Linn girls’ coach Caleb Thomas didn’t want to see the season end at Thursday’s Class 2, District 8 semifinal at Tipton against the Lady Cardinals, but he’s happy with the way the Lady Cats maintained discipline in the face of a 92-34 loss.

He noted the girls battled until the final horn, refusing to give up. “I’m proud of them for that attitude,” Thomas said.

Carley Brandt led the team with 18 points, as Heslie Higginbotham put in nine, Kenzy Hackmann scored five, and Paige Senevey and Nicole Grellner finished with two apiece. In the assists column, Ali Russell and Grellner co-led with two each.

In addition to Senevey’s six rebounds, Brandt snatched five, and Jorja Kempker, Russell, and Higginbotham added one apiece.

Senevey posted three steals to go with one each from Grellner, Hackmann, Russell, and Brandt, the latter of whom also had a block.

Linn opened the tournament with a 72-19 win over New Bloomfield.

“This was a quality opening round win,” said Thomas. “Everyone chipped in somewhere.”

Linn hit its groove early and scored often, leading 52-6 at halftime. The Lady Cats shot 38.9% overall, with eight three-pointers and an 8-16 mark at the stripe.

Three Lady Wildcats reached double digits, and all the regular rotation players recorded two made FGs. “Everyone recorded a rebound,” said Thomas. “We have been successful when the scoring is spread out a lot.”

Brandt (3-5 FT) led with 17 points and 14 rebounds, as Higginbotham (trey) posted 14 with four rebounds, and Grellner (3 treys) added 13 points and three boards.

Senevey pitched in nine points and seven caroms, while Hackmann (2 treys) posted nine, and Kempker and Russell each hit a trey on their way to five points apiece. Grellner and Kempker counted four assists each while Hackmann and Russell added three apiece, and Senevey dished it twice.

Also collecting rebounds were Nevaeh Miller (2), and Hackmann, Russell, and Faith Mitchem, each with one.

The team’s 18 steals set up success on the offensive end. Senevey had six of them, followed by Brandt (4), Grellner (3), Higginbotham (3), and Hackmann and Kempker (1 each). Grellner also had a pair of blocks, and Kempker and Senevey added one apiece.