Tuesday, April 23, 2019 ● The Gazette 1B

SPORTS
BUCKS ADVANCE IOWA FOOTBALL RECRUITING: ANALYSIS

Jacobs stays
true to the
Hawkeyes
Editor’s note: Fifth in a series of ar-
ticles taking an analytical look at Iowa’s
latest football recruits.

By Marc Morehouse, The Gazette

IOWA CITY — Iowa found gold last

year when it had Amani Hooker slide
USA Today Sports about 10 yards closer to the line of
Detroit Pistons guard Wayne Ellington scrimmage and play the “star” position.
(20) goes to the basket on Milwaukee It’s a safety/linebacker hybrid posi-
Bucks center Brook Lopez (11) in the tion that fit Hooker’s skill so well that
247Sports
first half last night at Little Caesars he’ll skip his senior year and now is
Arena in Detroit. Story, 2B. Iowa freshman linebacker Jesten Jacobs, a 6-foot-4, 210-pounder from Ohio, had 25 offers, includ-
;; IOWA, PAGE 4B ing from Ohio State, Michigan State and Nebraska.

SIDELINE J.R. OGDEN

MIDWEST LEAGUE

Kernels rained out,

playing twice today
GRAND CHUTE, Wis. —
Last night’s game between the
Legendary track coach
Raffensperger dies
Cedar Rapids Kernels and the
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
was rained out at Fox Cities
Stadium.
The two teams are now
playing a doubleheader today.
The opener is at 12:05 p.m.
with the second game 30 min-
utes after the first. Both are
7-inning games.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Ex-Cyclone Lard
declares for NBA Draft
AMES — Iowa State
sophomore Cameron Lard an-
nounced last month he didn’t
plan to return to Ames in the
fall. On Monday, Lard an-
nounced he plans to enter the
NBA Draft rather than trans-
fer to another college.
“I truly believe the time is
now for me to give this my
all,” Lard wrote on Instagram.
Lard played in 24 games as
a sophomore and averaged 5.6
points and 2.8 rebounds per
game.
The 6-foot-9 forward is the
third Cyclone to declare for
the NBA Draft, along with
freshman guard Talen Horton-
Tucker and sophomore guard
Lindell Wigginton. Senior
Marial Shayok hopes to be
drafted as well.
The NBA Draft is June 20.

Coe promotes Molinari

to associate head coach
CEDAR RAPIDS — Coe
College and head men’s bas-
ketball coach Byran Martin
announced Monday the pro-
motion of Paxton Molinari
from assistant coach to associ- The Gazette
ate head coach of the men’s Former Iowa City High track coach John Raffensperger holds up the jersey of Mike Muller, who ran for him in 1973, during a ceremony in 2000 dedicating
basketball program. the new City High track to Raffensperger. Raffensperger died Monday.
Molinari finished his fourth
season on Martin’s staff serv-
ing as the recruiting coordina- ‘Raff’ was among the elite, es who mentor, mold and John Raffensperger, or he was much more at peace.”
tor, the guards coach and the teach those aforementioned “Raff” to his many friends, Woody, who ran for
defensive coordinator.
on and off the track athletes. died at his home in Iowa Raffensperger at City High
“I am excited to continue Not every encounter is City. in the 1990s and is one of the

O
working with the great young ne of the greatest wonderful, but the vast — This one hits hard. state’s all-time best, got an-
men we have in our program perks of this job is and I mean vast — majority “I got a chance to see him other chance to visit his old
and the new recruits we have the people we meet. of those athletes, coaches last week” before leaving for coach Sunday.
coming to Coe,” Molinari said. The boys and girls at the and administrators are good Torrance, Calif., and the Mt. “He’s more than just a
Coe finished 14-12 last high school level, the men people. SAC Relays, Iowa track and coach, not only to myself
season and had three play- and women who are lucky Last week I found out one field coach Joey Woody said but to many others,” Woody
ers earn All-American River enough to compete colle- of those good ones was sick. later in the week. “We had a said. “It’s kind of surreal
Conference honors, including giately. Very sick. good conversation.
Adam Dermott and Calvin And, of course, the coach- On Monday, I learned “When he got back home, ;; OGDEN, PAGE 2B
Winker, both Xavier grads.

COLLEGE BASEBALL JUNIOR HOCKEY

Kornstad, Jamesson
earn MWC honors C.R. power play getting job done in playoffs
MOUNT VERNON — Cor-
nell swept the Midwest Con- RoughRiders return home for against Chicago at the Ce- Tonelli said. “Getting a lot of
ference honors, with senior 2 critical games against Steel dar Rapids Ice Arena having pucks to the net, rebounds, USHL PLAYOFFS
Sam Kornstad earning Pitcher scored eight times with the creating havoc. Not trying to
man advantage. make things too complicated.” WESTERN CONFERENCE
of the Week and junior third SEMIFNALS
baseman Cale Jamesson win- By Jeff Johnson, The Gazette That includes Cedar Rapids won Sunday’s
at least once in Game 2 at Chicago with an (Series tied, 1-1)
ning Player of the Week. Tonight
Kornstad pitched a 2-hitter CEDAR RAPIDS — The Ce- each game, and overtime power-play goal by
dar Rapids RoughRiders have twice each in the Aidan McDonough. It kept the Chicago at C.R.
as the Rams blanked Mon- RoughRiders, 7:05 p.m.
mouth last week, striking out won three of their four United first two games of puck in the Steel zone most of
States Hockey League playoff this best-of-5 set. the nearly two minutes, with Wednesday
© 2019 The Gazette

eight and walking one. Chicago at C.R.

Jamesson hit .500 (11 of 22) games so far for a lot of rea- With 19 total op- good puck movement and a
sons. One is by having a lot of RoughRiders, 7:05 p.m.
at the plate with four doubles, Jordan Tonelli portunities, that’s plethora of shot attempts.
power in their power play. C.R. center a torrid 42.9-per- That’s been a regular thing Saturday
two home runs and 10 RBIs. (If necessary)
Cornell is 15-13 (3-5 MWC). The Riders go into tonight’s cent success rate. in the postseason. The Riders
pivotal Game 3 of an Eastern “I think we’re just making C.R. RoughRiders at
The Gazette Conference semifinal series smart plays,” forward Jordan ;; HOCKEY, PAGE 2B Chicago, 7:05 p.m.
2B The Gazette ● Tuesday, April 23, 2019

SPORTS
NBA PLAYOFFS
Ogden/‘Raff’
touched many
lives on, off track
;; FROM PAGE 1B admired him greatly while
coaching against him.”
right now. He’s always been Even my oldest son, Jack,
that strong person in my who ran at Washington and
life. UNI, noted in a text that
“He’s definitely like a fa- Raff “always was great to
ther figure to me.” me every time I saw him,
Raff is survived by his was always interested like
wife of more than 50 years, I was one of his own ath-
Sharon, who was by his side letes.”
for many, if not all, of those He always had a smile
prep meets, keeping stats. and, during those City High
They have two sons and days, offered kind words for
three grandchildren. There his athletes and competi-
will be a visitation Sunday tors. He took time for inter-
at City High. Funeral servic- views or just a quick “hel-
es are Monday at 11 a.m. at lo.” He not only answered a
First Presbyterian Church journalist’s questions, but
USA Today Sports photos
in Iowa City. asked his own about you
Raffensperger coached at and your family.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Ersan Ilyasova (77) and center Brook Lopez (11) surround Detroit Pistons center Andre Drum- City High, his alma mater, And he loved track and
mond (0) in the first half at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. for 36 years, 34 as the head field.
boys’ track and field coach.

Bucks complete sweep

Woody said at a lot of
Before retiring in 2004, he high schools, track and
directed the Little Hawks to field is “spring training for
17 Mississippi Valley Con- football,” but Raff made it
ference divisional titles, 11 “an important sport” at City
MVC Super Meet crowns High. His teams not only
and 10 state titles. Fifty-six were talented, they were
Antetokounmpo pours in of his athletes won state large. Kids wanted to run,
41 points for Milwaukee titles, 36 were Drake Relay throw and jump for Raff.
champions and, in 2001, After Woody was named
Field Level Media the Little Hawk medley re- head coach at Iowa, he
lay was declared national brought Raffensperger out
DETROIT — Giannis An- champion. of retirement and hired him
tetokounmpo poured in 41 A two-sport standout as a volunteer assistant.
points, and the visiting Mil- as an athlete at Iowa State “Fortunately for me, I’ve
waukee Bucks earned their Teachers College (now been able to see him every
first playoff series victory in Northern Iowa), he was day for the last 13 years,”
18 seasons by completing a named state coach of the Woody said. “For me, hav-
four-game sweep of the Detroit year eight times, MVC ing him around was huge.
Pistons with a 127-104 win last coach of the year 15 times “He understands how to
night. and national coach of the work with 18-, 19-, 20-year
The All-Star forward added year in 2000. He’s in the olds.”
nine rebounds, three assists UNI, City High and Iowa And Raff loved it. Every
and four blocks for the top- track coaches halls of fame. time we talked, far too in-
seeded Bucks, who will play The track facility at City frequently over the past 13
fourth-seeded Boston in the High was named in his hon- years, he lit up when asked
Detroit Pistons forward Blake Griffin (23) is fouled by Milwaukee Bucks forward
Eastern Conference semifinals. Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) in the first half last night at Little Caesars Arena. or in 2000. about his role — which he
The Celtics swept the Indiana But those are just the downplayed, of course —
Pacers in a first-round series. facts and figures — impres- and the fact he still is active
Milwaukee had lost in the third time since 2009. They lost their fourth fouls. sive numbers, for sure, that in the sport.
first round during its past eight their 14th consecutive post- Middleton hit three free showcase that he truly was “He’s brought more to
playoff appearances. season game, an NBA record. throws when Bruce Brown one of the greatest track our program than we can
Khris Middleton had 18 They haven’t won a playoff committed his fifth foul, tying coaches in state history. ever bring to him,” Woody
points and Eric Bledsoe con- game since the 2007-08 season. the score at 73-all. They tell you what he did, said.
tributed 16 points and five Reggie Jackson led Detroit Griffin hit a pair of threes in but are only part of who he I might argue that point,
assists for the Bucks. Nikola with 26 points and seven as- a 29-second span to put Detroit was. but just a little. Raff loved
Mirotic tossed in 12 points off sists. Blake Griffin had 22 back in front. Raffensperger was, sim- working with Woody and
the bench. Sterling Brown points, five rebounds and six Pat Connaughton’s steal and ply, one of the nicest people the Hawks. He told me that
added nine points, 12 rebounds assists before fouling out. An- dunk with 4:21 remaining in you’ll ever meet. He was a many times.
and five assists for Milwaukee, dre Drummond chipped in 15 the quarter allowed Milwaukee good man, But Raff also touched
which also swept the Pistons points and 12 rebounds. to regain the lead, 83-82. Ante- The City High boys’ track many during his lifetime,
during the four-game regular- Jackson carried the Pis- tokounmpo attempted six free and field Twitter account during his coaching career.
season series. tons’ offense in the first half, throws in a 1:39 span and made posted this Monday: It’s kind of fitting that the
Milwaukee shot 41 free pouring in 20 points as Detroit five, stretching the Bucks’ ad- “We are going to miss Drake Relays, one of Raff’s
throws, hitting 31, compared grabbed a 62-56 halftime ad- vantage to 91-84. our mentor, our friend and favorite weekends, kicks off
to Detroit’s 9-of-12 finish at the vantage. A Bledsoe layup in the final our COACH! Rest in peace Wednesday. But there will
line. Griffin made a 3-pointer minute of the quarter made it RAFF.” be an empty seat at Drake
The eighth-seeded Pistons early in the third to give the 95-85. Randy Bates, who Stadium this year. And that
were swept in the opening Pistons a 71-62 lead, but Griffin The Bucks also scored the coached at Cedar Rapids hits hard.
round of the playoffs for the and Drummond soon picked up first five points of the fourth. Washington, commented on l Comments: (319) 368-8696;
Facebook that he “always jr.ogden@thegazette.com

BOYS’ BASKETBALL

Messerli invested in Marion Hockey/RoughRiders

Girls’ basketball assistant
named head boys’ coach
add 2 in dispersal draft
;; FROM PAGE 1B Tonelli said. “We’ve always
By Jeff Johnson, The Gazette seemed to have guys go
were pedestrian on the man- down — injuries, suspen-
MARION — Invested? They up in the regular season, sions, whatever. Kind of
don’t come any more invested converting on 17.7 percent that next-man-up mental-
than Pete Messerli. of their tries, which ranked ity.”
He is Marion High School, 12 out of 17 teams in the “We’ve had to move a
through and through. USHL. couple of things around be-
The 35-year-old played mul- The two power-play cause we found out on game
tiple sports for the Indians, has groups obviously have a lot day (Saturday) that Smitty
been a coach at multiple levels of confidence right now. wasn’t going to be playing,”
in multiple sports for them. “I think everything gets Coach Mark Carlson said.
He’s a legacy, as his father, magnified in the postsea- “The guys have done a good
Dave, was a teacher and coach son,” McDonough said. “But job of being able to adjust.
at the school for years. the power play is really im- We’ve just executed on the
If caring about every single portant, especially being in plan. We’ll have to have
Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette close games in the playoffs. another plan for Tuesday,
thing red and gold means any-
thing, officially naming him Marion assistant coach Pete Messerli (center) encourages players from the bench We’ve just had an emphasis depending on if Smitty is
the new head boys’ basketball along with head coach Corby Laube (second from right) and assistant coach on keeping it simple. Get- back or not.”
coach Monday, as the school Josh Claypool (right) during a high school girls’ basketball game Jan. 9, 2018, ting pucks to the net, getting The RoughRiders took a
did, was a home-run hire. at Marion High School in Marion. On Monday, Messerli was named the new boys’ traffic to the net, getting on pair of 16-year-olds Monday
“It’s special because I played basketball head coach at Marion. rebounds. We’ve done some in the USHL’s Dispersal
in the program, I grew up video to work on it. So far, Draft. The Central Illinois
watching teams,” Messerli said A 2002 Marion graduate and with the players. it’s just been good.” Flying Aces are going dor-
last night. “It has always been 2006 Mount Mercy University “I think that’s advantageous The thing about going mant, with their players
important to me because it’s all grad, Messerli was freshman to me that I know the kids,” he 3-of-5 with the man advan- and affiliate list players
I’ve ever known ... I’ve always coach for four years under said. “Whether I’ve had them tage thus far in the Chicago available to be taken by
had a passion for Marion ath- Manderscheid and has spent in class or just talked to them series is their best set-up other clubs.
letics. the past seven seasons as an in the hallway. Seen them ev- guy, Nathan Smith, hasn’t Cedar Rapids took Cana-
“To have this be my first assistant for Corby Laube in ery day there, maybe coached been in the lineup. C.R.’s top dian forward Joshua Barnes
head coaching job in any sport, the girls’ program. He got his them in football. I do know the point getter in the regular first. He’s a Penn State
and for it to be a program that start as a teacher and coach at kids, have some background season has missed the first commit who played in two
I’ve seen for the last 20 years or North Linn. on them, some type of base re- two games with illness, his games this season for Cen-
so, one way or another, is just Throw North Linn’s Mike lationship with them. availability for today and tral Illinois.
special.” Hilmer in there, and Mes- “That will help quite a bit Wednesday in question. The Riders also selected
© 2019 The Gazette

Messerli replaces Mike Man- serli has had some tremendous moving forward, that at least Smith, a Winnipeg Jets forward Jason Siedem of
derscheid, who stepped down mentors. I’m not a new face to them and draft pick, had three goals New Jersey, an original
last month after 11 years as He doesn’t think switching they are not new faces to me.” and 12 assists on the power Boston College commit who
head coach. Manderscheid led back to the boys’ side will be play in the regular season. has reopened his recruiting.
Marion to four state tourna- a big deal, as he is a business l Comments: (319) 398-8259;
“It’s just kind of the way l Comments: (319) 398-8259;
ments. teacher at Marion and familiar jeff.johnson@thegazette.com our team has been all year,” jeff.johnson@thegazette.com