North Linn claims first Tri-Rivers West chapter against Springville, 63-51

SPRINGVILLE — They won with pace. And they most definitely won with balance.

Class 1A fifth-ranked North Linn used a first-half surge to gain separation, and placed four players in double-figures in a 63-51 Tri-Rivers Conference West Division girls’ basketball victory over No. 4 Springville on Friday at Machovec Gymnasium.

“Just a huge win for us,” said North Linn’s Chloe Van Etten, who held her own against Springville star Lauren Wilson as the Lynx (11-1 overall, 6-0 TRC West) gained sole possession of first place. “To come here and win ... we knew what we needed to do. We just had to execute.”

Down 10-9 midway through the first quarter, North Linn controlled the rest of the first half and took a 29-20 lead into the locker room.

They did it with their speed and with quick hands, collecting nine first-half steals.

“We want to run and tire teams out,” Kamryn Kurt said. “If we can tire teams out, we can force turnovers and force their shots to go short.”

Van Etten said, “If we can get teams to play fast, most of them aren’t used to it.”

One of the top 1A players in the state, Wilson posted 23 points, 16 rebounds, four assists and three steals. But the Lynx had more weapons.

“You’re not going to stop (Wilson). We just wanted to slow her down a little,” Lynx Coach Brian Wheatley said.

Kurt paced the Lynx with 17 points. Macy Boge added 15. Van Etten collected 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Ellie Flanagan tacked on 10 points — all in the second half.

North Linn defeated Springville (12-1, 5-1) for the ninth straight time. The rematch is Feb. 1 at Troy Mills. If there’s a third game, it will likely be in Des Moines in March.

“Win, lose or draw, this game isn’t going to define our season,” Wheatley said. “I told the girls afterward to be happy with the win, but not satisfied.

“They played a really good game tonight.”

Wilson scored 11 straight Springville points to close the third quarter, and the Orioles were still in the game at 45-38 entering the fourth.

Molly Boge opened the final period with a 3-pointer, and North Linn’s advantage stayed at nine or more the rest of the way.

BOYS: NORTH LINN 76, SPRINGVILLE 48

The Lynx (10-1, 4-1) scored the first 13 points of the game, then broke it open with a 32-point second quarter.

Springville (9-2, 3-2) weathered the first North Linn blitz, getting within 21-13 at the end of the first quarter. But the Lynx poured it on and led 52-23 at halftime.

All five North Linn starters scored in double figures, led by Austin Hilmer’s 18 points. Ben Wheatley and Tate Haughenbury added 14 apiece.

Cade Sheda paced Springville with 16 points.

North Linn 63, Springville 51

At Springville

NORTH LINN (63): Chloe Van Etten 6-9 2-2 14, Macy Boge 6-15 2-2 15, Molly Boge 1-8 0-0 3, Kamryn Kurt 5-11 5-7 17, Ellie Flanagan 2-8 4-4 10, Elise Ware 1-1 0-2 2, Ella Ries 1-3 0-0 2, Caitlin Benesh 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 22-56 13-17 63.

SPRINGVILLE (51): Grace Matus 2-8 0-0 5, Savannah Nealman 1-8 0-2 3, Lauren Wilson 9-20 2-4 23, Molly Stamp 1-5 1-2 3, Morgan Nachazel 2-12 1-3 6, Ashlynne Zaruba 2-4 1-2 7, Hannah March 2-4 0-0 4, Isabel Guerrero 0-1 0-0 0, Kennady Breitfelder 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 19-63 5-13 51.

North Linn 16 13 16 18 — 63

Springville 13 7 18 13 — 51

3-point goals: North Linn 6-17 (Macy Boge 1-3, Molly Boge 1-6, Kurt 2-3, Flanagan 2-5), Springville 8-25 (Matus 1-4, Nealman 1-1, Stamp 0-1, Nachazel 1-6, Wilson 3-8, Zaruba 2-4, March 0-1). Team fouls: North Linn 17, Springville 16. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: North Linn 41 (Van Etten 10), Springville 44 (Wilson 16). Assists: North Linn 15 (Kurt 4), Springville 14 (Stamp 5). Steals: North Linn 12 (Molly Boge 4), Springville 10 (Stamp, Wilson 3). Turnovers: North Linn 13, Springville 16.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com