One win from a 9th-straight state tournament qualification for North Linn boys’ basketball team

SOLON - Mason Bechen did Mason Bechen things.

The senior all-state guard scored a game-high 24 points as North Linn beat Hillcrest Academy, 65-43, Tuesday night at Solon in a Class 1A district final boys’ basketball game.

He had 19 of ‘em in the first half, including a steal and flush, as the Lynx built a double-digit lead. As an aside, Bechen surpassed both Ryan Miller and Austin Hilmer on the school’s career points chart, his 1,777 numbers trailing now only former Iowa Mr. Basketball Jake Hilmer.

But this wasn’t necessarily the Mason Bechen Game. Sure he was integral as North Linn improved to 22-2 and one win away from qualifying for the state tournament for a ninth-consecutive year.

Yet he scored just two points in the third quarter, and North Linn extended its lead from 13 to 19 points.

“We just started passing the ball around more, working them,” said North Linn guard Cole Griffith. “We saw they were getting tired, so we kind of just upped the pressure. We had to rebound harder, they were getting a lot of boards on us. We played hard.”

After Hillcrest Academy (21-4) got the first five points of the second half to shrink NL’s lead to 35-27, the Lynx went on a 12-0 offensive run that put things away for good. Bechen had a pull-up jumper in the flurry, but everything else came from others: A Drew Ries banked inside jumper, and a 3-pointer that wasn’t banked.

Griffith had a nice step through move in the lane for a basket. Cael Benesh finished off the run with a 3-pointer that gave North Linn a 47-27 lead.

“I think playing team basketball and everyone touching the basketball increases the chances of everyone scoring points,” said Ries, who had 11 points in the game. “I think we’re playing our best ball right now. When we play as a team, that’s when good things happen.”

“Later in the season, some of our players have stepped up,” said Bechen, who came in averaging 30.7 points per game and who has broken NL’s record for most points in a season. “These past couple of games, we knew teams were going to try different things, like faceguarding me and coming and double-teaming me. We practiced on what happens if a double team comes after me. I have confidence in my teammates that they can go score, and that I don’t need to go out there and score 30 every single night.”

Coach Travis Griffith was ecstatic the way his team handled the extra defensive attention its star got.

“I thought our defense tonight was phenomenal,” Griffith said. “We shot well. I thought the two differences were our half-court defense did what it needed to do. We took the press off, which is rare for us, because it was effective. Then the way we reacted to Mason getting double teamed. We got three quick layups.

“When we react the way we did tonight to him getting doubled team, you aren’t going to be able to double team him.”

Seth Ours led Hillcrest Academy with 11 points, the only double-figure scorer for the Ravens, who shot just 34 percent from field, including going 5 of 24 from beyond the arc.

“It’s always hard to be in the locker room after the last game,” said Hillcrest Academy Coach Dwight Gingerich. “Just a tremendous group of seniors that led us this year. Good people, good kids, good students. Good role models for the younger kids.”

North Linn, ranked eighth by the Iowa High School Athletic Association, plays No. 10 Burlington Notre Dame (19-4) in a 1A substate final Friday night at Iowa City High. The Lynx are seeking their ninth consecutive state tournament qualification.

They have played in a championship game the previous seven years.

“Means a lot,” Cole Griffith said. “It’s our last chance. We’ll never get down there again, if we lose. This year is all of it. We’ve got to get it all.”

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AT SOLON

HILLCREST ACADEMY (43): Mason Bender 2-6 4-4 8, Kale Bailey 3-6 2-4 8, Bryce Bailey 2-10 0-0 4, Rowan Miller 2-9 0-0 5, Seth Ours 4-10 0-0 11, Mason Helmuth 2-3 0-0 4, Lincoln Miller 1-3 0-0 3, Kayden Estell 0-0 0-0 0, Owen Scott 0-0 0-0 0, Isaac Birky 0-1 0-0 0, Gibson Scott 0-0 0-0 0, Angel Satulle Sambrano 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 16-48 6-8 43.

NORTH LINN (67): Drew Ries 5-9 0-0 11, Mason Bechen 9-14 4-4 24, Hayden Schmidt 2-3 0-0 4, Cael Benesh 3-6 0-0 7, Cole Griffith 6-10 0-1 14, Cade Garman 0-1 0-0 0, Nolan Woods 1-2 0-0 3, Waylon Raue 0-0 0-0 0, Bradyn Bistline 0-0 0-0 0, Jackson Nielsen 1-1 0-0 2, Patrick Peyton 0-0 0-0 0, Liam Thompson 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 27-47 4-5 67.

Halftime - North Linn 35, Hillcrest Academy 22. 3-point goals - Hillcrest Academy 5-24 (K. Bailey 0-1, B. Bailey 0-7, R. Miller 1-4, Ours 3-9, L. Miller 1-2, Birky 0-1), North Linn 7-15 (Ries 1-1, Bechen 2-7, Benesh 1-2, Griffith 2-2, Woods 1-2, Thompson 0-1). Rebounds - Hillcrest Academy 26 (Bender, K. Bailey 7), North Linn 26 (Ries 9). Total fouls - Hillcrest Academy 4, North Linn 10. Fouled out - None. Turnovers - Hillcrest Academy 11, North Linn 7.

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