Tigers head into Substate after claiming MVC title with victory at Kennedy

A 33-point career high game and 17 point fourth quarter from Dallas Bear ignited the flame as the No. 4 Cedar Falls offense caught fire last Thursday night at Cedar Rapids Kennedy. 

Trey Campbell added 15 points, eight assists and four steals to help secure an MVC championship in the 75-66 win over the No. 3 Cougars. Cedar Falls shot 12-of-19 from beyond the three point line as a team including a 3-for-3 effort from Carter Juhl off the bench. 

The Cougars were led in scoring by juniors Kenzie Reed and Colby Dolphin. The two scored 19 each, and Reed added five assists. Kennedy shot just 7-of-24 from three point range but held a one point lead entering halftime before being outscored 38-28 in the second half. 

The Tigers ended the regular season with a 14-1 conference record and a 18-2 record overall. Cedar Falls is now set to face Marshalltown after the Bobcats 69-65 win on Monday night over Waterloo East. 

Campbell continues to lead the Tigers in scoring with 24.4 points per game, which ranks second in 4A. Campbell along with Bear and Cade Courbat are grabbing six or more rebounds a game, and Campbell leads the team in assists with 4.2 per contest. 

The Bobcats (11-11) are led in scoring by point guard Armonniey Thomas’ 21.8 points per game. Thomas also leads the team in assists with four per game and steals with 2.1 per game. The leading rebounder for the Bobcats has been sophomore Dalen Huston with 5.7 per game, just 0.3 more than Thomas. 

“You can’t take any team lightly once you get to Substate because everyone’s giving it their all, and anybody can beat anybody at that point,” Bear said. 

Cedar Falls plays Marshalltown at home on Friday night, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. with a trip to the Substate final on the line against either Cedar Rapids Jefferson or West Des Moines Valley.