Davis Kern wants to be the next great one at Linn-Mar

MARION — He’s better.

When you ask how Linn-Mar’s Davis Kern is better now than he was a season ago, the answer is long. That’s a good thing.

The 6-foot-8 junior is doing a lot of things in an improved way. He scored 32 points and had nine rebounds Monday night as the Lions squashed Cedar Rapids Washington 77-38.

“I know definitely I’m a better player,” Kern said. “I’ve been working a lot out of season on handling and shooting it more. The main thing, though, is mentally. I know I’m a lot better mentally, just confidence wise. Sometimes in the past I wouldn’t take shots I take this year. Some of the shots I missed last year I’m making this year. My percentages and stuff are way better. All around, I’m trying to be a better passer, a better ballhandler. And defensively also, trying to be a better perimeter defender.”

Kern’s explosive point performance boosted his season scoring average to 23.4 per game. He also has increased his rebounding prowess from last season, to 9.1.

He’s hitting over 50 percent of his 3-point tries and over 60 percent of his 2-point attempts. When he’s low on the block, it’s virtually an automatic bucket or drawn foul.

“I think the biggest thing he has bought into is playing inside first,” said Linn-Mar Coach Chris Robertson. “Which I know his first two years he floated around a lot, and I think he saw him as a 4-man in college. But the guys recruiting him are saying he’s probably going to have to be a 5 that can play inside-out. He’s been unguardable around the basket.

“He’s a lot better bouncing it. I’d rather he not bounce it all the time, but he is a lot better going to the basket, a lot stronger finishing. And he’s been a lot better defensively this year, too. His rebounding numbers are up, too. So I just think it’s everything is getting better.”

Kern hit the 1,000-point mark for his career in a game last week. He’s got one more full season left and at least six games left this regular season.

How high could Kern go? Are the 1,700-some points Marcus Paige and Jason Bohannon scored in reach for this kid?

“They’re the greats of Linn-Mar,” Kern said. “I want to be the next one, so I’ve been thinking about that a lot, yeah. That’s one of the main goals. But I’ll just do what I do.”

Kern has three D-I college offers out there right now in Northern Iowa, South Dakota State and Bryant. He hopes the spring AAU season could be a boon for him in catching other offers.

“I know I’ll get to where I want to go,” he said. “I just know I want to go somewhere that will fit me as a player and also somewhere where I’m going to enjoy playing.”

Linn-Mar (10-6) gradually made this game against Washington (7-10) a rout. It was a 20-10 game after the first quarter, 37-23 at halftime and 61-33 after three quarters.

Owen Havlik also had a stellar game for the Lions, splashing four 3-pointers and scoring 20 points. Kwae China had 15 points to lead Washington, which shot just 13 of 48 from the field, 2 for 22 from beyond the arc.

The Warriors playing without starting guard Landyn Mitvalsky (injury). Head coach Justin Decker also missed another game, as he is believed to be dealing with a medical issue.

Linn-Mar 77, Cedar Rapids Washington 38

AT LINN-MAR

CEDAR RAPIDS WASHINGTON (38): J.J. Willis 1-4 0-0 4, David Fason 3-7 1-2 7, Miles Lapointe 0-1 1-2 1, Kwae China 6-15 3-9 15, Yealeseh Amah 1-5 0-0 2, Preston Haefner 2-8 2-2 8, Monty Beard 1-4 0-0 2, Colton Eilers 0-1 0-0 0, Thor White 0-0 0-0 0, William Rahe 0-0 0-0 0, Kyle Reisinger 0-1 0-0 0, Wynston Londquist 0-1 0-0 0, Logan Sherman 0-1 0-0 0, Trei Crowder 0-1 0-0 0, Owen Vick 0-1 0-0 0, Jack Hobbs 0-0 1-2 1. Totals 13-48 7-17 38.

LINN-MAR (77): Payson Nietert 1-6 0-0 3, Matthew Darbouze 2-3 0-0 4, Davis Kern 14-23 1-2 32, Mason Matson 0-5 0-0 0, Owen Havlik 7-11 2-3 20, Andrew Davenport 2-3 0-0 4, Jake Wallrichs 2-4 0-0 4, Max Robertson 1-2 0-0 2, Grant Rogers 0-1 0-0 0, Tyler Hilton 2-5 0-0 4, Garrett Bauermeister 0-1 0-0 0, Maclain Felber 1-1 0-0 2, Brody Oberbroeckling 0-0 0-0 0, Kaleb Poore 1-1 0-0 2, Jonathan Irvin 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 33-67 3-5 77.

Halftime - Linn-Mar 37, C.R. Washington 23. 3-point goals - C.R. Washington 2-22 (Willis 0-1, Fason 0-3, Lapointe 0-1, China 0-4, Amah 0-3, Haefner 2-4, Beard 0-2, Reisinger 0-1, Londquist 0-1, Crowder 0-1, Vick 0-1), Linn-Mar 8-20 (Nietert 1-1, Kern 3-6, Havlik 4-7, Davenport 0-1, Robertson 0-1, Rogers 0-1, Hilton 0-1, Bauermeister 0-1, Irvin 0-1). Rebounds - C.R. Washington 26 (Lapointe 5), Linn-Mar 46 (Kern 9). Total fouls - C.R. Washington 14, Linn-Mar 14. Fouled out - None. Turnovers - C.R. Washington 11, Linn-Mar 7.

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