Sommer-time: Lions whip Prairie

 CEDAR RAPIDS -- You can quantify the impact of their arrival with all sorts of statistics.

But the numbers that matter most are these: 8-2.The Sommer twins combined for 37 points, and Kristie Sommer crossed the 1,000-point threshold as Linn-Mar dusted Cedar Rapids Prairie, 57-36, in a Mississippi Valley Conference girls basketball game Tuesday night at Prairie High School.

"Obviously, they bring a lot of skills to the team," said Lions Coach Mike Brandt. "If you didn't know better, you'd think they've been with us all along."

Kristie Sommer scored 20 points, and Katie Sommer tacked on 17 points, seven rebounds and four steals as the Lions (8-2 overall, 5-0 MVC) maintained their lead in the Valley Division.

The twins came to Linn-Mar last summer after spending their first three years of high-school competition at Dubuque Senior (their mother accepted a job in Cedar Rapids, prompting the move). Their arrival has helped make this a winning program again after two down years.

"It was definitely a transition," Kristie said. "But the team took us in and made us feel at home. We like it here a lot."

If you like the Sommers now, just wait until -- well, summer. Softball is their best sport, and that's the route they'll take in college if they go big-time. Otherwise, it will be basketball and softball at a Division-III school.

Kristie Sommer hit her milestone when she nailed a 3-pointer midway through the fourth quarter to put Linn-Mar in front, 53-30. They were in control long before that, taking the lead from the start and building it throughout.

And if you're wondering, Katie Sommer is closing in on 1,000 points as well and should get there before January is out.The twins combined to make their first seven field-goal attempts, and combined for Linn-Mar's first 17 points.

"Everybody did their part," Kristie said. "It wasn't just two players. It was an all-around effort."

Prairie (4-4, 3-3) was without its top player, Madison Dellamuth, who was out with the flu, and the Hawks never found a rhythm.

"We couldn't get a tempo going," said Prairie Coach Steve Doser. "I was really disappointed with our team defense. I was looking for leadership tonight, and I didn't see it."

The Lions built a 26-10 lead midway through the second quarter, led 31-17 at the half and were never in any sort of danger. They enjoyed a 34-20 rebounding advantage.

Cyerra Hutchins and Lynsey Altenhofen paced Prairie with eight points apiece.

Linn-Mar hosts Cedar Falls on Friday. Prairie is at Dubuque Wahlert. 

LINN-MAR 57, CEDAR RAPIDS PRAIRIE 36

At C.R. Prairie

LINN-MAR (57): Kristie Sommer 7-10 5-6 20, Katie Sommer 7-13 2-4 17, Aryn Jones 1-1 0-0 2, Olivia Montague 2-4 0-0 5, Nikita Sharma 0-1 0-0 0, Taylor Robertson 0-3 3-4 3, Emily Makinster 2-2 0-0 4, Alie Akers 0-0 0-0 0, Claire Larson 1-1 2-4 4, Brittney Lancial 0-2 0-0 0, Natalie Ross 1-3 0-0 2, Darby Hayslett 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 20-40 12-18 57.

C.R. PRAIRIE (36): Cyerra Hutchins 2-11 4-7 8, Emilie Rotter 2-7 0-1 5, Lynsey Altenhofen 3-5 0-0 8, Olivia Usher 0-5 3-4 3, Makenzie Stoffer 2-4 1-2 5, Chrisandra Freeman 0-5 4-5 4, Madalynn Adams 0-0 1-2 1, Savanna Hutchins 0-1 0-0 0, Katherine Pieper 0-0 0-0 0, Cassidy Kuehl 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 10-39 13-21 36.

Halftime: Linn-Mar 31, Prairie 17. 3-point goals: Linn-Mar 5-13 (Kr.Sommer 3-6, Ka.Sommer 1-2, Montague 1-2, Robertson 0-2, Lancial 0-1), Prairie 3-12 (C.Hutchins 0-3, Rotter 1-2, Altenhofen 2-2, Usher 0-1, Stoffer 0-1, Freeman 0-2, S.Hutchins 0-1). Team fouls: Linn-Mar 20, Prairie 15. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: Linn-Mar 34 (Ka.Sommer 7), Prairie 20 (C.Hutchins, Freeman 4). Assists: Linn-Mar 7 (Kr.Sommer, Robertson 2), Prairie 4 (C.Hutchins 2). Steals: Linn-Mar 9 (Ka.Sommer 4), Prairie 9 (C.Hutchins 4). Turnovers: Linn-Mar 21, Prairie 15.