The Linn-Mar Lions are in business to win state titles, but they enjoy collecting Mississippi Valley Conference titles along the way as well.

Especially this one.

All-American Marcus Paige tossed in 30 points Tuesday on Senior Night as No. 6 Linn-Mar demolished Jefferson, 68-42, to win its eighth MVC crown in the past nine years.

The Lions (16-4, 12-3) clinched at least a share of the Mississippi Division title with Tuesday's victory. They own a one-game lead over Dubuque Senior with one game left in the regular season at Dubuque Wahlert Thursday night.

Linn-Mar captured Class 4A state championships in 2004, 2007 and 2011 during its remarkable run in the 21st Century, but the Lions enjoy putting MVC banners on their gym wall too.

"That's always one of our goals at the beginning of the year," said Paige, who has won four straight conference titles. "We always want to go undefeated in conference, win conference and see what happens at state.

"It does get a little bit overlooked here," he said. "Everyone wants to think state championship. There are small goals along the way and this is a great one for us."

Linn-Mar lost its first two games of the conference season, but the Lions have won 12 of their last 13 league contests to surge to the top of the Mississippi Division standings.

The Lions have won MVC titles in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 during their nine-year streak of brilliance.

"We feel like we play in the best conference in the state of Iowa, so it's very important to us and I think especially important to this team," Linn-Mar Coach Chris Robertson said. "We got off to an 0-and-2 start in the conference and I think a lot of people wrote us off.

"We battled back, and this was something they wanted to do. It's important for our guys."

Linn-Mar graduated four starters from last year's state champs, so Robertson had big holes to fill this season. It got harder when Matt Lassen, one of the team's best players, suffered a severe concussion in early December and missed two months of the season.

Lassen returned to action last week and tossed in five 3-pointers Tuesday night to help sink the J-Hawks. Lassen, a 6-foot-4 junior, is coming off the bench for the Lions, but said he feels good and is ready for the stretch run.

"I've felt great since I've been back," he said after finishing with 15 points. "Tonight I think I got a lot more open looks and my shot felt great and I was getting great passes from my teammates. My shot was feeling good so I kept shooting.

"I felt great. I wasn't tired, I wasn't winded," he said.

Lassen played on the varsity last year as a sophomore and now has two MVC titles. "Those are really, really important to Coach Robertston," he said. "He really cares about those. To be the best team in the conference is a big honor."

Jefferson tried to guard Paige and the Lions with a man-to-man defense in the first quarter and suffered the consequences. Paige hit five straight shots, including a trio of 3-pointers, and Linn-Mar raced to a 25-8 lead after one period with torrid shooting.

The Lions grabbed a 20-point margin at 31-11 early in the second period when Lassen hit a 3-pointer. The J-Hawks switched to a zone defense and eventually pulled within 12 points at 41-29 on a three-point play by Justin Underwood midway through the third period, but the Lions turned on the jets again.

Jon Schlotterback made it a 20-point bulge again at 51-31 with a three-point play late in the third quarter, Lassen made it a 25-point affair at 58-33 with his fifth triple and it became a 29-point blowout at 68-39 in the final minute.

Paige made 8-of-9 shots in the first half and had 21 points by intermission. His only errant shot in the first half was a 35-foot heave in the final second of the first period.

Linn-Mar made twelve 3-pointers in the ballgame, with Paige and Lassen hitting five apiece. Paige filled out the boxscore with seven steals, six rebounds and four assists.

Lassen, who has committed to Albany (N.Y.), grabbed five rebounds in his best game since returning to the court. "He gives us a huge boost, especially offensively," Paige said.  "He's a very good offensive player. To see him playing confident and not worrying about anything is great."

Taylor Olson scored half of Jefferson's points with 21. Ky Kramer hit three 3-pointers and finished with nine points. The J-Hawks (12-8, 8-7) played without injured starter Alec Saunders, who is nursing a sprained ankle.

JEFFERSON (42): Robinson 1 0-0 2, Kramer 3 0-0 9, Hemphill 1 0-0 2, T.Olson 8 3-6 21, Underwood 2 1-1 5, J.Olson 0 3-5 3, Goodell 0 0-0 0, Sullivan 0 0-0 0, Mueller 0 0-0 0, Wiederin 0 0-0 0, Knox 0 0-0 0, Taylor 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 7-12 42.

LINN-MAR (68): Martins 0 0-0 0, Roth 2 0-0 5, Gogg 1 0-0 2, Henry 1 0-0 2, Paige 10 5-6 30, Meier 0 4-5 4, Hutchins 0 0-0 0, Lassen 5 0-0 15, Schlotterback 2 1-1 5, Hackett 1 0-0 3, Holland 1 0-2 2, Nelson 0 0-0 0, Richardson 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 10-14 68.

Halftime - Linn-Mar 39, Jefferson 24. 3-point goals - Jefferson 5 (Kramer 3, T. Olson 2), Linn-Mar 12 (Paige 5, Lassen 5, Roth 1, Hackett 1).