Metro Sports Report

Paige scores 34 in loss to Illinois club

Sat - 28 Jan Written by Michael Schmidt

DUBUQUE -- Linn-Mar’s Marcus Paige and Benet (Ill.) Academy’s Sean O’Mara went shot-for-shot, putting on a terrific scoring battle for a mostly neutral crowd at the Wendy’s/American Trust Basketball Classic at Loras College Saturday.

In the end, it was O’Mara’s squad that came away with a 56-50 victory over the Lions.

Paige, a North Carolina recruit, scored 34 of Linn-Mar’s 50 points. Paige’s performance came just 24 hours after scoring a school-record 46 points in Linn-Mar’s comeback victory Friday against Prairie.

Not to be outdone, the 6-foot-8 sophomore O’Mara tallied 30 of his team’s 56. O’Mara is receiving interest from Notre Dame, Illinois and Iowa, according to ESPN.com.

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Linn-Mar standout Marcus Paige (white jersey) soars in for two of his school-record 46 points Friday night in the No. 3 Lions' 68-67 win over Prairie at Linn-Mar. (Photo by Ken Gilchrist)

Paige explodes for 46; Lions nip Hawks

Sat - 28 Jan Written by Jim Ecker

Marcus Paige performed like a Hall of Famer on Hall of Fame night at Linn-Mar High School Friday.

First ballot. Unanimous. No reason to delay. Induct him right now. Don't wait until he's in the NBA.

Paige poured in a school-record 46 points as the Lions dug themselves out of a 20-point hole and nudged Cedar Rapids Prairie, 68-67, in a sensational high school basketball game.

Paige was absolutely terrific and may have clinched the Mr. Basketball award for 2012, but Prairie had a chance to win the game with three-tenths of a second left on the clock.

That's how little time was left when Prairie star Matt MacDougall stepped to the foul line with a one-and-one bonus opportunity. He could have tied the game with one free throw and won it with another, but his first shot was long and slightly to the left.

MacDougall didn't get another chance and No. 3 Linn-Mar (11-2, 7-2) escaped with its ninth straight win.

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Linn-Mar's Sara Strauel (10) goes in for a layup against Prairie's Cyerra Hutchins during the first half of Friday's game at Linn-Mar. The Lions upset No. 10 Prairie, 52-43. (Photo by Ken Gilchrist)

Linn-Mar girls get even with Prairie

Fri - 27 Jan Written by Jim Ecker

The Linn-Mar girls basketball team improved by 29 points in 42 days to get revenge against Cedar Rapids Prairie Friday night.

Freshman Lannie Nietert scored a career-best 10 points and grabbed eight rebounds as the Lions spanked the 10th-ranked Hawks, 52-43, on Hall of Fame night at Linn-Mar.

It was quite a turnaround, considering the Hawks ran the Lions out of the gym in their first meeting at Prairie on Dec. 16, 63-43. Linn-Mar lost the first game by 20 points, then won the rematch by nine points for a 29-point swing.

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Jefferson's Kieley Brathwaite (white jersey) and Washington's Aleena Hobbs tussle for a loose ball during Friday's game at Jefferson. Washington fended off the feisty J-Hawks, 66-46. (Photo by Margaret O'Banion)

Warriors tame feisty J-Hawks, 66-46

Fri - 27 Jan Written by Mike Koolbeck

Outmanned Jefferson gave Washington all it wanted for three quarters Friday night at the J-Hawks' gym.

Playing without three starters, the J-Hawks scratched and clawed their way to within seven points of the No. 7 Warriors. But Washington used a 14-4 run to start the fourth quarter and pulled away for a 66-46 Mississippi Valley Conference girls basketball win.

Washington (10-5, 9-4) was led by Danielle Franklin's 17 points. Abby Herb and Jazz Royster had 11 points apiece and Brooke Foreman came off the bench to score 10.

Jefferson (6-10, 2-10) was led by Maddie Koolbeck's 17 points. Dani Stromert added 12.

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