DNH girls basketball team seeks upset of top-ranked Mount Vernon

Dike-New Hartford travels to face #1 (3A) Mount Vernon in 3A Region 3 semifinal

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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The Dike-New Hartford girls basketball team will look to pull off an upset when they travel to face #1 (3A) Mount Vernon in a 3A Region 3 semifinal matchup on Wednesday. DNH is coming off a narrow 37-34 win over Hampton-Dumont-CAL in the first round, while Mount Vernon cruised to a 75-17 victory over West Liberty.

Why it matters

This game represents a major opportunity for the underdog DNH squad to knock off one of the top teams in Class 3A. Mount Vernon has an impressive 20-2 record on the season, with their only losses coming against ranked 5A opponents in December.

The details

DNH (13-10) will have to overcome cold shooting and 24 turnovers from their first-round win to have a chance against the powerful Mount Vernon squad. The Mustangs are led by a talented roster and veteran head coach who has worked with a top player from the Cedar Rapids area.

  • The game will take place on Wednesday, February 19, 2026.
  • Pregame coverage will start at 6:45 p.m., followed by the tipoff at 7:00 p.m.

The players

Matt Dove

Head coach of the Dike-New Hartford girls basketball team.

Coach Misener

Head coach of the Mount Vernon girls basketball team, who has worked with a top player from the Cedar Rapids area.

Carson Parker

A top player from the Cedar Rapids area that Coach Misener has worked with.

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What they’re saying

“Excited about the opportunity. Anytime you can play a big-time opponent, no matter when it is, you certainly look forward to that opportunity. I've met Coach Misener a couple times, he works with Carson Parker down in Cedar Rapids, I know he's a really good coach. They got really good players, so we'll see if we can come up with a game plan. But I know our kids will be ready to go down there and compete, and that's what that's what you've got to do this time of year. You've got to have a short memory, good or bad, move on, get ready for the next one, and we'll get ready for Mount Vernon.”

— Matt Dove, Head Coach, Dike-New Hartford Girls Basketball (radioonthego.com)

What’s next

The winner of Wednesday's semifinal matchup between Dike-New Hartford and Mount Vernon will advance to a regional final against either Pella Christian or #12 (3A) Mid-Prairie.

The takeaway

This game represents a classic David vs. Goliath scenario, with the underdog Dike-New Hartford squad looking to pull off a major upset against the top-ranked Mount Vernon team. While Mount Vernon is heavily favored, DNH's gritty first-round win shows they have the potential to compete with the state's elite programs.