North Linn can’t get stops when needed late in Rivalry Saturday loss to Denver

CEDAR RAPIDS — One more stop. That’s probably all North Linn needed.

Instead, Denver closed the game with a 9-4 run. And that propelled the Class 2A fifth-ranked Cyclones past the 1A No. 5 Lynx, 65-64, in a Rivalry Saturday dandy at Johnson Hall.

“Credit them; they made plays,” North Linn Coach Brian Wheatley said. “We just couldn’t get enough stops. We were in quicksand out there a little.”

Denver (2-0) trailed 60-56 after the Lynx (1-1) scored six consecutive points, capped by back-to-back buckets by Macy Boge, with 3:25 left.

North Linn forced a Denver miss, but Reese Johnson grabbed the offensive rebound and stuck it back for a basket, and the Cyclones’ rally was underway.

Another offensive rebound, by Grace Hennessy, tied the game, then Johnson scored in transition to put the Cyclones in front, 62-60, with 1:22 to go.

A nifty reverse by Kamryn Kurt tied the game before Allison Bonnette’s three-point play put the Cyclones ahead for good with 36 ticks left.

North Linn’s Chloe Van Etten was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 0:03.5 left. Van Etten made the first two free throws, missed the third. Denver rebounded and ran out the clock.

“There are things we can improve upon,” Kurt said. “This one game isn’t going to define our season. We just came up one point short today.”

The end wasn’t what really hurt North Linn. It was the beginning. Denver rocketed to a 15-5 lead before the Lynx stabilized. Van Etten’s putback with 1:11 left in the second quarter gave the Lynx their first lead, 34-33, and they were up 36-34 at halftime.

Kurt led the Lynx with 20 points. Macy Boge added 13.

Johnson paced the Cyclones with 21 points, and Sydney Eggena chipped in 18.

Denver 65, North Linn 64

At Johnson Hall

DENVER (65): Allison Bonnette 4-8 3-4 13, Avery Forde 0-1 0-0 0, Grace Hennessy 3-12 2-3 8, Reese Johnson 7-13 6-7 21, Sydney Eggena 5-6 7-10 18, Elaina Hildebrandt 1-4 0-0 2, Macy Matthias 1-4 0-0 2. Totals 21-48 18-24 65.

NORTH LINN (64): Chloe Van Etten 5-7 3-5 13, Macy Boge 3-9 0-1 7, Molly Boge 2-2 0-0 6, Kamryn Kurt 8-11 2-2 20, Ellie Flanagan 2-6 3-4 9, Skylar Benesh 2-6 0-0 5, Elise Ware 1-2 2-2 4, Ella Ries 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 23-46 10-14 64.

Denver 22 12 14 17 — 65

North Linn 19 17 12 16 — 64

3-point goals: Denver 5-18 (Bonnette 2-5, Hildebrandt 0-1, Forde 0-1, Hennessy 0-4, Johnson 1-4, Matthias 1-2, Eggena 1-1), North Linn 8-17 (Benesh 1-4, Ries 0-1, Macy Boge 1-1, Molly Boge 2-2, Kurt 2-4, Flanagan 2-5). Team fouls: Denver 11, North Linn 20. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: Denver 20 (Bonnette 7), North Linn 19 (Ware, Van Etten 4). Assists: Denver 7 (three with 2), North Linn 8 (Kurt 3). Steals: Denver 5 (Hennessy, Johnson 2), North Linn 3 (Benesh 2). Turnovers: Denver 9, North Linn 10.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com