Kamryn Kurt is perfect from long range; North Linn rolls to 12-0

TROY MILLS — It’s not as if Kamryn Kurt’s junior season has been filled with bricks.

However:

“I’m down a couple of percentage points from last year,” she said. “It was such a good feeling to see the ball go in tonight.”

From long range, that’s all she saw.

Kurt made all seven of her 3-point attempts, and crossed the 1,000-point career threshold in the process, as Class 1A third-ranked North Linn handled 2A No. 6 Iowa City Regina, 72-52, in a non-conference girls’ basketball showdown Thursday night at North Linn High School.

The state’s second-most accurate shooting team at 48.8 percent coming in, North Linn hit 30 of 49 from the field (61.2 percent) and cruised to 12-0.

“We knew Regina had a good team,” Lynx Coach Brian Wheatley said. “But we’ve been good about getting off to fast starts.

“We had another gear in tonight, especially in the first quarter.”

The Lynx connected on 9 of 11 shots in the opening period, including 6 of 7 from 3-point range, and led 24-11 after 8 minutes.

Down 18 at halftime, Regina (12-2) worked within 40-31 on Ali Clark’s three-point play with 3:29 left in the third quarter.

But Kurt’s sixth triple triggered a 9-4 surge to end the quarter, and the margin stayed at 14 points or more the rest of the way.

Wheatley employs a five-in, five-out rotation, with the starters earning about 70 percent of the floor time.

“Last summer, I saw some things. I thought we had some people that could contribute,” Wheatley said. “If our second five can get the starters 1 1/2 to 2 minutes of rest and play the opponents even, it helps a lot.”

Said Kurt, who scored 26 points (sending her career total to 1,006) and grabbed six steals: “It’s definitely different. But it’s awesome that we have that depth. It’s special that we have that many that can contribute.”

Macy Boge added 16 points for the Lynx. Molly Boge posted 10 points and six rebounds.

Clark paced Regina with 18 points. Morgan Miller added nine.

BOYS: North Linn 84, Regina 48

The Lynx scored the first 16 points, placed four players in double figures and improved to 11-0.

Tate Haughenbury scored 22 points, Mason Bechen 19, Ben Wheatley and Ty Pflughaupt 14 apiece.

North Linn led 41-13 at halftime, 71-28 after three quarters.

Drew Streb paced Regina (6-7) with 13 points.

North Linn 72, Iowa City Regina 52

At Troy Mills

IOWA CITY REGINA (52): Ali Clark 7-10 2-4 18, Grace Gaarde 1-4 0-0 2, Ella McLaughlin 1-4 0-0 2, Morgan Miller 3-11 2-2 9, Morgan Squires 3-7 1-2 8, Dani Laughlin 3-7 0-2 8, Madelyn Greve 0-0 0-0 0, Caitlin Martin 1-1 2-2 5. Totals 19-44 7-12 52.

NORTH LINN (72): Elise Ware 1-3 0-0 2, Macy Boge 7-11 0-1 16, Molly Boge 5-9 0-0 10, Kamryn Kurt 9-13 1-2 26, Ellie Flanagan 1-5 0-0 2, Meghan Wheatley 1-1 0-0 3, Skylar Benesh 0-1 0-0 0, Allie Haughenbury 2-2 0-1 4, Kenzie Bridgewater 1-3 0-0 3, Emilie Beuter 3-3 0-0 6. Totals 30-49 1-4 72.

Iowa City Regina 11 7 17 17 — 52

North Linn 24 12 13 23 — 72

3-point goals: Regina 7-16 (Clark 2-2, McLaughlin 0-1, Miller 1-5, Squires 1-2, Laughlin 2-5, Martin 1-1), North Linn 11-23 (Macy Boge 2-4, Molly Boge 0-4, Kurt 7-7, Flanagan 0-4, Wheatley 1-1, Benesh 0-1, Bridgewater 1-2). Team fouls: Regina 12, North Linn 12. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: Regina 23 (Gaarde 7), North Linn 26 (Molly Boge 6). Assists: Regina 9 (Miller 4), North Linn 18 (Molly Boge, Kurt 4). Steals: Regina 9 (Gaarde 3), North Linn 15 (Kurt 6). Turnovers: Regina 20, North Linn 15.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com