Metro Sports Report

Jeff girls trimmed by IC West

The Jefferson girls basketball team faltered in the second half and lost to No. 15 Iowa City West, 61-56, Tuesday at Jefferson.

The J-Hawks led 30-25 at halftime, but the Women of Troy opened the second half with a 14-7 run in the third quarter and had a 22-19 advantage in the fourth period.

Kennedy Dighton had 15 points and 12 rebounds to lead Jefferson (5-5). Kylie Wise and Erin Kuba added 12 points apiece.

Rachel Saunders scored 13 points for the Women of Troy (7-1). Lauren Zacharias had 12 points, Maddie Huinker had 11 and Emma Koch added 10.

IOWA CITY WEST (61): Morgan 1 0-3 2, Zacharias 4 2-2 12, Fay 0 0-0 0, Saunders 4 4-6 13, McGrane 0 3-4 3, Huinker 4 2-4 11, Cook 2 3-5 7, Harder 1 0-0 3, Koch 3 4-8 10. Totals 19 18-32 61.

JEFFERSON (56): Kitterman 1 1-2 3, Guy 2 0-0 6, Donner 0 0-0 0, Wise 3 4-4 12, Melton 1 0-0 2, Kuba 4 2-3 12, Erica Oler 0 0-0 0, Dighton 3 8-10 15, Emily Older 2 2-2 6. Totals 16 17-21 56.

Halftime – Jefferson 30, Iowa City West 25. 3-point goals – Iowa City West 5 (Zacharias 2, Saunders, Huinker, Harder), Jefferson 7 (Guy 2, Wise 2, Kuba 2, Dighton).

Briggs wins Metro Spotlight Award

Kyle Briggs of Cedar Rapids Jefferson is the winner of the Metro Spotlight Award for high school boys this week, the Metro Sports Report announced Sunday.

Briggs, a senior, has gotten off to a terrific start with the Jefferson wrestling team this season. He is ranked No. 2 in Class 3A at 152 pounds and raised his record to 20-0 Saturday with a spotless performance at the Pipestone Duals in Pipestone, Minn.

Briggs went 5-0 at Pipestone with three pins, a technical fall and a forfeit.

Sellers helps Cougars win 10th in row

The Kennedy Cougars have found a remedy for teams that like to double-team Lela Sellers near the basket and make it hard for her to get her hands on the basketball.

The solution? Move the lanky 5-foot-11 senior to point guard and let her create her own offense.

It worked Saturday night.

Sellers poured in 26 points as the Cougars handed North Scott its first loss of the season, 56-52, in a battle of highly ranked teams at the Kennedy gym to begin the new year.

Kennedy, ranked No. 4 in Class 5A, won its 10th straight game and raised its record to 10-1. North Scott, ranked No. 9 in Class 4A, fell to 8-1 after beginning the season with eight straight victories.

Sellers has the ability to play any position on the floor. Coach Tony Vis likes to station her near the basket to use her long arms and jumping ability, but not when the opponent sags its defense to slow her down.

No. 2 Eagles roll by Clarke JV

Everybody played, everybody scored, everybody had fun.

From all angles, it was a good way for the Kirkwood men's basketball team to ring in the new year.

Shakur Triplett led a balanced attack with 16 points Saturday afternoon as the second-ranked Eagles rolled by the Clarke University junior varsity, 112-63, at Johnson Hall.

Six players reached double figures with Elijah Henry (12), Josh Meier (12), Josh Bartlett (11), Byron Harp (11) and Cristen Wilson (10) all helping Kirkwood zoom past the century mark against an over-matched opponent.

The victory left Kirkwood with a 12-2 record heading into the heaviest part of the season.