Audi Crooks, Garrigan present a high hurdle for North Linn

DES MOINES — It was a win that deserved to be savored.

But the price of victory on this stage is this — there’s another mountain, a higher peak, to be scaled.

“It just keeps getting tougher, obviously,” North Linn Coach Brian Wheatley said after the sixth-ranked Lynx edged No. 3 Springville, 58-56, in Wednesday night’s Class 1A quarterfinal clash between the Tri-Rivers Conference rivals.

Tougher, as in No. 2 Algona Garrigan. Tougher, as in Audi Crooks.

The Lynx (23-2) take aim at Crooks and Garrigan (23-3) in Friday’s 1A semifinal. Tipoff is 3:15 p.m. at Wells Fargo Arena.

The owner of a strong, sturdy, 6-foot-3 frame and soft hands, Crooks averages 23.8 points, 12.3 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game. She shoots nearly 73 percent from the field.

“If I score three or 30, I’m willing to do it. Whatever I can contribute,” Crooks said after the Golden Bears blasted Burlington Notre Dame, 77-42, in the first round.

“Once I know the double-team is coming, it frees somebody up.”

Crooks hit 15 of 18 shots in a 32-point, seven-rebound first-round performance.

One of the state’s top junior prospects, Crooks plans to announce her college decision before her AAU season. Iowa and Iowa State are believed to be among the contenders for her services.

“I’ve got a list of six, and I’m not telling anybody who they are,” she said.

North Linn’s tallest starter is Chloe Van Etten, at 5-foot-9.

“It’s going to take a great effort to slow (Crooks) down,” Wheatley said.

The Lynx held Springville post Lauren Wilson to 14 points (on 4-of-11 shooting) and 11 rebounds.

Wednesday’s game swung with two plays midway through the fourth quarter. With the Lynx clinging to a 44-43 lead, Ellie Flanagan drained a 3-pointer with 4:03 to go.

On the following possession, Kamryn Kurt drew a charge from Wilson, and the Lynx went on to complete an 8-0 run for a 52-43 lead.

“Those were two big plays,” Wheatley said. “We had been struggling a little on offense. We had to take a chance, and Ellie hit a big shot.

“Kamryn is kind of a little pipsqueak. She took the brunt of that (charge). We did what we had to do down the stretch.”

Next up: Garrigan, the 1A runner-up in 2020 and 2021.

The Lynx will be undersized underdogs, but in the words of Wheatley:

“We’re still here, and if you’re still here, you’ve got a chance.”

Call to the Hall

Kiah Stokes was selected to the Iowa Girls Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017, but her schedule as a professional player overseas always prevented her from attending the ceremony.

She’ll be here Saturday.

Stokes, who starred at Linn-Mar before embarking on an NCAA-championship career at the University of Connecticut, is one of four Hall of Famers that will be recognized at halftime of the 1A championship game.

The 2022 class consists of Julie Goodrich (Adel, 1974), Keanna Levy (Waterloo West, 2003) and Alexis Conaway (MOC-Floyd Valley, 2014).

One of the state’s all-time best rebounders and shot-blockers, Stokes was a member of Linn-Mar’s unbeaten state-championship team of 2010. She was on three national-championship teams at UConn and was drafted 11th in the 2015 WNBA draft by the New York Liberty.

She played for the Las Vegas Aces last season. Overseas, she played first in South Korea and now in Turkey.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com