Cedar Rapids Xavier met Waverly-Shell Rock in a slugfest, seesaw battle Saturday night at Xavier High School. After all the punches and counterpunches were thrown it was the Saints that came up short, dropping a very physical game, 73-63.

“It is what is is, you can’t have every call go your way,” said Xavier Coach Matt Jenkins, whose team was whistled for 22 fouls compared to 12 for Waverly-Shell Rock. “The fouls were not a factor. They made shots at the end.”

Xavier (0-2) trailed 46-44 going into the fourth quarter but quickly retook the lead behind an offensive surge from senior Kevin Hosch. After the momentum swung to the Saints the Go-Hawks took it back for good with two big 3-pointers. The six-point swing gave the Go-Hawks a five-point lead that they never gave back.

“Anytime you hit a three, get a stop, and convert it helps any team,” Jenkins said. “To go from down one to up five is huge.”

Trailing late in the game the Saints were forced to start fouling intentionally to conserve time. Waverly-Shell Rock left the door open, missing some key free throws down the stretch,  but Xavier was unable to get quality looks and the Go-Hawks pulled away.

After a dead even first quarter the Saints managed to gain a 29-26 edge going into halftime.

Coming out of the locker rooms the Saints looked like they might seize control. Waverly-Shell Rock had other ideas going on a 7-0 run to retake the lead. The Go-Hawks shut down Hosch in the quarter and hit a three in the final seconds to take a 46-44 lead.

Hosch lead the Saints with 23 points. Senior Mack Mattke added 13.

Waverly-Shell Rock star Conner Coleman was denied the ball most of the game, but still managed 14 points for the Go-Hawks. Klinton Carlson lead all scorers with 25.

“We wanted other people to make decisions,” Jenkins said on their game plan for Coleman. “He is a great player and finds his teammates well.”

WAVERLY-SHELL ROCK (73): Klinton Carlson 7 10-18 25, Tyler Willis 1 0-0 3, Conner Coleman 3 7-8 14, Matt Mummelthei 1 0-0 2, Jesse Hendrickson 6 1-2 13, Cole Chesnut 1 0-0 3, Jake Velky 1 2-3 5, Jake Englin, 0 0-0 0, Alex Moerer 0 0-0 0, Daniel Stensland 1 6-6 8. Totals 21 26-37 73.

XAVIER (63): Trey Sampson 1 0-0 3, Ben McDermott 4 1-2 11, Kevin Hosch 9 3-4 23, Carter Valentine 3 1-3 7, Mack Mattke 4 5-6 13, Alec Clasen 0 0-0 0, Matt Nelson 3 0-0 6, Tanner Frazier 0 0-0 0. Team 24 10-15 63.

Halftime – Waverly-Shell Rock 26 Xavier 29. 3-Point Goals – Waverly-Shell Rock 5 (Carlson, Coleman, Willis, Chesnut, Velky) Xavier 5 (Sampson, McDermott 2, Hosch 2). Total Fouls – Waverly-Shell Rock 12, Xavier 22. Fouled out – McDermott.