No. 1 North Linn races past Montezuma, 68-38, in a 1A girls’ state basketball quarterfinal

DES MOINES — Sometimes, to get a handle on North Linn’s dizzying, trapping, suffocating full-court mayhem, it’s best to ask those who have faced it.

So here is Montezuma’s Ellen Cook:

“They know when to come at you. You don’t know when they’re coming. You’ve got to keep your head on a swivel.”

And Montezuma’s Claire Erselius:

“They’re very, like, in-your-face. Once you calm down and square up, you’ve got a much better chance.”

It took Bravettes 16 minutes too long.

The top-ranked Lynx spun No. 9 Montezuma around in the first half and coasted to a 68-38 Class 1A quarterfinal victory at the girls’ state basketball tournament Wednesday afternoon at Wells Fargo Arena.

“We have a lot of talent,” Kamryn Kurt said, “and a lot of girls who like to work hard.”

And like to run, run, run.

“We try to run teams out of here, if we can,” Allie Haughenbury said.

North Linn (24-1) sprinted to a 35-6 halftime lead and stretched its winning streak to 23 games. The Lynx advanced to Friday’s 1A semifinal against No. 4 Council Bluffs St. Albert (23-1).

It is the Lynx’s fifth trip to the semifinals in their current six-year state run.

“Credit to the kids,” North Linn Coach Brian Wheatley said. “When they get here, they usually don’t freeze. They’re confident.”

North Linn converted its first four shot attempts and had an 8-0 in less than 2 1/2 minutes. It was 11-2 after a quarter, then the run-and-stun press really took hold.

The Lynx stung the Bravettes (20-5) with the last 17 points of the half, in a 4:58 span.

“Their style of play, there’s really no way to combat it,” Montezuma Coach Janel Burgess said. “You just can’t give them live-ball turnovers.”

North Linn finished with 14 steals, six by Kurt, who also scored 18 points and six assists.

Macy Boge led all scorers with 20 points. Haughenbury added 12.

“It’s my fourth year here. A lot of us have been here three or four years,” Boge said. “You get nerves out of the way a little earlier if you’ve been here before.”

Montezuma was far more competitive in the second half, getting outscored only 33-32 after intermission.

“We came back out like we had nothing to lose,” Erselius said.

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Photos: North Linn vs. Montezuma in Class 1A girls’ state basketball quarterfinals

Cook scored 12 points, Erselius 10. The Bravettes’ top four scorers will be back for 2024-25.

“Who thought we’d be back this year?” Burgess said. “Our seniors were great leaders, we were youthful, and I’m excited to see what we can do (in the future).”

North Linn’s present consists of a Friday date with St. Albert, at 1:30 p.m. The Saintes ended Algona Garrigan’s two-year title reign, 53-42, Wednesday.

“We all know what we can do, and what we want to do,” Boge said.

North Linn 68, Montezuma 38

Class 1A State Quarterfinal, at Des Moines

MONTEZUMA (38): Ellen Cook 4-10 0-0 12, Claire Erselius 4-6 0-0 10, Izzy Roorda 0-0 0-0 0, Jadyn Sharer 1-2 2-2 5, Shiressa Wetering 1-7 3-7 5, Rylee Wolford 0-0 0-0 0, Vivian Cook 0-3 2-2 2, Sydnee Burgess 0-1 2-2 2, Jordan Ranfeld 0-0 2-2 2, Laila Kercheval 0-0 0-0 0, Letisia Wilson 0-0 0-0 0, Lindsey Henry 0-0 0-0 0, Mya Smothers 0-0 0-0 0, Analeece Kercheval 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 10-29 11-15 38.

NORTH LINN (68): Allie Haughbury 6-9 0-0 12, Mackenzie Bridgewater 2-3 0-0 4, Macy Boge 7-12 2-2 20, Molly Boge 2-4 3-4 8, Kamryn Kurt 8-16 1-2 18, Meghan Wheatley 0-1 0-0 0, Skylar Benesh 1-2 1-1 3, Ava Hoover 0-0 0-0 0, Carly Ries 0-1 0-0 0, Sidney Olson 0-0 0-0 0, Aubrey Wade 0-0 0-0 0, Emilee Beuter 1-1 0-1 2, Samantha West 0-0 1-2 1, Peyton McMahon 0-0 0-0 0, Bryn Collum 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 27-49 8-12 68.

Montezuma 2 4 20 12 — 38

North Linn 11 24 20 13 — 68

3-point goals: Montezuma 7-18 (E. Cook 4-10, Erselius 2-3, Sharer 1-2, V. Cook 0-3), North Linn 6-15 (Macy Boge 4-5, Molly Boge 1-2, Kurt 1-5, Wheatley 0-1, Benesh 0-1, Ries 0-1). Team fouls: Montezuma 11, North Linn 13. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: Montezuma 22 (Erselius 7), North Linn 21 (Kurt 4). Assists: Montezuma 7 (E. Cook 3), North Linn 16 (Kurt 6). Steals: Montezuma 1 (V. Cook), North Linn 14 (Kurt 6). Turnovers: Montezuma 22, North Linn 8.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com