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.

Britney Boland topped Waukee (7-2) with 14 points.

Kennedy led 16-9 after one quarter and enjoyed a 28-23 edge at intermission. The Cougars had a 38-36 lead going into the fourth period, but were outscored 19-13 in the final eight minutes.

Botkin tied the game, 43-43, with a pair of free throws with 3:47 remaining. Megan Shryack gave Waukee the lead for good at 45-43 with a basket, then Miranda Hunzeke hit a 3-pointer to make it 48-43.

Meier pulled Kennedy within 54-51 with a 3-pointer with 12 seconds left, but Taylor Winger hit a free throw with 6.1 seconds left to clinch the win for Waukee.

Taylor Wagner missed the game for Kennedy with a knee injury. Morgan Martin also is sidelined with a knee injury, putting two key players on the disabled list. In addition, Jordan Holmes and Brianna Vis fouled out.

Freshman Brinley Milbraith and sophomore Abby Hellweg saw playing time for the Cougars due to the injuries. Hellweg scored four points in her first varsity appearance.

Coach Vis said he was encouraged by his team's performance, considering the personnel situation. "I felt like we took a step forward," he said.

Kennedy defeated Jefferson Friday night and got a split for the weekend. Waukee played Thursday night and did not have to play back-to-back games, but the Warriors had to make the two-hour bus ride to Cedar Rapids.

"I don't know what cancels what," said Vis.

WAUKEE (55): Winger 3 2-6 8, Cook 0 0-0 0, Bunz 2 0-0 4, Gehring 0 0-0 0, Dalsing 2 3-5 7, Shryack 3 3-6 9, Kollmorgen 0 0-0 0, Whitmer 0 0-0 0, Hunzeke 3 0-0 9, Jacobson 1 0-1 2, Boland 4 6-8 14, Ripperger 1 0-0 2, Cavanaugh 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 14-26 55.

KENNEDY (51): Meier 4 0-0 12, DeLong 1 0-0 3, Holmes 1 1-3 3, B.Vis 2 0-1 4, M.Vis 2 0-0 4, Milbraith 0 0-0 0, Hendrickson 1 3-4 5, Botkin 4 10-12 18, Hellweg 1 2-2 4. Totals 14 18-22 51.

Halftime - Kennedy 28, Waukee 23. 3-point goals - Waukee 3 (Hunzeke 3), Kennedy 5 (Meier 4, DeLong 1). Fouled out - Holmes, B.Vis.