Ollinger’s a winner in her return

CEDAR RAPIDS - It's behind her, that awkward return.

It's behind them, that losing streak.

Amanda Ollinger scored eight of her game-high 21 points in a game-ending 10-0 run, and Linn-Mar ended a six-game skid with a 46-34 Mississippi Valley Conference girls' basketball victory over Cedar Rapids Jefferson Friday night at Jefferson High School.

'It's just good to get a win,” Ollinger said. 'We've been on a losing streak, and it's good to get a win - no matter who we were playing.”

Ollinger was making her return to the Jefferson gym, about six weeks after moving across town and enrolling at Linn-Mar. She got her first start Friday. And a big finish.

Her reception was chilly, but reasonably clean.

Jefferson students turned their backs on the court when Ollinger was announced during starting lineups, but didn't boo. They chanted 'Brick” when she missed, and 'Air-ball” when it applied.

When she was at the free throw line, the chant was 'Stay true, bleed blue.”

'I toned it all out,” Ollinger said. 'Parents are going to say what they want to say, and students are going to say what they're going to say. You can't worry about it.”

Linn-Mar (11-7 overall, 8-2 MVC) pulled within a game of Iowa City West in the MVC Valley Division. The Lions led the whole way, but it got interesting in the fourth quarter.

A six-point run brought the J-Hawks (6-11, 4-6) within 36-34 with 2:40 to go, setting up a potentially dramatic finish.

Instead, Ollinger owned the end. The junior forward, who has committed to the University of Iowa, converted on a drive, then on a turnaround, then added two free throws for a 42-34 lead.

Brittney Lancial added two foul shots, then Ollinger capped it with a steal, a layup, and a scream and a fist-pump as she ran back upcourt.

'She's the type of kid who can take over a game,” said Linn-Mar Coach Jaime Printy Brandt. 'She had a mismatch in there, and we found it.

'This is what the team needed, to come away with a win. But I think everybody's glad this game is over - our team, their team and Amanda.”

Linn-Mar jumped to a 13-2 lead amd owned a 21-12 halftime advantage. It was 30-18 midway through the third quarter before the J-Hawks chipped away.

Sam Kitterman led Jefferson with 11 points. Kennedy Dighton added 10.

'All week long, we focused on playing basketball and blocking out all the peripheral things,” said Jefferson Coach Jason Edwards. 'A lot of people were pulling for these kids. They were cheering for Jefferson, they weren't cheering against Amanda.”

LINN-MAR 46, CEDAR RAPIDS JEFFERSON 34

At C.R. Jefferson

LINN-MAR (46): Brittney Lancial 0-0 3-4 3, Olivia Montague 2-6 0-0 5, Niki Sharma 1-6 0-0 2, Kamryn Finley 2-7 0-0 5, Amanda Ollinger 9-19 2-3 21, Lexi Frese 1-2 0-0 2, Claire Larson 0-3 0-0 0, Megan Murphy 2-4 0-0 6, Lannie Nietert 1-1 0-1 2. Totals 18-48 5-8 46.

C.R. JEFFERSON (34): Mariah Robinson 0-2 1-4 1, Sam Kitterman 5-10 1-2 11, Avery Guy 1-2 1-2 3, Kylie Wise 3-7 0-2 7, Kennedy Dighton 3-13 4-6 10, Sparkle Melton 1-4 0-0 2, Emma Rolwes 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 13-38 7-16 34.

Halftime: Linn-Mar 21, Jefferson 12. 3-point goals: Linn-Mar 5-17 (Montague 1-4, Finley 1-2, Ollinger 1-7, Larson 0-1, Murphy 2-3), Jefferson 1-11 (Robinson 0-1, Kitterman 0-1, Wise 1-4, Dighton 0-5). Team fouls: Linn-Mar 13, Jefferson 12. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: Linn-Mar 32 (Sharma 6), Jefferson 28 (Dighton 6). Assists: Linn-Mar 10 (Sharma 3), Jefferson 7 (Guy 3). Steals: Linn-Mar 16 (Ollinger 4), Jefferson 6 (Robinson, Wise 2). Turnovers: Linn-Mar 15, Jefferson 18.

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com