Linn-Mar rolls past Prairie, awaits transfer Ollinger

CEDAR RAPIDS - The Linn-Mar Lions are 6-1 and ranked eighth in Class 5A for different reasons. But they'll quickly tell you about the main one.

'Our team chemistry is awesome,” guard Olivia Montague said after her team's 60-35 win Friday night at Cedar Rapids Prairie. 'It's all about each other. It's so great.”

'I just love our chemistry right now,” agreed teammate Lannie Nietert. 'None of us is selfish.”

Linn-Mar will add a significant player to the mix after Christmas when University of Iowa commit Amanda Ollinger comes in. She announced publicly Wednesday she was leaving Cedar Rapids Jefferson, her family buying a house in the Linn-Mar district.

You can tell these Lions really aren't certain about this whole deal, or how it might affect them.

'I think with our team and the way our chemistry is, we'll accept someone new,” said Nietert, who had a career-high 12 points off the bench. 'I don't know right now. It's a weird situation. We'll see how it goes.”

'We're just going to invite her into the family,” said Montague, who led Linn-Mar with 13 points. 'Another member of our family is always a positive. I can't wait to have another family member.”

Linn-Mar Coach Jamie Brandt was asked about Olllinger's transfer.

'Obviously I just found out a couple of days ago,” she said. 'It's all pretty new to us. We came out tonight just really focused on what we have been doing all season. When she comes, we'll fit her in when we can and how we can. I don't really know her game. I kind of do, but I haven't seen her play much. We'll just have to deal with that when it comes.”

Linn-Mar scored the game's nine points and held Prairie (0-8) without any until the final two minutes of the first quarter. A big third quarter made it 46-31 and out of the Hawks' reach.

Brandt pointed out her team's 18 assists on 22 field goals made, a sign of how well the Lions moved the ball. They shot 50 percent.

Makenzie Stoffer led Prairie with 11 points.

'These girls guy into the whole play-together concept, and I'm proud of them for that,” she said.

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AT C.R. PRAIRIE

LINN-MAR (60): Lexi Frese 2-3 0-0 4, Nikita Sharma 3-7 0-1 6, Kamryn Finley 2-4 0-0 4, Brittney Lancial 2-6 3-6 9, Olivia Montague 4-12 1-1 12, Lannie Nietert 5-6 2-6 12, Megan Murphy 3-3 0-0 8, Alie Akers 0-0 0-0 0, Claire Larson 0-1 2-4 2, Allie Noggle 0-0 0-0 0, Natalie Ross 0-0 2-2 2, Rachel Fensterman 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-42 10-20 60.

C.R. PRAIRIE (35): Halle Person 2-5 0-2 5, Emilie Rotter 1-2 0-2 2, Taylor Moenck 1-3 0-0 2, Jenna Wagemester 2-7 2-2 6, Lynsen Altenhofer 0-3 0-2 0, Madalynn Adams 1-2 0-0 3, Makenzie Stoffer 5-9 1-2 11, Olivia Usher 1-5 2-2 4, Ranelle Herold 0-4 2-2 2, Lauren Kuch 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 13-40 7-14 35.

Halftime - Linn-Mar 29, Prairie 20. 3-point goals - Linn-Mar 6-16 (Finley 0-2, Lancial 2-5, Montague 2-7, Murphy 2-2), Prairie 2-9 (Person 1-3, Moenck 0-1, Altenhofen 0-2, Adams 1-2, Herold 0-1). Rebounds - Linn-Mar 26 (Sharma 6), Prairie 26 (Rotter 4). Total fouls - Linn

-Mar 12, Prairie 18. Fouled out - None. Turnovers - Linn-Mar 11, Prairie 17.

l Comments: (319) 398-8259; jeff.johnson@thegazette.com