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For North Linn, chaos can be a beautiful thing
Girls’ state basketball: Second string — dubbed the Chaos Crew — brings high energy in the Lynx’s 68-36 rout of Winfield-Mount Union in a Class 1A quarterfinal
Mar. 1, 2023 9:21 pm, Updated: Mar. 2, 2023 10:01 am
DES MOINES — Don’t bother racking your brain, trying to come up with a cute, clever moniker for North Linn’s high-energy reserves.
They’re a step ahead of you.
Make yourself acquainted with the Chaos Crew.
“That’s us,” Skylar Benesh said, proudly. “We’re here to bring as much energy as we can.”
Mackenzie Bridgewater added, “We want to give our starters a break, run around, get some steals, force some turnovers.”
North Linn’s second five — Benesh, Bridgewater, Allie Haughenbury, Meghan Wheatley and Emilee Beuter — didn’t simply tread water when they were on the court Wednesday.
They were game-breakers.
That crew cracked the code for keeps late in the second quarter, and third-ranked North Linn sprinted away from No. 8 Winfield-Mount Union, 68-36, in a Class 1A quarterfinal at the girls’ state basketball tournament at Wells Fargo Arena.
The “Chaos Crew” term was first coined by North Linn football coach Jared Collum on the local “LynxCast” earlier this season.
It fits.
“The idea goes back to last summer,” Lynx Coach Brian Wheatley said. “We didn’t have all of our softball kids, and it became pretty clear, once we got them all back, that we had a lot of kids that could contribute.
“We tried rotating, then we said, ‘What if we put all five of them together?’ It’s not something we’ve ever done. But the more we did it, the more we liked it.”
North Linn (23-1) advances to Friday’s semifinal opposite No. 2 Newell-Fonda (23-2). Tipoff is 3:15.
Newell-Fonda whipped No. 9 Woodbine, 81-60, Wednesday.
The Lynx starters weren’t super sharp early. Winfield-Mount Union (22-2) held a 10-9 lead when the Chaos Crew made its first appearance.
By the time the starters returned, North Linn led, 14-10.
It was 24-16 when the Chaos Crew made its second tour of duty. Haughenbury was in the right place at the right time for a putback. Meghan Wheatley drained a 3-pointer. Benesh scored in transition, and Bridgewater converted from the baseline.
Suddenly, it was 33-18.
Winfield-Mount Union was still somewhat in the game heading to the fourth quarter at 42-29, but the Lynx hit on all cylinders at the end, closing with a 26-7 haymaker.
“It might not show in the first quarter. It might now show at halftime,” Molly Boge said. “But eventually, we’re going to wear most teams down.”
“All year, we’ve been, ‘Keep running, keep running,” Macy Boge said. “We all can run fast.”
All you need to know on the final stat sheet is this:
North Linn’s assist-to-turnover count was 17 to 10. Winfield-Mount Union’s was 3 to 26.
Both Boge sisters — a double-Boge? — scored 13 points. Kamryn Kurt added 11 points, six rebounds and four steals.
As for the Chaos Crew?
North Linn scored 22 bench points, led by Benesh’s seven. Haughenbury registered five points and four rebounds. Beuter grabbed six boards.
All told, 11 North Linn players scored.
Melina Oepping finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds for Winfield-Mount Union.
North Linn 68, Winfield-Mount Union 36
Class 1A State Quarterfinal, at Des Moines
WINFIELD-MOUNT UNION (36): Keetyn Townsley 0-4 4-4 4, Keely Malone 0-2 0-0 0, Bradie Buffington 5-16 0-1 10, Anna Anderson 0-2 0-0 0, Melina Oepping 6-13 6-7 18, Pacey Schlee 0-1 0-0 0, Aurey Meeker 0-0 0-0 0, Josie Nelson 1-5 0-0 2, Afton Wilkerson 0-0 0-0 0, Mariana Hagmeier 0-0 0-0 0, Madisen Kellogg 1-1 0-0 2, Maggie Hutton 0-0 0-0 0, Kaelyn Townsley 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 13-45 10-12 36.
NORTH LINN (68): Elise Ware 1-5 0-0 2, Macy Boge 5-11 1-4 13, Molly Boge 5-6 0-1 13, Kamryn Kurt 5-12 0-0 11, Ellie Flanagan 3-7 0-0 7, Meghan Wheatley 1-2 0-0 3, Skylar Benesh 3-4 0-0 7, Allie Haughenbury 2-5 1-2 5, Mackenzie Bridgewater 2-6 0-0 4, Alison Christensen 1-1 0-2 2, Bryn Collum 0-0 0-0 0, Aubrey Wade 0-0 0-0 0, Emilee Beuter 0-4 1-2 1, Carly Ries 0-0 0-0 0, Sidney Olson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 28-63 3-11 68.
Winfield-Mount Union 12 9 8 7 — 36
North Linn 14 19 9 26 — 68
3-point goals: WMU 0-5 (Townsley 0-1, Malone 0-1, Buffington 0-1, Anderson 0-2), North Linn 9-20 (Macy Boge 2-4, Molly Boge 3-4, Kurt 1-3, Flanagan 1-4, Wheatley 1-2, Benesh 1-1, Bridgewater 0-2). Team fouls: WMU 7, North Linn 12. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: WMU 37 (Oepping 10), North Linn 32 (Flanagan 7). Assists: WMU 3 (three with 1), North Linn 17 (Kurt 4). Steals: WMU 5 (Buffington, Oepping 2), North Linn 20 (Macy Boge 5). Turnovers: WMU 26, North Linn 10.
Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com
North Linn's Elise Ware (14) and Kamryn Kurt (34) celebrate following the Lynx’s 68-36 win over Winfield-Mount Union in a Class 1A quarterfinal at the girls’ state basketball tournament Wednesday at Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)
North Linn's Allie Haughenbury (20) and Mackenzie Bridgewater (22) pressure Winfield-Mount Union's Keely Malone (34) during the Lynx’s 68-36 win in a Class 1A quarterinal at the girls’ state basketball tournament Wednesday at Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines. Haughenbury and Bridgewater are members of the Lynx’s “Chaos Crew.” (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)
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