Linn-Mar's Marcus Paige has mono

Super sophomore Marcus Paige of Linn-Mar missed his team's game against Cedar Falls on Thursday night after being diagnosed with mononucleosis.

The Class 4A No. 2 Lions rallied without him to win and finish the Mississippi Valley Conference with a 16-0 season. It's the first time in school history Linn-Mar has gone through the MVC season unbeaten and the first time it has happened since Iowa City West in 2001-02.

"The guys really stepped up in his absence," said Linn-Mar Coach Chris Robertson.

Robertson said the hope is Paige will be able to play in the postseason. Linn-Mar doesn't play its first substate game until Friday, Feb. 26.

"He's got to rest," Robertson said. "We'll see how he feels in the next couple of days. We're pretty optimistic, pretty hopeful we'll have him back."

Robertson said Paige first began feeling poorly last week, coming down with a fever. He played three games until being tested for mono Wednesday.

"You could tell he wasn't at his best," Robertson said.

Paige is considered one of the top point guards nationally in the sophomore class. He already has college offers from Iowa and Iowa State, among others, and is averaging 14.6 points per game.