Lillie Spicer’s big finish sends Jefferson past Linn-Mar, 50-43

MARION — The Jefferson J-Hawks very nearly didn’t make it back to the court in time for the start of the second half.

“We were talking, as a team (in the locker room),” Lillie Spicer said. “It was, ‘this is what we need to do to get better.’

“I guess we lost track of time.”

Then they promptly went out and controlled the second half.

Spicer registered 24 points and 17 rebounds (nine and nine in the fourth quarter), and Cedar Rapids Jefferson surged past Linn-Mar, 50-43, in a Mississippi Valley Conference girls basketball game Monday night at Linn-Mar High School.

“Lillie demands so much attention,” first-year coach Martez Creighton said. “If she’s one-on-one, she’ll go up with the ball. If she’s double- or triple-teamed, she’ll kick it back out.”

Trailing 26-18 at halftime, the J-Hawks (2-3 overall, 1-1 MVC) returned to the gym just as the third-quarter horn went off. There was no time for warmup shots or last-second instructions.

Instead of coming in cold, they played it cool, scoring the first six points of the second half.

Linn-Mar (1-7, 1-2) still led 34-32 entering the fourth quarter, but Spicer took over from there. She scored the first seven points of the final period, and Jefferson won going away.

“We really wanted to get this win,” Spicer said. “This was a win for the team, not for me.”

The J-Hawks prevailed despite 23 points from Linn-Mar’s Lanie Ernzen, who nailed five 3-pointers.

Ernzen scored the game’s first eight points.

Jefferson is a junior-laden team with a completely new coaching staff.

“We have a lot of talent,” Creighton said. “We’re putting it together ... they’re getting to know me; I’m getting to know them.”

Kymara Atwood-Mayes added eight points and 10 rebounds for the J-Hawks. Angeline Troh scored seven.

Dreya Kern provided seven points, 10 boards and three early assists for Linn-Mar.

Cedar Rapids Jefferson 50, Linn-Mar 43

At Linn-Mar

C.R. JEFFERSON (50): Kymara Atwood-Mayes 1-11 5-6 8, Angeline Troh 2-8 2-3 7, Elysionna Westerfield 2-7 2-3 6, Lexi Haller 0-1 0-0 0, Lillie Spicer 8-17 8-12 24, Evie Creighton 1-3 2-2 5, Lulu Ulrich 0-1 0-0 0, Mikah Duke 0-0 0-0 0. Addyson Luvan 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 14-48 19-26 50.

LINN-MAR (43): Maddy Blandford 0-0 0-0 0, Emerson McCormick 1-5 0-0 2, Harleigh Titus 1-1 0-0 2, Dreya Kern 2-14 3-6 7, Lanie Ernzen 7-16 4-4 23, Maya Seim 1-7 2-2 5, Reggan Borchers 0-0 0-0 0, Lucy Axeen 0-2 2-2 2, Madi Wedo 0-1 2-2 2. Totals 12-46 13-16 43.

C.R. Jefferson 14 4 14 18 — 50

Linn-Mar 14 12 8 9 — 43

3-point goals: Jefferson 3-18 (Atwood-Mayes 1-8, Troh 1-5, Westerfield 0-1, Haller 0-1, Spicer 0-1, Creighton 1-2), Linn-Mar 6-20 (Kern 3-6, Ernzen 5-9, Seim 1-6, Axeen 0-1, Wedo 0-1). Team fouls: Jefferson 20, Linn-Mar 22. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: Jefferson 40 (Spicer 17), Linn-Mar 32 (Kern 10). Assists: Jefferson 9 (Haller 3), Linn-Mar 5 (Kern 3). Steals: Jefferson 8 (Troh, Westerfield, Duke 2), Linn-Mar 8 (Blandford, Ernzen 2). Turnovers: Jefferson 13, Linn-Mar 14.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com