Stokes sets blocks record; Linn-Mar rocks Jefferson

MARION -- A brief postgame announcement was met with appreciative applause.

Then a smile, a wave and a salute from Iowa's new Queen of Blocks.

Kiah Stokes became the state's all-time career leader in blocked shots as second-ranked Linn-Mar drubbed Cedar Rapids Jefferson, 54-22, in a Class 4A girls' basketball regional semifinal Saturday night at Linn-Mar High School.

"It's amazing to break any record," said Stokes, who had eight blocks Saturday to run her career total to 500. "As a freshman, I never would have imagined it."

A 6-foot-3 senior bound for the University of Connecticut, Stokes surpassed Jessica Nikkel of Lynnville-Sully, who blocked 497 shots from 1995 to 1999. She did it late in the second quarter, swatting Taylor Jacobson's short jumper out of bounds.

Stokes also posted 29 points and 14 rebounds as Linn-Mar moved to 20-2. The Lions will face No. 15 Cedar Rapids Xavier in a regional final Tuesday at Jefferson.

Xavier (15-7) routed Marshalltown, 70-18, Saturday.

Tuesday's winner advances to the state tournament Feb. 28-March 5 at Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines.

As the score indicates, scoring was an immense struggle for the J-Hawks, who retired at 8-15. Jefferson made 5 of 38 field goal attempts (13.2 percent).

"Stokes just changes everything about the game," said Jefferson Coach Larry Niemeyer. "We're basically a (fresh-soph) team, and after we got some shots blocked, we really didn't run our offense the last three quarters of the game."

After the teams traded jabs early (it was 5-4, Linn-Mar, after a little more than 3 minutes), the Lions landed a whale of a haymaker -- a 28-2 avalanche through the next 11 1/2 minutes that made it 33-6.

It was 36-8 at halftime.

"I'm very happy with out effort," Lions Coach Mike Brandt said. "We didn't let them take the ball to the hole, and that's what we needed to do."

Stokes was the lone player for either team to reach double figures, but the Lions got strong efforts from Rachel Thrune and Shanice Cheatham.

Thrune posted six points and seven rebounds; Cheatham came off the bench to score six points and grab nine boards.

Jacobson led Jefferson with eight points.

AT LINN-MAR

C.R. JEFFERSON (22): Kaitlyn Davidson 0-4 0-0 0, Ashley Madsen 0-2 0-0 0, Taylor Jacobson 1-12 6-7 8, Rachel Broghammer 0-5 0-0 0, Britteny Steffeny 2-10 2-2 6, Maddie Koolbeck 2-5 2-6 6, Dani Stromert 0-0 2-3 2, Maddy Blietz 0-0 0-0 0, Whylie Massey 0-0 0-0 0, Amber Grimm 0-0 0-0 0, Kieley Brathwaite 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 5-38 12-18 22.

LINN-MAR (54): Mykaela Brandt 1-5 0-0 3, Rachel Thrune 2-5 2-2 6, Kailee Karr 1-4 1-2 3, Jenna Eells 2-7 0-0 5, Kiah Stokes 11-14 7-8 29, Shanice Cheatham 2-3 2-3 6, Courtney Major 0-1 2-2 2, Leandra Martins 0-1 0-0 0, Sara Strauel 0-1 0-0 0, Madison Oleson 0-0 0-0 0, Kelsey Koelker 0-0 0-0 0, Megan Sherwood 0-0 0-0 0, Noelle Clark 0-2 0-0 0, Daisey Clymer 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 19-43 14-17 54.

Halftime: Linn-Mar 36, Jefferson 8.

3-point goals: Jefferson 0-7 (Davidson 0-4, Madsen 0-1, Jacobson 0-1, Steffeny 0-1), Linn-Mar 2-8 (Brandt 1-3, Eells 1-4, Major 0-1).

Team fouls: Jefferson 11, Linn-Mar 14.

Fouled out: none.

Rebounds: Jefferson 22 (Steffeny 5), Linn-Mar 39 (Stokes 14).

Assists: Jefferson 2 (Madsen, Steffeny), Linn-Mar 15 (Karr 7).

Steals: Jefferson 8 (Davidson, Jacobson 3), Linn-Mar 8 (Karr 3).

Turnovers: Jefferson 13, Linn-Mar 10.