Kennedy High School - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Kennedy girls trimmed by No.9 Waukee

The Cedar Rapids Kennedy girls basketball team led No.9 Waukee after the first quarter, the second quarter and the third quarter Saturday night in the Kennedy gym.

Unfortunately for the Cougars, the visitors from the CIML led 55-51 after the fourth quarter and went home with the victory.

"It was a good high school basketball game," said Kennedy Coach Tony Vis. "We stood toe to toe and almost got them."

Stephanie Botkin led the Cougars (6-3) with 18 points. Maddie Meier drilled four 3-pointers and scored 12 points for Kennedy.

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Cougars dazzle Jefferson at both ends

Magnificent. Terrific. Outstanding.

If you'd like to know how the Kennedy boys basketball team played against Jefferson for the first 15 minutes Friday night, those three words do the trick.

The Cougars raced to a 32-8 lead with less than two minutes left in the first half and cruised to a 48-36 victory over the J-Hawks in a Mississippi Valley Conference game at Jefferson.

Kennedy Coach Bob Fontana said his team cannot play any better than it did for nearly the entire first half.

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Kennedy girls top J-Hawks in star-crossed game

Taylor Jacobson was talking to some of her Jefferson teammates Friday night after their basketball game at Jefferson when Kennedy junior Morgan Martin passed by.

Their crutches almost touched.

It was a star-crossed night for two of the premier basketball players in the Metro area, but the Kennedy Cougars fared better without Martin than the J-Hawks did without Jacobson.

The Cougars got balanced scoring and topped the J-Hawks, 54-42, in a Mississippi Valley Conference game that does not count in the league standings.

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Heisler shines as Cougars dunk Hempstead

DUBUQUE --  Chandler Heisler won four events Thursday night as the Cedar Rapids Kennedy Cougars defeated Hempstead, 103-67, in a Mississippi Valley Conference swimming meet in Dubuque.

Heisler captured the 100 IM and 100 freestyle races for Kennedy. He also swam on the triumphant 200 medley relay and 200 freestyle relay.

Stefan Kitsos was a three-time winner for the Cougars in the 100 butterfly, 200 medley relay and 200 freestyle relay.

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Eivins fundraiser at Kennedy-Jeff games

A fundraiser for the benefit of Jefferson parent and volunteer Gail Eivins will be held during Friday's basketball doubleheader between Kennedy and Jefferson at the J-Hawks' gym.

Eivins was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last summer and has been undergoing treatment. He is the father of Ryan Eivins (Class of 2012) and Jared Eivins (freshman).

People can donate that night for total rebounds, 3-pointers, free throws and/or slam dunks made by both teams. Flat donations also can be made. In addition there will be $1 raffle tickets sold for a chance to participate in trying to make a half court shot and win a gift certicifate to a local restuarant.

All proceeds will go to help the Eivins family directly. Checks can be made out to Shari Eivins.

The girls game starts at 6 p.m. and the boys game at approximately at 7:30 p.m. Immediately following the boys game, both Jefferson varsity basketball teams will be in the gym for poster signings.

Phantom bucket helps Kennedy top CPU

Whatever Cedar Rapids Kennedy Coach Bob Fontana told his team during a third-quarter timeout Saturday night certainly worked out.

The Cougars immediately made two points without even touching the ball.

Playing a sluggish game up to that point against undermanned Center Point-Urbana, the suddenly energized Kennedy boys scored 13 straight after the gift basket and went on to pound the Pointers, 54-39, at the Kennedy gym.

The turning point came midway in the third period after the Cougars went ahead of the pesky visitors 29-27 on a dipsy-do driving layup by Anthony Carter on a sweet dish from big Ben Struss.

Fontana then called what turned out to be a strategic timeout.

On the ensuing inbounds pass under the Kennedy basket, wide-open CPU sophomore Mason McCauley caught the pass and scored an uncontested layup in the other team’s hoop.

The goal was given to Cougar Johnathon Koelling since he was the closest one to the wrong-way shooter.

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Warriors upend Cougars to end drought

Cedar Rapids Washington High School's long nightmare in boys basketball has ended.

The Warriors snapped a 26-game losing streak Friday night by topping Kennedy, 53-50, in a Mississippi Valley Conference game at Cedar Rapids Kennedy.

Washington had not won a game since February of 2011. The Warriors lost their final game of the 2010-11 campaign, lost all 21 games last season and lost their first four games this season under new coach Adam Sanchez.

Washington got off to a good start Friday, built a 23-10 halftime lead and held on at the end. There were hugs and high-fives outside the Washington locker room as they celebrated the victory.

"It's a great day to be a Warrior!," exclaimed senior David Rosenthal, who contributed eight points.

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Warriors nip Cougars on Drew Wall Night

The girls basketball teams from Cedar Rapids Washington and Cedar Rapids Kennedy engaged in a spirited battle at the Kennedy gym Friday night.

When it was over, the players and fans from both teams joined forces to celebrate the spirit and memory of Kennedy sophomore Drew Wall, who lost his battle with cancer last month.

Washington won the Mississippi Valley Conference game, 57-56, when junior Aleena Hobbs swished a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 33 seconds left, a fitting way to celebrate her birthday.

A few minutes later, both sides put the game behind them to honor the memory of Drew Wall before a sea of purple in the Kennedy gym, with fans from both teams wearing special purple "Just Drew It" shirts that have become a best-selling item all over Eastern Iowa.

More than 2,800 of the Drew Wall T-shirts and polo shirts have been sold. All told, more than $40,000 has been raised for the Drew Wall LIVESTRONG Fund with proceeds from the shirts and other activities.

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Moore, Richardson pace Kennedy swimmers

WATERLOO -- Harrison Moore and John Richardson won three events Thursday night as Cedar Rapids Kennedy defeated Waterloo East and Decorah in a double-dual swimming meet in Waterloo.

Moore won the 200 freestyle and swam on the triumphant 200 freestyle relay and 400 freestyle relay. Richardson captured the 50 freestyle and 100 breaststroke and swam on the victorious 200 freestyle relay.

Dylan Casey, Andy Hanson and Chandler Heisler were double winners for the Cougars.

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