Now, two state finals-caliber programs are in the regional championship game, looking down the barrel at each other.
North Linn (21-1) and Montezuma (21-3) are scheduled to meet Thursday evening at 7 p.m. at Benton Community High School.
The winner will advance to the Class 1A state tournament in Des Moines.
Both teams have piles of statistics, but there’s one that may have major impact on this game. That one: Steals.
The Lynx average 20 per game, to Montezuma’s 7.5.
North Linn’s press starts a lot of offense for the Lynx, and helps the team’s shooting percentage.
Montezuma has experienced senior guards and has important depth in the backcourt.
If the Bravettes negotiate the press, they could take advantage of their superior size in the post and well, you can take it from there.
For North Linn, Kamryn Kurt, a 5-6 junior, scores 17 points a game and averages 3.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists.
Macy Boge, a 5-8 junior, scores 12.5 per game.
Molly Boge, a 5-8 sophomore averages 11.6 points per contest.
Ellie Flanagan, a 5-8 senior, averages 4.7 rebounds.
North Linn scores 72 points a game, 39 more than the team’s opposition.
But, the Bravettes heavily outscore their opponents, too. They use a swirling mix of defenses in order to do it The offense has become more diverse as the season has progressed and now features a nice blend of inside and outside play.
North Linn jumped classes for its only loss, 50-46 to Mount Vernon.