Scouting Reports, Photos: Linn-Mar Lions ’25-26

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code:&nbsp;howe30&nbsp;in the coupon code area</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>IOWA CITY, Iowa -&nbsp;</strong>Underdog Linn-Mar arrived here at Little Hawk Arena Tuesday night with upset on its mind. Despite a great plan, terrific execution and a mighty effort, the Lions came up just short against Class 5A No. 8 City High, falling, 48-47, in overtime. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Linn-Mar is a team the favorites won't want to see in their regional brackets. The Lions are skilled and scrappy, and, at least on this night, played with great discipline and determination.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a closer look at members of the pride that stuck out Tuesday:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1675265"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6971099237a71"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">McCormick played a leading role in Linn-Mar's near upset of Top 10 City High in late January on the road. The junior ran the point and worked well off of the ball, too. She locked down multiple positions on defense and limited mistakes with a knack for coming through in the clutch. McCormick is a multi-sport athlete that succeeds with quickness and toughness. She's a three-level scorer that really excels in the mid-range with excellent lift and a high release point on the shot. A success on the track, McCormick enjoys pushing the pace in the gym and beats much of the competition up and down the court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1675236"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-697106f666dbb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">It only took a few minutes of scouting Ernzen and Linn-Mar against Top 10 City in late January to decide she was an intriguing prospect despite being one of the youngest players on the court. Ernzen is a legit 6-0 with a solid frame capable of adding strength, which will help her finish at the rim and rebound. She's skilled with a technically-sound shooting form out to beyond the arc, quickness and agility, and court sense. The Lions run sets through the sophomore in the high post, where she regularly finds open teammates. Ernzen's long arms make her height play up even more. She is, without question, one to watch moving forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["592198"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-697105672abce"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Basketball's loss is soccer's gain when it comes to Kern, who signed with South Dakota State to play on the pitch. The lead guard is gifted enough to help plenty of colleges on the hardwood, however. Kern is quick, strong and skilled. She's especially adept at getting her shot off in traffic, contorting her body and understanding angles, cleanly releasing the attempt without it being swatted. That showed up against a taller City High outfit in late January, when Linn-Mar came up just short of upsetting the Top 10 Little Hawks. Kern's tight handle and physicality allows her to get downhill in a hurry before getting to that quick shot release. Her form his sound beyond the three-point line, and she sees the court well in finding open teammates.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["896417"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6971099237b24"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A freshman receiving meaningful minutes in a near upset of a Top 10 opponent on the road should grab your attention. That's what Axeen was doing when we watched her against Iowa City High in late January. Poise and advanced skill stood out when scouting Axeen. Her keen understanding of the game plan and commitment to executing it made her a valuable asset in the Lions being able to utilize a deeper rotation in a physical affair. Axeen held up well against it on both ends of the court, strong with the ball in her hands and in defending on the ball. She moves well laterally and quickness also leads to success. It looks like Axeen has the potential and capabilities for an ever-expanded role for a young Linn-Mar team with a bright future.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:gallery {"linkTo":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped"><!-- wp:image {"id":1675283,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/01/137A7405.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1675283" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Linn-Mar '29 [player_tooltip player_id='896417' first='Lucy' last='Axeen']. (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Girls Hoops)</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1675273,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/01/137A7397.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1675273" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Linn-Mar '26 Madi Wedo. (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Girls Hoops)</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1675270,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/01/137A7372.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1675270" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Linn-Mar '26 [player_tooltip player_id='1090511' first='Maddy' last='Blandford']. (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Girls Hoops)</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1675262,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/01/137A7367.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1675262" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Linn-Mar '27 [player_tooltip player_id='1675265' first='Emerson' last='McCormick']. (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Girls Hoops)</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1675259,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/01/137A7358.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1675259" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Linn-Mar '28 [player_tooltip player_id='1675236' first='Lanie' last='Ernzen']. (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Girls Hoops)</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1675258,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/01/137A7323.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1675258" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Linn-Mar '26 [player_tooltip player_id='592198' first='Dreya' last='Kern']. (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Girls Hoops)</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1675254,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/01/137A7305.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1675254" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Linn-Mar '28 [player_tooltip player_id='1090514' first='Maya' last='Seim']. (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Girls Hoops)</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1675251,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/01/137A7301.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1675251" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Linn-Mar '26 [player_tooltip player_id='592198' first='Dreya' last='Kern']. (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Girls Hoops)</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1675246,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/01/137A7293.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1675246" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Linn-Mar '26 [player_tooltip player_id='592198' first='Dreya' last='Kern']. (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Girls Hoops)</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1675239,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/01/137A7249.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1675239" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Linn-Mar '26 [player_tooltip player_id='592198' first='Dreya' last='Kern']. (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Girls Hoops)</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1675225,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/01/137A7235.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1675225" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Linn-Mar '28 [player_tooltip player_id='1675236' first='Lanie' last='Ernzen']. (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Girls Hoops)</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1675219,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/01/137A7221.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1675219" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Linn-Mar '26 [player_tooltip player_id='1090511' first='Maddy' last='Blandford']. (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Girls Hoops)</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --></figure> <!-- /wp:gallery --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->