Metro Sports Report

Kennedy boys nip hard-luck J-Hawks

One of these days the basketball gods are going to smile on the guys from Cedar Rapids Jefferson, but it did not happen Friday night.

Again.

The Kennedy Cougars handed the J-Hawks another agonizing defeat, 54-53, in a Mississippi Valley Conference battle at the Kennedy gym.

The J-Hawks have lost their last three games by a grand total of five points with setbacks to Dubuque Senior (48-47), Cedar Falls (68-65) and now Kennedy (54-53).

"We have to have a sustained effort for all 32 minutes and cut back on the little mistakes," said Jefferson Coach Brandon Horman. "It's nice to be on the hump this year, but we've got to get over the hump."

Jefferson lost all 16 of its MVC games last season and is 0-6 in the league this year, saddling the J-Hawks with a 22-game losing streak in the conference. The skid almost ended Friday in a taut affair.

Smith-Drahos' career night lifts Hawks

Prairie junior Max Smith-Drahos loaded up on the pasta before Friday's battle with Washington.

Then the 6-foot-1 junior proceeded to unload on the Warriors.

Smith-Drahos exploded for a career 34 points, 17 in each half, as the Hawks built a 17-point lead in the third quarter before holding on for a 77-72 victory at Washington, snapping a five-game losing streak.

As he was being congratulated by Prairie fans following the contest, Smith-Drahos said it was the pregame meal that led to his career night.

"Judy, Jake Eilers' mom, makes the team meal for every away game," he said. "She made fantastic food. It helped me prepare for tonight."

What may have been a bigger key for the crafty junior was regaining his health.

Washington girls bump off Prairie

A packed house at the Washington gym Friday night got their money’s worth in the opening game of a doubleheader as the Warrior girls went right down to the wire to edge Prairie, 67-60.

It was a foul-plagued affair with 41 whistles, but fast-paced from start to finish.

And it wasn’t always pretty. Each team committed 20 turnovers. But it was exciting and entertaining the whole way.

"It was the kind of game you love to have on a Friday night,” Washington coach Frank Howell said. “Part of a doubleheader with more life in the gym. And a close game between two evenly matched teams.

“Both teams played really hard. Whichever team was going to win was going to deserve it. I’m sure it was a fun one to watch.”

That it was.

For one thing, the Warriors (8-6) relied mostly on crowd-pleasing 3-point shots. They took 31 of them (three more than their 2-point attempts). They made only nine from long range (for 29 percent), but they came at crucial times.

Briggs enjoying perfect year with Jeff

There's only one word to describe the season Kyle Briggs is having with the Cedar Rapids Jefferson wrestling team.

Perfect.

Briggs raised his record to 26-0 Thursday night with a technical fall as the 10th-ranked J-Hawks defeated Xavier, 53-27, in a Mississippi Valley Conference meet at Jefferson.

Briggs is ranked No. 2 in Class 3A at 152 pounds and has won major titles this season at the Keith Young Invitational, Southeast Polk Invitational and West Des Moines Valley tournament. He also finished 5-0 at the Pipestone Duals in Minnesota and has cruised through his conference bouts as well.

Briggs finished with a 35-9 record last year and placed eighth at the state tournament at 132 pounds, but he's made a big jump this year at his new and more comfortable weight class.