North Mahaska will open the Class 1A District 12 basketball tournament at home on Monday, Feb. 13, when they face GMG, 6-14. Game time in New Sharon will be 7 p.m.
The winner will meet either Pekin (11-9) or Lone Tree (7-14) in New Sharon on Thursday, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. in the district quarterfinal. Quite possibly fans are looking at a rematch of last season’s substate final with Lynnville-Sully (18-2), a team that has defeated North Mahaska twice this season.
That game is scheduled for Lynnville-Sully with the winner advancing to the substate final and a state berth opportunity. Out of the top bracket is No. 4 Gladbrook-Reinbeck (19-1) and fourth place in the South Iowa Cedar League Keota at 16-3. Those two could also meet in a district final.
Postseasons are always ripe for an upset and playing teams for the third time is always a challenge so only time will tell if the favorites survive the ride. North Mahaska is seeking its second consecutive trip to state and the talented senior class would like nothing better than to play their final games of their high school career at Wells Fargo Arena.