Lions inch closer to elusive berth at boys’ state basketball tournament

MARION - Linn-Mar's Davis Kern turned one Paige on Friday night.

He and his teammates would like to turn a second Paige on Tuesday night.

Kern became both Linn-Mar's and the Metro's career scoring leader, passing the legendary Marcus Paige during the third quarter of the Lions' 83-48 win over Marshalltown in a Class 4A substate semifinal in the Lions' gym.

After a scoreless first quarter, Kern got started in the second and was torrid in the third quarter. His driving lay-in with 3:55 remaining in the quarter gave him 1,702 points, eclipsing the mark Paige set during his Linn-Mar career, which spanned from 2008-12.

The 6-foot-9 South Dakota State signee finished with a game-high 26 points and now sits at 1,711 and counting headed into Tuesday's substate final. No. 2 Linn-Mar (20-2) will host West Des Moines Dowling (15-7) at 7 p.m. for a berth in the state tournament. The Maroons advanced with a 75-51 win over Waterloo West.

A win there would send the Lions to state for the first time since, you guessed it, Paige's final season in 2012.

Following the game, it took Kern a few extra minutes to make it to the locker room as he posed for numerous pictures with family and friends in front of the Linn-Mar bench. Once he made the trek back, he was greeted by a rousing cheer from his teammates and also a video message from Paige congratulating him on his accomplishment.

"It means so much to me," Kern said about breaking Paige's mark. "Ever since I started playing at Linn-Mar, the coaches have believed in me all the way. I've started every game except three senior nights since my freshman year. That just showed how much my coaches have believed in me and I believed in myself, as well.

"My teammates all four years have believed in me, as well," he continued. "They kept giving me the ball and that means a lot as well."

Linn-Mar Coach Chris Robertson knows a thing or two about coaching scorers, having also mentored Paige and Jordan Bohannon.

"This is a great accomplishment for Davis," Robertson said. "Playing as a freshman, he was really good and his numbers were a little ahead of Jordan Bohannon and Marcus in their freshmen years.

"We thought he would have a chance, but it was different because he doesn't always have the ball in his hands like Marcus and Jordan did," continued the veteran Linn-Mar coach. "He kept putting good years together and we knew it was possible going into this year."

As for Friday's game, Kern wasn't alone in starting slow. The Lions led just 12-8 after the first quarter and 13-12 early in the second. From that point on, it was all Linn-Mar. With Kern and junior forward Tyler Hilton leading the way, the Lions outscored the Bobcats 24-4 the remainder of the half to take a 37-16 lead at the break.

Hilton added 18, Payson Nietert 12 and Trey Wright 10 for the Lions. Junior Kyle Smith led Marshalltown, which finishes at 7-15, with 20. LeMar Johnson added 13.

Next up is trying to end a 13-year state tournament drought. Kern said that has been his biggest goal this season.

"Honestly, that is something I care more about (than the record)," he said. "I've wanted to get to state my whole career and I think we have a chance to win it all. If we play together, we're unstoppable."

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MARSHALLTOWN (48): Jamison Niehouse 1 0-0 2, Drake Gersema 3 2-2 8, Kyle Smith 7 1-2 20, LaMar Johnson 6 0-0 13, Jacob Hayes 1 2-2 5, Will Swartz 0 0-0 0, Arion Hancock 0 0-0 0, Dominyc Clure 0 0-0 0, Adam Boone 0 0-0 0. Totals: 18 5-6 48.

LINN-MAR (83): Payson Nietert 5 0-0-12, Eric Wright 4 2-2 10, Tyler Hilton 6 6-6 18, Mason Matson 1 2-4 4, Davis Kern 9 7-8 26, Max Robertson 0 0-0 0, Karson Rains 1 0-0 2, Brody Oberbroeckling 1 0-0 2, Maclain Felber 1 0-0 2, Kaleb Poore 1 0-0 3, Garrett Bauermeister 1 0-0 3, Max Faulkner 0 0-0 0. Totals: 30 17-20 83

Marshalltown 8 8 14 18 - 48

Linn-Mar 12 25 20 26 - 83

3-point goals: Marshalltown 7 (Smith 5, Johnson, Hayes) , Linn-Mar 6 (Nietert 2, Wright, Kern, Poore, Bauermeister). Total fouls: Marshalltown 15, Linn-Mar 6. Fouled out: none. Technical fouls: Kern (Hanging on the Rim)