Linn-Mar prevails in a freezefest, 39-30

CEDAR RAPIDS — A grand finale, this was not.

There was plenty of chill to go around when Class 5A 11th-ranked Linn-Mar faced Marion at Rivalry Saturday at the U.S. Cellular Center. The intracity rivals combined to shoot 17 percent from the field; Linn-Mar prevailed, 39-30.

'Sometimes as a team, once you see the ball go in the basket, it's a huge weight lifted off your shoulders,' said Lions Coach Jaime Brandt. 'Once we start shooting the ball well, things are going to start clicking for us.'

Despite shooting 15 percent (8 of 53), the Lions (7-3) ended a two-game losing streak. They did it with defense and rebounding.

'It's a good win, because Marion is a scrappy young team that plays hard,' Brandt said. 'I'm proud that when we shot as poorly as we did tonight, we focused on the other things and that carried us through the game.'

Marion shot a shade under 20 percent (9 of 46). The difference came at the foul line (Linn-Mar outscored the Indians, 20-10, there) and on the glass (the Lions enjoyed a 44-32 advantage).

University of Iowa recruit Amanda Ollinger was 5-of-24 from the floor, but finished with 19 points and 13 rebounds.

Ollinger scored all 12 of Linn-Mar's points in the third quarter as the Lions marched to a 29-20 lead.

Marion (7-4) got within 29-25 on Chloe Rice's 3-pointer with 5:40 to go, but the Lions answered with eight straight points.

'Our defense and out effort were great, but we had to hit some shots, and we didn't do that,' said Marion Coach Corby Laube.

Kamryn Finley added seven points and seven rebounds for Linn-Mar.

Rice led Marion with 11 points and six rebounds.

LINN-MAR 39, MARION 30

At U.S. Cellular Center

LINN-MAR (39): Alie Akers 0-3 0-0 0, Lexi Frese 0-2 3-5 3, Brittney Lancial 1-3 0-0 3, Kamryn Finley 1-8 5-9 7, Amanda Ollinger 5-24 8-10 19, Ally Johnson 0-4 3-4 3, Megan Murphy 1-8 0-0 3, Carly Spies 0-1 1-2 1, Claire Larson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 8-53 20-30 39.

MARION (30): Chloe Rice 3-11 4-4 11, Caitlyn Smith 1-3 1-2 4, Mia Laube 2-9 0-0 4, Elle Herold 1-8 1-1 3, Isabella Sade 0-2 3-4 3, Maddie Knapp 0-2 0-0 0, Randi Wright 2-7 1-2 5, Dani Dunne 0-1 0-0 0, Sophie Willette 0-0 0-0 0, Tessa Jordan 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 9-46 10-13 30.

Halftime: Linn-Mar 17, Marion 15. 3-point goals: Linn-Mar 3-18 (Lancial 1-1, Finley 0-2, Ollinger 1-6, Johnson 0-2, Murphy 1-7), Marion 2-17 (Rice 1-4, Smith 1-2, Herold 0-4, Knapp 0-1, Wright 0-4, Jordan 0-2). Team fouls: Linn-Mar 14, Marion 20. Fouled out: Laube. Rebounds: Linn-Mar 44 (Ollinger 13), Marion 32 (Rice, Laube 6). Assists: Linn-Mar 5 (five with 1), Marion 3 (three with 1). Steals: Linn-Mar 5 (Finley 2), Marion 2 (Rice, Laube). Turnovers: Linn-Mar 9, Marion 14.

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