Linn-Mar keeps Kennedy sliding

MARION -- OK, class. Let's see a show of hands from those who thought Linn-Mar would win more Mississippi Valley Conference girls' basketball games this season than Cedar Rapids Kennedy.Didn't think so either. But it happened.The Lions rallied from a 17-point halftime deficit, then the Sommer twins turned overtime into a free-throw exhibition in a 67-63 upset Thursday night in the MVC season finale at Linn-Mar High School.That's what I love about this team, they worked hard and never gave up," said Lions Coach Michael Brandt. "They never, never quit."Trailing 35-18 at intermission, the Lions (14-8 overall, 9-4 MVC) hit 10 of 12 shots in a frenetic third-quarter that featured a 17-0 run that got them back in the game."We have a motto: 'Why Not Us?' " said Katie Sommer. "It was Senior Night. We were playing for our seniors. We were playing for each other."The Sommer twins, who moved from Dubuque last summer, certainly have cushioned the blow that last year's graduation caused for Linn-Mar. And Tuesday, they were phenomenal.Katie Sommer scored 25 points, and Kristie Sommer added 17 points, five assists and five steals. Of their 42 points, 31 came after intermission.The twins combined to make 17 of 19 free throws, 6 of 6 in overtime."Free throws are going to win games," Katie said. "They clearly did tonight."Thursday's outcome reversed a 74-41 Kennedy win Dec. 10 and continued a puzzling late-season downward spiral for the veteran, Class 5A ninth-rated Cougars (14-7, 8-5).A team that entered the season on the short list of 5A state-championship hopefuls, Kennedy has lost three straight, five of its last eight."It's been an interesting process," said Cougars Coach Tony Vis. "We're not where we thought we'd be."Katie Sommer hit two free throws with 11 seconds left in regulation to give the Lions a 59-57 lead, then Jordan Holmes scored on a left-handed runner with 5 seconds remaining to force extra time.Center Aryn Jones, who didn't miss a floor shot all game, gave the Lions a 63-61 edge, then Kristie Sommer hit two free throws for a four-point lead.Morgan Martin's basket got the Cougars within 65-63, then Katie Sommer sealed it with 22 seconds to go.Martin, who will play at Eastern Illinois next year, scored 18 of her 22 points in the first half as Kennedy raced in front."We had to make some changes," Brandt said. "We let (Martin) move too much. In the second half, we moved Kristie and Katie down low to help stop the spin move and drive."Kennedy still looked safe at 42-27 midway through the third quarter before the twins orchestrated the game-changing surge, scoring 14 points (including Kristie's four-point play) in the 17-0 run."We really came together as a team," Kristie said. "That was fun."The fourth quarter that included four ties and five lead changes.Jones added 10 points for the winners. Paige Hendrickson scored 18 points, Stephanie Botkin 11 for Kennedy. 

LINN-MAR 67, CEDAR RAPIDS KENNEDY 63 (OT)

At Linn-Mar

C.R. KENNEDY (63): Madi Meier 1-8 0-0 3, Jordan Holmes 3-7 0-0 7, Paige Hendrickson 7-14 0-0 18, Stephanie Botkin 4-6 3-4 11, Morgan Martin 10-16 1-1 22, Sydney Hayden 0-0 0-0 0, Mariah Vis 0-1 0-0 0, Brinley Milbrath 0-0 0-0 0, Carly Langhurst 1-3 0-0 2, Madison DeLong 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 26-56 4-5 63.

LINN-MAR (67): Kristie Sommer 4-9 8-8 17, Katie Sommer 7-13 9-11 25, Aryn Jones 4-4 2-3 10, Taylor Robertson 1-1 1-2 4, Emily Makinster 0-0 0-0 0, Nikita Sharma 0-1 0-0 0, Olivia Montague 2-8 1-2 7, Lannie Nietert 2-2 0-0 4, Brittney Lancial 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 20-38 21-26 67.

Halftime: Kennedy 35, Linn-Mar 18.

Regulation: 59-59.

3-point goals: Kennedy 7-17 (Meier 1-6, Holmes 1-3, Hendrickson 4-6 Martin 1-1, Vis 0-1), Linn-Mar 6-15 (Kr.Sommer 1-4, Ka.Sommer 2-4, Robertson 1-1, Montague 2-6).

 Team fouls: Kennedy 20, Linn-Mar 10.

Fouled out: none.

Rebounds: Kennedy 26 (Martin 9), Linn-Mar 25 (Jones, Montague 5).

 Assists: Kennedy 10 (Holmes, Martin 3), Linn-Mar 10 (Kr.Sommer 5).

 Steals: Kennedy 6 (Hendrickson, Martin 2), Linn-Mar 12 (Kr.Sommer 5).

Turnovers: Kennedy 14, Linn-Mar 16.