2:41 p.m. – We’re 4 minutes away from the headline game of the day: 4A #1 Linn-Mar (13-0) vs. 3A #1 Ballard (14-0). The Lions are averaging a 36-point victory margin while the Bombers are blasting the competition by 35 ppg.
2:48 p.m. – Game time. Probably the biggest crowd right now in Rivalry Saturday history.
2:50 p.m. – Ballard two scores, Linn-Mar two fouls. 3-0, Bombers.
2:55 p.m. – Midway through the first quarter, Linn-Mar still without a field goal. 3-1, Ballard.
3:00 p.m. – Two free throws for Printy. Linn-Mar takes its first lead, 7-6. 0:48 left in 1st quarter.
3:03 p.m. – One field goal for each team in first quarter. Lions lead 8-6. It’s time for Cotton Eyed Joe.
3:06 p.m. – Linn-Mar’s run is 9-0 before Zimmerman scores. Linn-Mar, 12-8. Two fouls on Printy.
3:10 p.m. – The individual score/foul board isn’t being used. Wish it was. D.J. Norman and Rachel Kearney have nine points between then in the second quarter. Lions lead 19-12, 3:23 left in the half.
3:12 p.m. – Stokes swats Zimmerman.
3:13 p.m. – Stokes swats Zimmerman again.
3:15 p.m. – Printy 2 FTs, Norman 2 FTs. Linn-Mar lead is 11.
3:18 p.m. – Halftime. Linn-Mar 24-12. Halftime entertainment: Prairie vs. North Cedar little girls.
3:31 p.m. – Ballard 4-20 from the field in the first half. Linn-Mar strikes first on a Rachel Kearney putback.
3:33 p.m. – Larry Niemeyer sighting. All the stars are out.
3:35 p.m. – Printy drains a 3, Linn-Mar leads 33-17 and Ballard calls time. The role players are deciding this one. Morgan Terpstra is hustling hard, and Kearney and Norman are shining.
3:38 p.m. – Stokes scores and draws a foul. It’s 35-17, 3:49 left in the third and possibly heading toward routdom.
3:44 p.m. – Taylor Greenfield’ sfree throw ends a 13-0 Lions run, but Klopfenstein answers with a 3-pointer. Not a misprint at 44-18. Just an unexpected mismatch.
3:46 p.m. – 44-22, end of 3rd. “Dude Looks a Lady” in the jukebox.
3:51 p.m. – Printy drive and a pretty dish for a Stokes layup. It’s 52-27, 4:55 to go.
3:52 p.m. – Those declarations that Ballard’s the best team in the state? Drop ‘em.
3:58 p.m. – Scoreboard malfunction.
4:01 p.m. – Zimmerman has 10 in the 4th. Linn-Mar 56-35, 2:20 to go.
4:06 p.m. – Subs in.
4:07 p.m. – It’s a final. Linn-Mar wins, 59-41.
