North Linn makes its 6th straight girls’ basketball state tournament

MANCHESTER — Delayed gratification is gratification nonetheless.

Trailing after a quarter, top-ranked North Linn jolted Edgewood-Colesburg with a 24-2 surge in the final 6:12 of the second period, and the Lynx advanced to their sixth consecutive girls’ state basketball tournament, 66-34, in a Class 1A regional final Wednesday night at Seedorff Gymnasium.

“We needed to settle in,” senior Kamryn Kurt said. “A full quarter isn’t what we wanted.”

The Lynx (23-1) collected 26 steals, forced Ed-Co into 34 turnovers, and handled the Vikings (19-5) for the third time this season.

They’ll face No. 9 Montezuma (20-4) in a 1A quarterfinal at the state tournament at 1:30 p.m. next Wednesday at Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines.

“One thing we talked about, I hope the kids don’t take this for granted,” Lynx Coach Brian Wheatley said. “Each time is special. You can’t just assume it’s going to happen every year.”

North Linn absorbed a solid punch from the Vikings early. They trailed 9-4 after five minutes, and still faced an 11-9 deficit after a quarter.

“Coach told us before the game that they were going to come out ready,” Macy Boge said. “We just have to accept it and come back.”

They came back, all right. They came back with a flurry.

Audrie Helmrichs’ shot from the lane gave Ed-Co a 15-11 advantage at the 6:50 mark of the second quarter.

Then came an avalanche of steals and baskets. By halftime, North Linn led 35-17.

“We’re a really quick team, and a lot of teams aren’t used to it,” Boge said.

“The way we play, it’s something we take a lot of pride in,” Kurt said. “That’s North Linn basketball.”

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The Lynx enacted the continuous clock with about 4 minutes left.

Kurt scored 24 points on 10-of-16 shooting from the floor (4 of 6 from 3-point range). Boge added 16, Allie Haughenbury nine, Molly Boge eight.

Each of the starters nabbed at least three steals, led by seven from Molly Boge and six from Macy Boge.

Macy Boge had a pair of 3-pointers and Molly had another to kick-start that fateful second-quarter wave.

Ellie Kirby led Ed-Co with 10 points. Helmrichs added nine points and nine rebounds, but took only three shots from the floor.

North Linn 66, Edgewood-Colesburg 34

Class 1A Regional Final, at Manchester

EDGEWOOD-COLESBURG (34): Claire Aulwes 2-7 0-0 5, Ellie Kirby 3-11 2-3 10, Campbell Kirby 1-3 0-0 3, Audrie Helmrichs 3-4 3-3 9, Marin Gaul 0-0 0-0 0, Lilee Boriskey 3-6 0-0 6, Brooke Bolinger 0-2 0-0 0, Rachel Eglseder 0-0 0-0 0, McKenna Hoefer 0-0 1-2 1. Totals 13-33 6-8 34.

NORTH LINN (66): Allie Haughenbury 4-5 1-3 9, Mackenzie Bridgewater 1-4 0-0 2, Macy Boge 6-11 1-2 16, Molly Boge 3-10 0-0 8, Kamryn Kurt 10-16 0-0 24, Skylar Benesh 2-3 2-2 7, Emilee Beuter 0-1 0-0 0, Meghan Wheatley 0-3 0-0 0, Aubrey Wade 0-0 0-0 0, Bryn Collum 0-0 0-0 0, Samantha West 0-0 0-0 0, Carly Ries 0-0 0-0 0, Ave Hoover 0-1 0-0 0, Sidney Olson 0-0 0-0 0, Peyton McMahon 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-54 4-7 66.

Edgewood-Colesburg 11 6 9 8 -- 34

North Linn 9 26 13 18 -- 66

3-point goals: Ed-Co 2-5 (Aulwes 1-2, E. Kirby 0-1, C. Kirby 1-2), North Linn 10-28 (Bridgewater 0-2, Macy Boge 3-5, Molly Boge 2-9, Kurt 4-6, Benesh 1-2, Wheatley 0-3). Team fouls: Ed-Co 9, North Linn 10. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: Ed-Co 31 (Helmrichs 9), North Linn 19 (Kurt 4). Assists: Ed-Co 7 (E. Kirby, Helmrichs 2), North Linn 17 (Macy Boge, Kurt 4). Steals: Ed-Co 9 (three with 2), North Linn 26 (Molly Boge 7). Turnovers: Ed-Co 34, North Linn 11.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com