Metro Sports Report

Linn-Mar rally falls short

Linn-Mar's rally from a 10-point deficit fell just short and the Lions fell to Cedar Falls, 60-58, Friday night in a boys basketball game at Linn-Mar.

“I was proud of our guys out there tonight,” said Linn-Mar Coach Chris Robertson. “I saw a little fight in the dog.  They really battled and played hard.”

Down by four, Linn-Mar guard Matt Lassen connected on a 3-point basket and was fouled with 1:36 left in the game. The free throw rolled off the rim and Cedar Falls managed to sink just enough free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.

Weiland, Hawks shoot down Wahlert

Alisa Weiland scored 18 points and led Prairie past Dubuque Wahlert, 54-44, Friday night in Mississippi Valley Conference girls basketball.

Both teams were coming off a winter break and no competitive action for about two weeks, but Prairie capitalized on this first game of 2013 and improved its record to 8-3 overall and 6-2 in the Mississippi Valley Conference.

Courtney McCrary, a huge factor on defense, added 14 points. Cyerra Hutches, riding 89 percent free throw shooting, netted 10 points for Prairie.

“We put some new wrinkles in the offense and added a couple of plays over the break,” Prairie Coach Steve Doser said.

Hobbs helps Warriors trip Saints

The Stealth Bomber delivered her weapons at the right time Thursday night for the Cedar Rapids Washington girls basketball team.

Aleena Hobbs hit a key 3-pointer and scored 16 points as the Warriors topped Xavier, 57-49, in a Mississippi Valley Conference game at Xavier.

Washington volleyball coach Kari Lombardi gave Hobbs the nickname of "Stealth Bomber" this fall because the 5-foot-10 junior is a good jumper who can slam the ball at the net and surprise opponents with her power.

Washington basketball coach Frank Howell hasn't come up with his own nickname for her yet.

"No, I guess I don't," he said. "That's unfortunate, because I usually come up with some pretty good nicknames.

"The Stealth Bomber is applicable to basketball, too."

The Warriors (8-2, 4-2) used key 3-pointers in the fourth period to gain the edge in a tight contest.

Ex-Jefferson football coach Ted Lawrence dies

THOMPSONVILLE, Ill. -- Former Cedar Rapids Jefferson football coach Ted Lawrence died last Thursday at his home in Thompsonville, Ill.

He was 86.

It was the second death in December for the Lawrence family. Larry Lawrence, Ted's son and a star athlete at Jefferson in the 1960s, died Dec. 4 at age 63.

Ted Lawrence coached high school football for 16 years, including a highly successful stint at Jefferson. He led the J-Hawks to state titles in 1964 and 1965 and won three Mississippi Valley Conference titles.

His overall coaching record at Wilton Junction, Anamosa, Jefferson and Geneseo, Ill., was 101-33-6. He served as the first president of the Iowa Football Coaches Association and was inducted into the Iowa Wesleyan College Hall of Fame.