Bettendorf coach Aaron Wiley
North Fayette Valley coach Bob Lape says he had a nice weekend after his class 2A top ranked Tigerhawks completed an unbeaten regular season with a victory over Waukon and he even spent time with his family. It was quite a change for Lape, who in past years would immediately dive into preparation for the playoffs which would begin five days later. North Fayette Valley hosts fifth ranked New Hampton on Friday night to kickoff a new playoff format which features a week between games.
“To be honest it does not even feel like playoff time yet”, said Lape. “After so many years of that five days it does not feel like the playoffs and it feels like a normal week. I am sure the atmosphere on Friday will be a little different.”
Approval of the change is not unanimous. Bettendorf coach Aaron Wiley says he enjoyed the old playoff format.
“I thought it was a ton of fun for the kids and it was fun for the coaches”, said Wiley. ” You are going a hundred miles an hour trying to get a game plan ready. It was a lot of fun and I was against the change but nobody asked me.”
Wiley’s Bulldogs are sixth ranked in class 4A and open at home against number 10 Iowa City West.
Darin Svenson from KDEC contributed to this story