Triple-double for Stokes in Lions' victory

MARION -- The opening was fleeting. Jenna Eells and Mykaela Brandt shot it shut.Eells and Brandt hit consecutive 3-pointers with Kiah Stokes in minor foul trouble, and Class 4A second-ranked Linn-Mar eased past No. 14 Cedar Rapids Xavier, 50-31, in a Mississippi Valley Conference girls' basketball game Friday night at Linn-Mar High School."I came out, and I was a little nervous," Stokes said. "But they were playing well, and I was able to take a deep breath."When she was in, Stokes was dominant. The University of Connecticut signee registered a triple-double -- 20 points, 15 rebounds and 10 blocks.She moved within 26 blocks of the state career record of 497, held by Jessica Nikkel of Lynnville-Sully (1995-99)."That would be a cool honor," Stokes said. "I didn't know I was that close. It's not one of those things I had in mind."Linn-Mar (18-1 overall, 13-1 MVC) maintained its one-game lead over Cedar Rapids Washington and Waterloo West in the Mississippi Division. The Lions face Washington in their league finale Thursday.Xavier (12-7, 8-6) dropped its fourth game in a row. But the Saints had a glimmer of hope when Stokes picked up her third foul and Linn-Mar leading 34-20 with 4:23 left in the third quarter.It was 34-23 before Eells and Brandt delivered a pair of bombs that ended any comeback hopes."We didn't have the height advantage down low that we usually have, so we had to concentrate on moving the ball and taking good shots," Eells said.Xavier Coach Tom Lilly said, "There's an old saying about making hay when the sun's shining. You don't get (Stokes) on the bench very often. When you do, you have to make a run."It's quite likely that these teams will meet a third time, in a regional final Feb. 22. The Lions won the two regular-season meetings by similar scores, 51-33 and 50-31."Whoever we play, we play," said Linn-Mar Coach Mike Brandt. "We'll cover that when the time comes. Right now, I love the effort our kids are making."Eells added 13 points for the Lions, making 3 of 5 shots from behind the arc. Mykaela Brandt tallied eight points; Rachel Thrune collected seven points and six boards.Alex Bartz led Xavier with 10 points.Stokes' 10 blocks accounted for 10 misses in Xavier's 11-of-40 shooting performance.

AT LINN-MAR

C.R. XAVIER (31): Annie Dale 1-7 0-0 2, Alex Saxen 3-7 1-5 8, Tyler Sampson 0-1 0-0 0, Emily Walvoord 1-3 0-2 2, Krissi Tow 0-10 2-4 2, Alex Bartz 4-6 2-2 10, Sarah Dickes 1-1 1-2 4, Lisa Boomgarden 0-1 0-1 0, Katlyn Andersen 1-4 0-0 3, Rachel Wiltgen 0-0 0-0 0, Jennifer Murtha 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 11-40 6-16 31.

LINN-MAR (50): Mykaela Brandt 2-4 3-3 8, Rachel Thrune 3-7 0-0 7, Kailee Karr 1-5 0-1 2, Jenna Eells 4-6 2-2 13, Kiah Stokes 6-8 8-13 20, Courtney Major 0-1 0-0 0, Shanica Cheatham 0-0 0-0 0, Leandra Martins 0-0 0-0 0, Sara Strauel 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 16-31 13-19 50.

Halftime: Linn-Mar 23, Xavier 18.

3-point goals: Xavier 3-8 (Dale 0-1, Saxen 1-2, Sampson 0-1, Dickes 1-1, Andersen 1-3), Linn-Mar 5-11 (Brandt 1-2, Thrune 1-1, Karr 0-2, Eells 3-5, Major 0-1).

Team fouls: Xavier 16, Linn-Mar 13.

Fouled out: none.

Rebounds: Xavier 28 (Walvoord, Bartz 5), Linn-Mar 28 (Stokes 15).

Assists: Xavier 4 (four with 1), Linn-Mar 12 (Thrune, Stokes 3).

Steals: Xavier 8 (three with 2), Linn-Mar 3 (three with 1).

Turnovers: Xavier 9, Linn-Mar 12.