Linn-Mar High School's path to the girls state basketball tournament has gotten harder.

Shanice Cheatham suffered a torn ACL in Linn-Mar's game against Iowa City West on Dec. 20 and has been lost for the sesaon, Coach Mike Brandt confirmed Monday.

Cheatham, a 5-foot-10 senior, was averaging 8.1 points and 4.1 rebounds for the 10th-ranked Lions, who reached the semifinals of the state tournament last season.

Linn-Mar (6-4, 3-3) hosts Waterloo West in its first game of 2012 Tuesday night, hoping to break a three-game losing streak.

Cheatham was hurt in the final game before the holiday break. She also had an ACL injury as a freshman in high school.