56.8 percent shooter, Jorgensen averaged 19.1 points and 10.5 rebounds for Coach Jeff Vanderloo's Black Raiders.
Larson, a 6-3 senior, led East (17-6) with 89 assists and 34 steals. He ranked second on the team in rebounding (8.0 rpg) and third in scoring (9.8 ppg).
Wanner (12.2 ppg) was North's lone senior starter. The 6-3 forward scored at a 11.2 clip for last year's state tournament team that in the opening round to Linn-Mar's eventual champs.
McCabe, a 6-5 forward, shot 53.8 percent while scoring at a 13.8 rate. He also dished 66 assists and recorded 35 steals.
Heelan's John Daniels (9.1 ppg) and Ben Sitzmann (8.0 ppg) are honorable mention selections along with East's Jordan Gentry (11.7 ppg) and North's Damek Tomscha (11.6 ppg).
Augustana College recruit Eric Jorgensen, a 6-8 senior from East, was named to the All-Metro boys basketball team for the second straight season along with 6-9 junior Brennan Cougill of Bishop Heelan and 6-6 junior Alex Walker of North.
The team, selected by coaches from Sioux City and South Sioux City, also includes North senior Brian Wanner, East senior Dane Larson and Heelan sophomore Zach McCabe.
With the exception of Larson, each was a first-team selection on the Missouri River Activities Conference squad released last week.
The six selections were from squads that had a combined 54-18 record. Heelan, which won the MRAC championship with a 10-0 record, fell 64-40 in the first round of the Class 3A state tournament to eventual champion Dubuque Wahlert.
North and East shared second-place in the league with 7-3 marks. The two teams split against each other in the regular season, but the Stars snapped the tie with a 70-58 win in the Class 4A substate final. Then, for the second year in a row, North lost a first-round state tourney game to the eventual Class 4A champ, this time Iowa City High.
Cougill, a 260-pounder who has verbally committed to the University of Iowa men's basketball program, averaged 18.4 points and 11.2 rebounds. He shot 60.1 percent from the field and blocked 73 shots for Coach Tom Betz's 20-5 Crusaders.
Cougill is also Heelan's career leader with 675 rebounds.
Walker will enter his senior season atop North's list with 553 rebounds. The son of North girls basketball coach Kirk Walker paced Coach John Vanderloo's 17-7 squad with averages of 12.3 points and 10.5 rebounds.
Meanwhile, Jorgensen finished his career as East's rebound leader with 587 boards. A 56.8 percent shooter, Jorgensen averaged 19.1 points and 10.5 rebounds for Coach Jeff Vanderloo's Black Raiders.
Larson, a 6-3 senior, led East (17-6) with 89 assists and 34 steals. He ranked second on the team in rebounding (8.0 rpg) and third in scoring (9.8 ppg).
Wanner (12.2 ppg) was North's lone senior starter. The 6-3 forward scored at a 11.2 clip for last year's state tournament team that in the opening round to Linn-Mar's eventual champs.
McCabe, a 6-5 forward, shot 53.8 percent while scoring at a 13.8 rate. He also dished 66 assists and recorded 35 steals.
Heelan's John Daniels (9.1 ppg) and Ben Sitzmann (8.0 ppg) are honorable mention selections along with East's Jordan Gentry (11.7 ppg) and North's Damek Tomscha (11.6 ppg).
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sham wrote on Mar 29, 2008 9:21 AM:
Hoodwinked wrote on Mar 28, 2008 11:46 AM:
metroman wrote on Mar 28, 2008 6:58 AM: