Linn-Mar High School - Marion, Iowa

Linn-Mar girls clinch tie for MVC title

Linn-Mar pounded Dubuque Senior, 62-29, Tuesday night to earn its 14th conference win, securing at least a tie for first place in the MVC Mississippi Division with one game remaining in the league schedule.

Waterloo West and Cedar Rapids Washington both trailed the second-ranked Lions by one game to start the evening. Linn-Mar (19-1 overall) will win the title outright with a victory over visiting Washington on Thursday.

In another dominating performance, Linn-Mar super senior Kiah Stokes led all scorers with 33 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and blocked four shots. She needs 22 more blocks to match the state career blocks record of 497 set by Jessica Nikkel of Lynnville-Sully (1995-99).

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Bohannon, Lions slam Dubuque Senior

DUBUQUE – Matt Bohannon is a pinpoint shooter.

It turns out the Linn-Mar senior guard can fly above the rim, too.

Bohannon’s first slam of the year, a one-handed effort, with a minute remaining, punctuated the Class 4A No. 1 Lions’ torrid second half in an 80-53 rout of Dubuque Senior Tuesday at Nora Gymnasium.

Bohannon stole the ball at half-court and ran down for his first dunk of the season, capping a 28-point night for the Northern Iowa recruit.

“You know I always get crap, because nobody thinks I can jump or anything,” the 6-foot-4 Bohannon joked. “It was just something where I got my footwork down and went up with it.”

Linn-Mar improved to 18-0 on the season. The Lions clinched a tie for the Mississippi Division title with a 13-0 league mark.

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Dunn chooses Hogs over Hawks

Kyle Dunn had a choice to make.

Dunn, a two-time Iowa state champion in the 400 meter hurdles for Linn-Mar, was being courted by Iowa and national track power Arkansas.

On the one hand you had Iowa and former national champion 400 meter hurdler Joey Woody, a Hawkeye assistant coach.

On the other, you had the irrepressible Chris Bucknam, who built Northern Iowa into a national contender with Iowans such as Woody before being wooed away to Arkansas three years ago.

"I know Joey's a great coach, but to have the coaches that made Joey so great, I knew that could definitely be advantageous for me," Dunn said of his choosing the Razorbacks, who have won 11 outdoor and 19 indoor NCAA team championships since 1984.

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Larison signs to play at Kirkwood

Jefferson outfielder Michael Rooney and Linn-Mar middle infielder Ben Larison have signed letters-of-intent to play baseball at Kirkwood Community College in 2012.

Rooney hit .350 with five homers and 30 RBIs for Jefferson last season as their leadoff hitter and center fielder. He's looking forward to joining the Eagles next season.

"It's really exciting," he said. "The past few years I've been wondering whether I'm good enough to play in college. It just feels good to have other people recognize you and think you're good enough to play for them."

Rooney said he also considered Wartburg and Coe.

Larison hit .383 with one homer and 31 RBIs for Linn-Mar last season as their shortstop, although he'll probably move to second base at Kirkwood.

"It just seems like Kirkwood was the best opportunity, both academically and athletically," he said. "I love baseball. It's a great opportunity."

Larison said he considered other junior colleges in Iowa and Minnesota before picking Kirkwood.