Bohannon nets 33; Linn-Mar edges Xavier

CEDAR RAPIDS — The final member of the Metro's first family of boys' basketball, Jordan Bohannon has been the target of various chants from numerous student sections throughout the past four years.

So the 'Over-rated' chant eminating at Ron Thillen Gymnasium was mild.

'No big deal,' Bohannon said. 'I've heard worse.'

This was mild. And wildly incorrect.

A University of Iowa signee, Bohannon posted 33 points as Linn-Mar defeated Class 3A third-ranked Cedar Rapids Xavier, 82-76, in a Mississippi Valley Conference boys' basketball offensive showcase Tuesday night.

'It's fun to play in a game like this, with everybody making shots,' Bohannon said. 'We moved the ball around well. We got some open layups and some open 3-pointers.'

Linn-Mar (12-5, 10-3) avenged an earlier defeat to the Saints, shooting 61 percent from the floor (30 of 49). Xavier (13-5, 9-4) was nearly as accurate at 60 percent (30 of 50), including 11 of 19 from 3-point range.

'Both teams were really sharp on the offensive end,' said Xavier Coach Ryan Luehrsmann. 'We just weren't able to layer stops, getting two or three in a row.'

A Linn-Mar surge at the end of the first half was key. The Lions held a 28-26 edge before Jared Printy converted a conventional three-point play and tacked on a 3-pointer in a 12-2 run for a 12-point lead.

It was 40-31 at halftime.

The second half was a series of Xavier runs to get close, but the Lions always answered.

Xavier got within two points at 51-49, again at 61-59, then once more at 78-76 when Jackson Joens swished a 3-pointer with 40 seconds to go.

But Bohannon stifled the last surge from the line. He made all eight of his free throws Tuesday, including six in the final minute.

'You get ahead, and it's kind of comforting looking at the clock when you're in the lead,' said Bohannon, who made 11 of 17 shots from the floor.

Printy added 16 points, Jordan Brandt 12, Beau Klostermann 10.

'We moved the ball better tonight,' said Lions Coach Chris Robertson. 'That had been an Achilles for us, staying on one side of the floor. Tonight, we reversed the ball and got to the rim.'

Matt Mims paced Xavier with 22 points. Joens added 18, Ryan Stelken 14, Max Techau 13.

The Saints were without Mitchell Burger, who averages 17 points per game. He is day-to-day with an ankle injury.

LINN-MAR 82, CEDAR RAPIDS XAVIER 76

At C.R. Xavier

LINN-MAR (82): Jared Printy 6-10 2-2 16, Riley Murphy 1-4 1-5 3, Jordan Bohannon 11-17 8-8 33, Beau Klostermann 4-6 0-0 10, Jordan Brandt 5-7 0-0 12, Reese Phillips 2-3 0-0 6, Tyler Voves 1-1 0-0 2, Forrest Cronin 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 30-49 11-15 82.

C.R. XAVIER (76): Matt Mims 9-13 2-3 22, Nolan Butkowski 2-5 0-1 5, Jackson Joens 7-10 0-0 18, Ryan Stulken 4-7 2-3 14, Max Techau 6-11 1-1 13, Blake Whitten 0-0 0-0 0, Bryce Schulte 2-4 0-0 4. Totals 30-50 5-8 76.

Halftime: Linn-Mar 40, Xavier 31. 3-point goals: Linn-Mar 11-23 (Printy 2-6, Murphy 0-2, Bohannon 3-7, Klostermann 2-3, Brandt 2-3, Phillips 2-2), Xavier 11-19 (Mims 2-5, Butkowski 1-2, Joens 4-6, Stulken 4-6). Team fouls: Linn-Mar 11, Xavier 13. Rebounds: Linn-Mar 19 (Murphy 6), Xavier 22 (Techau 7). Assists: Linn-Mar 11 (Murphy 4), Xavier 12 (Mims 4). Steals: Linn-Mar 9 (Printy, Phillips 2), Xavier 3 (three with 1). Turnovers: Linn-Mar 7, Xavier 11.

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