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.

Jimmy Roth led the Lion attack with 12 while Lassen added 11 and Derik Gogg chipped in 10, providing a balanced attack.

“We just worked our offense and I managed to get some good looks at the basket,” said Roth.  “We work as a team and that’s how we get our shots.”

Defensively, the Tigers worked at plugging up the lane, but a flurry of 3-pointers from Lassen, Jordan Bohannon, and Nic Uhlir put the Lions up by two at halftime.  That was the same strategy that almost pulled out a victory at the end of the game.

“When they double down on me I can kick it back out and I know they will hit those threes,” explained Gogg.  “They were a pretty big team and kept the inside game difficult.”

Cedar Falls (5-2, 3-2) took advantage of its size, posting its taller guards up on Linn-Mar’s backcourt to build leads in each half.

“Tom’s (Bardal) a smart coach," Robertson said of the Cedar Falls mentor. "They have those big guards and they posted us up. They had a nice advantage there.”

Tiger guard Kalehl Brown led all scorers with 24 points.  Isaac Boettger contributed 13 and Kalund Brown added 12.

Linn-Mar (2-6, 1-4) travels to Dubuque Wahlert next Tuesday.

CEDAR FALLS (60):  Kalehl Brown 9 6-6 24, Kalund Brown 3 5-8 12, Boettger 4 4-10 13, Harvey 1 2-4 4, Johnson 2 1-4 7, Bardal 0 0-0 0, Nichols 0 0-0 0, Deines 0 0-0 0.  Totals 19 18-32 60.

LINN-MAR (58):  Lassen 4 1-3 11, Bohannon 3 0-0 8, Schlotterback 0 2-2 2, Roth 5 1-4 12, Gogg 4 2-8 10, Halupnik 1 0-0 2, Schmidt 1 0-0 2, Uhlir 3 0-0 9, Nelson 1 0-0 2, Neier 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 6-17 58.

Halftime — Linn-Mar 28, Cedar Falls 26. 3-point goals — Cedar Falls 4 (Kalund Brown 1, Boettger 1, Johnson 2),  Linn-Mar 8 (Lassen 2, Bohannon 2, Roth 1, Uhlir 3). Fouled out – Roth.