Metro Sports Report

Paige explodes for 46; Lions nip Hawks

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.

Linn-Mar girls get even with Prairie

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.

Warriors tame feisty J-Hawks, 66-46

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.

J-Hawks race past Warriors, 71-42

Jefferson used an early surge to handle Washington with ease Friday night, 71-42, in a boys basketball game at Jefferson.

The first quarter set the tempo and the second quarter all but put the Warriors away as the J-Hawks pushed their way to a 39-15 lead at halftime.