Linn-Mar heats up after halftime in 70-61 win over Cedar Rapids Washington

CEDAR RAPIDS — Chris James wanted to force Linn-Mar into outside shots.

The Lions were happy to oblige.

Class 5A 13th-ranked Linn-Mar made 7 of 11 attempts from long range in a second-half blitz, and rallied past the Warriors, 70-61, in a Mississippi Valley Conference girls' basketball game Tuesday night at Washington High School.

'I challenged them to step up their toughness in the second half,' Lions Coach Jaime Brandt said. 'Once we took care of their press and broke it, we settled in and ran our offense, and that let us get some open, in-rhythm looks.'

The Lions (7-2 overall, 4-1 MVC) trailed, 30-25, at halftime, then scored 45 points in the second half.

'We had to match their intensity,' Linn-Mar's Megan Murphy said. 'We knew they wouldn't back down. Toughness led to offense for us.'

After their postgame locker-room chat, Brandt told the Lions that Wednesday's practice will be substituted by a trip to a bowling alley, news that was met with squeals of joy.

'Winning pays off,' Murphy said. 'If we'd have lost, I'm sure we would be stuck at practice.'

The Lions caught, then passed, the Warriors (4-5, 2-4) thanks to 63-percent second-half shooting. A 12-0 third-quarter run transformed a five-point deficit into a 39-32 advantage, capped by back-to-back Murphy 3-pointers, then the margin grew to 14 points midway through the fourth period.

'With (Carly) Spies inside and (Kamryn) Finley's driving, we wanted to force them into outside shots,' said James, the Warriors' first-year coach. 'You've go to give credit to them.'

Six different Lions scored seven points or more. Finley and Macey Miller tallied 14 apiece, and Ellie Anderson tacked on 11. Lexi Frese grabbed 12 rebounds.

Caitlin Riley paced Washington with 18 points. Three others added 10 points, including Jayla Johnson, who snagged nine boards.

A 14-4 second-quarter run spurred the Warriors to their five-point halftime lead.

LINN-MAR 70, CEDAR RAPIDS WASHINGTON 61

At C.R. Washington

LINN-MAR (70): Carly Spies 2-6 3-4 7, Ally Johnson 2-6 3-6 8, Lexi Frese 2-3 0-0 5, Megan Murphy 3-7 0-0 9, Kamryn Finley 5-10 3-5 14, Macey Miller 2-4 9-9 14, Ellie Anderson 3-9 2-2 11, Carly Printy 0-1 0-0 0, Megan Renner 1-1 0-1 2. Totals 20-47 20-27 70.

C.R. WASHINGTON (61): Caitlin Riley 6-13 4-4 18, Vanessa Eniola 4-12 2-2 10, Brittany Hoeger 1-1 0-0 3, Jayla Johnson 4-9 2-4 10, Aubrey Moore 4-5 2-6 10, Isa Truemper 0-2 0-2 0, Jessi Puk 1-5 3-4 5, Sammy Mia 2-8 1-2 5, Grace Carey 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-55 14-24 61.

Halftime: Washington 30, Linn-Mar 25. 3-point goals: Linn-Mar 10-25 (A.Johnson 1-4, Frese 1-1, Murphy 3-6, Finley 1-4, Miller 1-2, Anderson 3-7, Printy 0-1), Washington 3-14 (Riley 2-7, Eniola 0-2, Hoeger 1-1, J.Johnson 0-1, Truemper 0-1, Puk 0-2). Team fouls: Linn-Mar 20, Washington 22. Fouled out: Finley. Rebounds: Linn-Mar 29 (Frese 12), Washington 37 (J.Johnson 9). Assists: Linn-Mar 11 (A.Johnson, Miller 3), Washington 8 (Mia 3). Steals: Linn-Mar 4 (Frese 2), Washington 8 (Hoeger, J.Johnson, Mia 2). Turnovers: Linn-Mar 14, Washington 13.

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com