Postseason competition for local basketball and wrestling teams is right around the corner. The wrestling team kicks it off on Saturday, Feb. 6, with a sectional meet. The girls’ basketball squad opens district action on Feb. 13 and the boys will follow on Feb. 15.
The Plainsman wrestlers travel to BGM for the sectional meet. Other teams in that meet include BGM, Cardinal of Eldon, English Valleys, Pekin, Tri-County and Van Buren. First and second place finishers advance to the district meet the following Saturday, Feb. 13, at Eddyville-Blakesburg where they will face the qualifiers from the Pleasantville sectional. Teams in that meet include Colfax-Mingo, Eddyville-Blakesburg, Lynnville-Sully, Martensdale St. Mary’s, Moravia, Pleasantville and Wayne of Corydon.
First and second place teams from each of those two sectionals advance to the regional duals on Tuesday, Feb. 9 at Pekin.
The state meet will be held in Des Moines Feb. 17-20.
The girls’ state tourney begins March 1.
Belle Plaine’s girls’ basketball squad hosts BGM in the first round of postseason play on Saturday, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. The winner of that game advances to the winner of the Iowa Valley-Mount Vernon game Tuesday, Feb. 16 at Mount Vernon.
Other teams in Region Six include second rated Cascade, Dyersville Beckman, Bellevue, Northeast of Goose Lake, Mid-Prairie, Sigourney, Monticello, Maquoketa Valley, North Cedar, North Linn, Cardinal and Pekin.
The regional finals are set for Feb. 22 at Marion.
District action for the boys begins Monday, Feb. 15. Sites and opponents are still to be determined, as the boys seed the teams in each district. Belle Plaine’s district includes BGM, Cardinal, Iowa Valley, 16th-rated Mid-Prairie, Pekin, Sigourney and Van Buren. The district final is set for Feb. 23 at Otumwa with the survivor from that district facing the the winner from District 12 in the substate game at Oskaloosa on Feb. 27. Teams in District 12 include eighth-rated Pella Christian, as well as Albia, Central Decatur, Clarke, Davis County, Eddyville-Blakesburg, Pleasantville and Wayne.
The boys’ state tourney begins March 8.