Simulation for North Linn’s press is one thing, but it’s not the real thing

VAN HORNE — How do you prepare for North Linn’s killer press?

“Once the brackets came out two or three weeks ago, we started simulating it with seven or eight kids against five,” Montezuma Coach Janel Burgess said.

Good plan. And yet ...

No. 3 North Linn picked off 16 steals, zapped Montezuma with a 20-2 second-quarter blitz and won Thursday’s Class 1A girls’ basketball regional final, 69-40, at Benton Community High School.

“We’re good about getting (the ball-handlers) to go to the sideline, and the second (defender) is able to go set the trap,” North Linn’s Molly Boge said.

The Lynx (22-1) advanced to the state tournament for the fifth consecutive year and the eighth time in the last 10 years. They’ll face No. 8 Winfield-Mount Union (22-1) in a first-round game at 6:45 Wednesday night at Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines.

As is usually the case, the Lynx were too quick and too deep. Consider:

Call it depth. Call it balance. Call it winning basketball. And there’s not much dropoff when the Lynx’s second wave comes at you.

“We go at it 5-on-5 every day, and our second five is good,” Boge said.

Kamryn Kurt added, “We’re so lucky to have a lot of girls that are willing to make us better every day.”

Montezuma (21-4) hung in there for a while, trailing just 16-12 early in the second quarter.

Then came the blitz, a four-minute game-changer than put North Linn in command, 36-14. It was 38-18 at halftime.

“It was shell shock,” Burgess said. “I’m proud of our kids’ fight, but North Linn is so deep and has great speed.”

Lynx Coach Brian Wheatley said his team’s press success in born not out of scheme, but by players’ instincts, both individually and collectively.

“They know how to play,” Wheatley said. “There are no set rules. They make the reads, when to go trap, then rotate to the next pass. They have a high basketball IQ and play hard.”

Put simply, the Lynx like to force ball-handlers to the sideline, then double-team. Simulate all you want, and good luck.

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Photos: Montezuma vs. North Linn in Class 1A regional final

Montezuma had 15 turnovers at halftime and finished with 21. North Linn collected 16 steals.

And to top it off, the Lynx earned a 35-21 rebounding advantage.

Kurt led all scorers with 20 points. Macy Boge added 13. Molly Boge contributed 11 points, six rebounds, six assists and four steals.

The Lynx held top Montezuma threat Mia Boulton to two points. Jadyn Sharer led the Bravettes with 14 points.

North Linn 69, Montezuma 40

Class 1A Regional Final, at Van Horne

MONTEZUMA (40): Madison Johannes 0-5 0-0 0, Ellen Cook 2-7 3-8 8, Mia Boulton 0-8 2-2 2, Jadyn Sharer 4-5 3-4 14, Kallie Robison 3-5 2-2 8, Shiressa Wetering 2-4 0-0 4, Claire Erselius 1-3 2-4 4, Izzy Roorda 0-0 0-0 0, Alivia Cline 0-0 0-0 0, Jordan Ranfeld 0-0 0-0 0, Ashlee Eilander 0-0 0-0 0, Laila Kercheaval 0-0 0-0 0, Harlea Pargeon 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 12-37 12-20 40.

NORTH LINN (69): Elise Ware 3-3 1-2 7, Macy Boge 5-13 2-2 13, Molly Boge 4-10 0-0 11, Kamryn Kurt 9-17 2-4 20, Ellie Flanagan 4-7 0-0 8, Mackenzie Bridgewater 0-1 0-0 0, Emilie Beuter 2-3 0-0 4, Meghan Wheatley 1-1 0-0 3, Skylar Benesh 0-0 0-0 0, Allie Haughenbury 0-1 0-0 0, Bryn Collum 0-0 0-0 0, Samantha West 0-0 0-0 0, Peyton McMahon 0-0 0-0 0, Sidney Olson 0-0 0-0 0, Alison Christensen 0-0 1-2 1. Totals 28-56 6-10 69.

Montezuma 10 8 11 11 — 40

North Linn 14 24 17 14 — 69

3-point goals: Montezuma 4-17 (Johannes 0-4, Cook 1-4, Boulton 0-4, Sharer 3-3, Erselius 0-2), North Linn 7-20 (Macy Boge 1-5, Molly Boge 3-7, Kurt 0-3, Flanagan 2-4, Wheatley 1-1). Team fouls: Montezuma 9, North Linn 17. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: Montezuma 21 (Boulton 7), North Linn 36 (Kurt 7). Assists: Montezuma 6 (Boulton 3), North Linn 19 (Molly Boge 6). Steals: Montezuma 5 (Cook, Sharer 2), North Linn 16 (Molly Boge 4). Turnovers: Montezuma 21, North Linn 11.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com