This rivalry still belongs to Linn-Mar

CEDAR RAPIDS — The Linn-Mar Lions entered their game with Marion in that of a new role. Underdogs.

They left with a familiar prize. Victory.

Class 5A 12th-ranked Linn-Mar held 4A No. 2 Marion to 27.5-percent shooting and defeated the Indians at Rivalry Saturday for the third straight year, 50-43, at the U.S. Cellular Center.

'A lot of people thought we were the underdogs, and we were able to play with that mentality,' Lions Coach Jaime Brandt said. 'This is the best all-around game we have played for 32 minutes, all season.'

Kamryn Finley scored a game-high 21 points, and the Lions (9-2) overcame some serious foul trouble.

At one point in the third quarter, their top player (Finley) and their top post (Carly Spies) were sitting on the bench with four fouls. So was starter Lexi Frese.

But the Indians (11-1) couldn't make a push with them out of the game.

'You've got to believe your teammates will step up and have your back in that situation, and they did,' Finley said.

Marion Coach Corby Laube said, 'We just couldn't get our offense going and make a run. We came up empty too many times.'

Linn-Mar scored the first eight points and took its largest lead at 20-8 when Finley swished a 3-pointer early in the second quarter. But the Indians closed the first half with a 13-2 run to get back into the game at 22-21.

Caitlyn Smith's 3-pointer evened it at 24-24 early in the third quarter, but Finley hit a 3-pointer, then converted a pair of conventional three-point plays to put the Lions back in control, 33-26.

Marion got within 39-37 on Maddie Knapp's 3-pointer with 3:45 left in the game, but Linn-Mar reclaimed momentum for good with the next six points.

Carly Spies added 14 points and eight rebounds for the winners. And the Lions were stingy throughout. They limited Marion's top two scorers — Chloe Rice and Kayba Laube — to a combined 2-of-14 shooting performance.

'That's a very good shooting team,' Finley said. 'But we were very focused and very pumped for this one.'

Rice paced the Indians with 12 points.

LINN-MAR 50, MARION 43

At U.S. Cellular Center

MARION (43): Chloe Rice 2-10 8-8 12, Caitlyn Smith 1-5 0-0 3, Mia Laube 1-3 2-4 4, Sophie Willette 2-3 0-0 5, Kayba Laube 0-4 4-4 4, Isabella Sade 1-3 2-3 4, Randi Wright 2-5 2-2 6, Maddie Knapp 2-6 0-0 5, Elle Herold 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 11-40 18-21 43.

LINN-MAR (50): Carly Spies 4-9 6-7 14, Ally Johnson 1-5 1-2 4, Lexi Frese 2-2 1-2 5, Megan Murphy 0-5 1-2 1, Kamryn Finley 6-11 7-7 21, Ellie Anderson 1-3 2-2 5, Megan Renner 0-1 0-0 0, Carly Printy 0-0 0-0 0, Macey Miller 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 14-39 18-22 50.

Halftime: Linn-Mar 22, Marion 21. 3-point goals: Marion 3-18 (Rice 0-3, Smith 1-3, M.Laube 0-1, Willette 1-1, K.Laube 0-2, Knapp 1-5, Herold 0-1), Linn-Mar 4-14 (Johnson 1-4, Murphy 0-3, Finley 2-4, Anderson 1-3). Team fouls: Marion 18, Linn-Mar 21. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: Marion 25 (Sade 6), Linn-Mar 31 (Spies 8). Assists: Marion 5 (Rice 3), Linn-Mar 10 (Frese, Finley, Anderson 2). Steals: Marion 4 (Rice, Smith 2), Linn-Mar 3 (three with 1). Turnovers: Marion 8, Linn-Mar 13.

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