Stokes scores school-record 39 in rout

MARION -- Mike Brandt gave Kiah Stokes one possession. One chance.

She made it count.

Stokes scored a school-record 39 points to lead Class 4A third-ranked Linn-Mar to a 73-36 rout of Cedar Rapids Jefferson, 73-36, in a Mississippi Valley Conference girls' basketball game Tuesday night at Linn-Mar High School.

"It feels pretty cool," said the University of Connecticut recruit. "To get a record that's been held for so long ... it's pretty cool."

Stokes' output eclipsed the old record of 38 points, set by Amy Osenbaugh in 1989. She could have smashed it, but Brandt shut her down after the record-setting basket, just a few seconds into the fourth quarter,

"I would have liked to have sat her down after the third quarter, but she deserved a shot at it," Brandt said. "We were going to give her one possession to do it."

Stokes converted 19 of 24 field goal attempts, making her first six. She had 25 points by halftime.

"She gets really good position, her arms are 7 feet wide, and she can outjump a lot of people," said teammate Kailee Karr, who had six of Linn-Mar's 19 assists as the Lions fed Stokes at will. "It's pretty awesome to be part of this."

The game was never competitive. Stokes' first basket came 5 seconds into the game -- she won the tip, then outraced the J-Hawks (2-3, 2-1) for a lob pass on the opening play -- and Linn-Mar jumped to a 10-0 lead less then 3 minutes in.

It was 17-5 after one quarter, 40-14 at half and 64-20 when Stokes exited.

"It didn't matter if we put somebody in front of her or behind her," said Jefferson Coach Larry Niemeyer. "She was going to score."

Stokes, who also grabbed nine rebounds and blocked four shots, has been more assertive -- though not necessarily more vocal -- in demanding the ball for a team that has four new starters to go around her after winning the state championship last March.

The Lions extended their winning streak to 31 games. They have won 48 straight regular-season games, and their 36-game MVC win streak is second-longest in league history. 

Barring upset or snowout, the Lions can match the league record of 39 consecutive wins (Cedar Rapids Washington, 1991-93) Dec. 21, when they host Iowa City West.

Karr and Jenna Eells scored nine points apiece. Karr grabbed seven rebounds as Linn-Mar ran up a 40-15 advantage on the boards.

"I like to focus on the all-around aspect of the game. Scoring is not my role," Karr said. "Getting the assists make me feel better than scoring."

Britteny Steffeny scored 14 points for the J-Hawks.

AT LINN-MAR 

C.R. JEFFERSON (36): Kaitlyn Davidson 1-3 0-0 3, Ashley Madsen 1-1 2-2 5, Taylor Jacobson 2-9 1-2 6, Rachel Broghammer 4-10 0-2 8, Britteny Steffeny 6-12 0-0 14, Danielle Stromert 0-3 0-0 0, Madison Blietz 0-0 0-0 0, Madeline Koolbeck 0-0 0-0 0, Kieley Brathwaite 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 14-38 3-6 36.

LINN-MAR (73): Mykaela Brandt 2-9 1-2 5, Sara Strauel 0-0 0-0 0, Kailee Karr 3-6 3-4 9, Jenna Eells 2-7 5-6 9, Kiah Stokes 19-24 1-1 39, Shanice Cheatham 2-5 0-2 4, Leandra Martins 1-1 0-0 2, Courtney Major 1-2 0-0 2, Rachel Thrune 0-1 0-0 0, Kenz Seckman 1-2 0-0 3, Megan Sherwood 0-0 0-0 0, Kelsey Koelker 0-1 0-0 0, Noelle Clark 0-0 0-0 0, Madison Olesen 0-0 0-0 0, Marte Grosvik 0-0 0-0 0, Daisey Clymer 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 31-58 10-15 73.

Halftime: Linn-Mar 40, Jefferson 14.

3-point goals: Jefferson 5-10 (Davidson 1-3, Madsen 1-1, Jacobson 1-3, Steffeny 2-3), Linn-Mar 1-8 (Brandt 0-4, Karr 0-1, Eells 0-2, Seckman 1-1). 

Team fouls: Jefferson 9, Linn-Mar 6.

Fouled out: none.

Rebounds: Jefferson 15 (Steffeny 6), Linn-Mar 40 (Stokes 9).

Assists: Jefferson 6 (Jacobson 2), Linn-Mar 19 (Karr 6).

Steals: Jefferson 8 (Jacobson 2), Linn-Mar 12 (Eells 4).

Turnovers: Jefferson 20, Linn-Mar 14.