Springville evens the score with North Linn, 63-57

TROY MILLS — Lauren Wilson presents enough problems on her own.

If her teammates are hitting 3-pointers around her ...

“If that happens, (Springville) is a really tough team,” North Linn Coach Brian Wheatley said.

The Orioles were really, really tough Tuesday night.

Wilson made all 11 of her field-goal attempts in a dandy 26-point, 17-rebound performance to pace Class 1A fifth-ranked Springville past No. 4 North Linn, 63-57, in a Tri-Rivers Conference West Division girls’ basketball game at North Linn High School.

“We lost to them last time, so we didn’t think we had anything to lose,” Wilson said. “Coach (Christina Zaruba) told us to have fun and see where it goes.”

Where the did Orioles (19-1 overall, 12-1 division) go? Into a first-place tie, alongside the Lynx (17-2, 12-1).

Both teams have one league game remaining. Springville hosts Maquoketa Valley on Friday; North Linn welcomes Central City.

“We knew we were capable of winning,” said Christina Zaruba, who picked up her 100th career win last week and now stands at 101-23 in five years, including a 1A state title in her debut season of 2018.

“It was a matter of playing together. We knew if we could slow them defensively, offensively we would be just fine.”

That’s where Savannah Nealman figured in. She face-guarded North Linn’s Kamryn Kurt throughout, holding the Lynx ace to 10 points.

“(Kurt) likes the deep 3, and I wanted to get out, force her to the left and not let her touch the ball much,” Nealman said.

“This is a good win. It builds confidence.”

A senior bound for Division-II Concordia-St. Paul, Wilson established herself from inside and out immediately, scoring 12 first-quarter points as the Orioles jumped in front, and they maintained the lead throughout.

“I came out hot, and that opened it up for everybody else,” Wilson said.

The Orioles made 10 of 26 shots from long range. They led 34-24 at halftime, extended the margin to 14 late in the third quarter, then held off the Lynx late.

North Linn got within 61-57 on Molly Boge’s 3-pointer with 1:15 to go, but couldn’t capitalize when the Orioles missed the front end of three straight one-and-one opportunities.

Morgan Nachazel hit two foul shots with 15 seconds left to clinch it. She finished with 14 points.

Macy Boge led North Linn with 20 points and nine rebounds. Ellie Flanagan added 14 points, Molly Boge posted 11 points and five steals and Kurt scored 10.

BOYS: NORTH LINN 69, SPRINGVILLE 38

All five North Linn starters reached double figures, and the Lynx (17-1 overall, 11-1 TRC West) broke it open with a 24-9 second quarter.

Dylan Kurt led the winners with 18 points. Tate Haughenbury added 16, Austin Hilmer 14, Cade Haughenbury 11, Ben Wheatley 10.

Cade Sheda scored 14 points for Springville (14-4, 8-4). Rhenden Wagaman added 13.

Springville 63, North Linn 57

At Troy Mills

SPRINGVILLE (63): Grace Matus 3-7 0-1 8, Savannah Nealman 3-6 0-0 7, Lauren Wilson 11-11 1-5 26, Molly Stamp 2-4 0-0 6, Morgan Nachazel 4-14 4-5 14, Ashlynne Zaruba 1-2 0-0 2, Hannah March 0-0 0-0 0, Kennady Breitfelder 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 24-45 5-11 63.

NORTH LINN (57): Chloe Van Etten 1-4 0-1 2, Macy Boge 5-11 8-10 20, Molly Boge 4-10 0-0 11, Kamryn Kurt 3-9 3-4 10, Ellie Flanagan 5-20 0-0 14, Elise Ware 0-1 0-0 0, Ella Ries 0-1 0-0 0, Skylar Benesh 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 19-57 11-15 57.

Springville 19 15 19 10 — 63

North Linn 11 15 19 14 — 57

3-point goals: Springville 10-26 (Matus 2-6, Nealman 1-3, Wilson 3-3, Stamp 2-3, Nachazel 2-9, Zaruba 0-1, Breitfelder 0-1), North Linn 11-34 (Macy Boge 2-3, Molly Boge 3-8, Kurt 1-4, Flanagan 4-17, Ries 0-1, Benesh 0-1). Team fouls: Springville 14, North Linn 14. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: Springville 35 (Wilson 17), North Linn 31 (Macy Boge 9). Assists: Springville 13 (Stamp 3), North Linn 12 (Molly Boge 4). Steals: Springville 1 (Nealman), North Linn 10 (Molly Boge 5). Turnovers: Springville 18, North Linn 9.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com