Balanced North Linn works past Montezuma at Rivalry Saturday

CEDAR RAPIDS — Balance won this one.

Four days after Grace Flanagan went off for 32 points, North Linn used a different approach. Five players scored in double figures, and the Class 2A 10th-ranked Lynx topped 1A No. 2 Montezuma, 65-59, as part of the Rivalry Saturday girls' basketball event at Kohawk Arena.

'That makes us harder to defend,' Lynx Coach Brian Wheatley said after the Lynx (2-0) won their 23rd consecutive regular-season game.

It wasn't as if the Lynx made it a point to be so balanced.

'It just kind of happened that way,' said Ellie Ware, who posted 11 points. 'What we work on is picking each other up and being mentally strong.'

Flanagan was burdened by foul trouble, but still led the Lynx with 12 points. Abby Flanagan joined Ware with 11; Kylie Kurt and Sydney Burke contributed 10 apiece. Chloe Van Etten tallied eight.

That was enough to overcome a 25-point performance by Montezuma junior Shateah Wetering, a University of Iowa recruit.

'She's a really good player. It was fun to play against her,' Ware said.

North Linn scored 12 straight points for a 17-9 lead late in the first quarter. The Lynx kept the lead throughout, but never shook the Bravettes (1-1).

'They're really, really good,' Wheatley said. 'You can never really tell on tape. They were a lot better in person.'

Montezuma got within one point on three occasions in the fourth quarter, the last at 57-56 with 3:13 remaining. Baskets by Grace Flanagan and Ware gave the Lynx some breathing room they didn't surrender.

Despite Wetering's presence, North Linn held a 27-21 rebounding advantage. Burke grabbed six boards.

Riley Gatton added 15 points for the Bravettes.

NORTH LINN 65, MONTEZUMA 59

At Kohawk Arena

NORTH LINN (65): Grace Flanagan 3-10 6-7 12, Ellie Ware 4-6 3-4 11, Abby Flanagan 4-9 2-2 11, Kylie Kurt 3-9 2-2 10, Sydney Burke 2-4 4-4 10, Fallon Finnegan 0-0 0-0 0, Elle Ries 0-1 0-0 0, Hannah Bridgewater 1-2 1-2 3, Chloe Van Etten 4-5 0-0 8, Jenna Gallery 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-46 18-21 65.

MONTEZUMA (59): Mya Pargeon 3-5 1-1 7, Shateah Wetering 9-14 3-4 25, Elise Boulton 3-12 0-0 9, Shelby Conger 0-0 0-0 0, Riley Gatton 4-8 4-4 15, Carissa VanZee 0-0 0-0 0, Kylee Taylor 0-0 0-0 0, Dylan Holland 1-2 1-4 3. Totals 20-41 9-13 59.

Halftime: North Linn 33, Montezuma 28. 3-point goals: North Linn 5-17 (G.Flanagan 0-4, A.Flanagan 1-4, Kurt 2-4, Burke 2-4, Bridgewater 0-1), Montezuma 10-25 (Pargeon 0-1, Wetering 4-7, Boulton 3-11, Gatton 3-6). Team fouls: North Linn 17, Montezuma 15. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: North Linn 27 (Burke 6), Montezuma 21 (Wetering 6). Assists: North Linn 11 (G.Flanagan 5), Montezuma 17 (Gatton 7). Steals: North Linn 10 (A.Flanagan, Kurt 3), Montezuma 7 (Boulton 3). Turnovers: North Linn 12, Montezuma 16.

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