Warriors outlast Linn-Mar in OT, earn share of title

MARION -- It won't be a solo act.Class 4A sixth-ranked Cedar Rapids Washington earned a share of the Mississippi Valley Conference Mississippi Division girls' basketball championship Thursday night, controlling overtime and outlasting No. 2 Linn-Mar, 53-46, at the Linn-Mar gym."I'm still trying to steady myself," said Washington Coach Frank Howell. "When the lead started to grow, I could feel everybody getting a little emotional too early."Alissa Oney's 3-pointer with 2:25 left in overtime gave Washington (17-3 overall, 14-2 MVC) the lead for good at 44-43, then the Warriors pulled away steadily from the free throw line.The outcome means Washington and Linn-Mar (19-2, 14-2) share the divisional crown. Waterloo West (18-2, 13-2) most likely will make it a title trio Friday; the Wahawks host Cedar Falls.Washington shot 25 percent (15 of 60) from the field, but won partly because the Lions were even less accurate, hitting 23 percent (14 of 60, including 2 of 19 from 3-point range).On a day she was named to the McDonald's all-American team, Linn-Mar's Kiah Stokes posted a supersized stat line -- 25 points, 21 rebounds and 13 blocks (moving within eight blocks of the state career record).But it wasn't enough.Stokes missed a couple of close shots early in overtime when the Lions had a chance to reassert control."They were easy shots, layups," she said. "I might have been fatigued, I don't know. When it comes to be crunch time, I need to make shots. Tonight, I didn't do that."Washington's Tia Dawson, an extremely capable post in her own right who has been overshadowed by Stokes somewhat, had 13 points, 15 boards and nine blocks to complement Oney's 15 points."I think this is the best I've played against (Stokes)," Dawson said. "She scored a couple times on me."Linn-Mar led 20-14 at halftime, but the Warriors opened the second half with a 10-2 run to take the lead, and it was back and forth the rest of the way. Neither team led by more than foue points through the remainder of regulation."We played great tonight," Oney said. "We had a lot of fire, a lot of energy."Linn-Mar lost at home for the first time in three years."This will be a great learning experience for us," said Linn-Mar Coach Mike Brandt. "Sometimes it goes your way, sometimes it doesn't."Tonight, it didn't."Ashley Piper scored on a drive with 33 seconds left in regulation to tie it at 41-all. Dawson blocked Jenna Eells' shot on a drive at the end of regulation.Stokes hit two free throws to open overtime, but Oney answered with a trey to put the Warriors ahead for good.Both teams have first-round Class 4A regional byes and will host semifinal games on Feb. 19."To end on a win like this, it boosts our confidence and puts in a good spot for the postseason," Piper said.

AT LINN-MAR

C.R. WASHINGTON (53): Ashley Piper 4-12 1-5 10, Alissa Oney 4-8 4-5 15, Jordon Pilcher 1-8 0-0 2, Jazz Royster 1-9 6-7 9, Tia Dawson 4-12 4-4 13, Janay Pritchett 1-4 1-2 3, Madison Kramer 0-0 1-4 1, Abby Herb 0-3 0-0 0, Tasha Roundtree 0-4 0-0 0, Layloni Beard 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 15-60 17-27 53.

LINN-MAR (46): Mykaela Brandt 1-7 2-3 4, Rachel Thrune 2-8 1-2 5, Kailee Karr 0-9 0-0 0, Jenna Eells 2-11 0-0 6, Kiah Stokes 8-17 9-9 25, Shanice Cheatham 1-4 1-2 3, Courtney Major 0-4 3-4 3. Totals 14-60 16-20 46.

Halftime: Linn-Mar 20, Washington 14.

End of regulation: 41-41.

3-point goals: Washington 6-20 (Piper 1-6, Oney 3-3, Pilcher 0-3, Royster 1-2, Dawson 1-3, Pritchett 0-2, Roundtree 0-1), Linn-Mar 2-19 (Brandt 0-3, Thrune 0-1, Karr 0-3, Eells 2-9, Major 0-3).

Team fouls: Washington 17, Linn-Mar 20.

Fouled out: Brandt.

Rebounds: Washington 52 (Dawson 15), Linn-Mar 46 (Stokes 21).

Assists: Washington 6 (Piper 2), Linn-Mar 8 (Karr 7).

Steals: Washington 7 (Piper, Dawson 3), Linn-Mar 5 (Eells 3).

Turnovers: Washington 11, Linn-Mar 11.[gallery order="DESC"]