Jefferson Girls Basketball

J-Hawks looking to bounce back

Jason Edwards never saw it coming last season.

The Jefferson girls basketball team had gotten off to a nice start with a 5-3 record, but Amanda Ollinger left the club in mid-December and began playing for Linn-Mar a few weeks after that.

The J-Hawks, staggered by the blow, won only three more games the rest of the season, although Edwards thought his players handled the adversity the best they could.

"I think the kids did a nice job of circling the wagons and sticking together," he said Thursday. "We all wish Amanda well. She's a good player, obviously. They did what they needed to do for their family.

"Obviously in the middle of the season it takes awhile to find your identity without a very important piece, but I thought the girls did a really nice job of that. I've been very pleased."

Ollinger averaged 17.8 points and 11.8 rebounds during the first eight games of the 2014-15 campaign at Jefferson before the family left and moved into the Linn-Mar district. Ollinger is a senior at Linn-Mar now and the J-Hawks have turned the page.

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Jeff girls fall short at SE Polk

RUNNELLS - The Cedar Rapids Jefferson girls basketball team gave sixth-ranked Southeast Polk a good battle for 16 minutes Saturday night before falling, 52-35, in a Class 5A regional semifinal game in Runnells.

Southeast Polk will host Linn-Mar in the regional finals Tuesday night.

The J-Hawks trailed by only three points at halftime, 21-18, but the hosts controlled the second half by a 31-17 margin.

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Jefferson girls advance in 5A play

Kennedy Dighton scored 13 points to lead Jefferson to a 43-35 win over Prairie in a Class 5A regional quarterfinal game Wednesday night at Jefferson.

The J-Hawks (8-14) will travel to Southeast Polk for a regional semifinal on Saturday at 7 p.m.

Avery Guy and Samantha Kitterman scored nine each for Jefferson.

Halle Person led Prairie (4-18) with nine points

PRAIRIE (35): Moenk 1 0-0 2, Altenhofen 2 0-0 6, Rotter 3 1-2 7, Usher 1 3-4 5, Person 2 5-6 9, Stoffer 2 0-0 4, Kuch 1 0-0 2, Adams 0-0-0 0. Totals 12 9-12 35.

JEFFERSON (43): Robinson 2 2-2 7, Kitterman 3 3-6 9, Guy 2 4-6 9, Wise 1 2-2 5, Dighton 4 4-4 13, Melton 0 0-0 0, Rolwes 0 0-0 0, Veglahn 0 0-0 0. Totals 12 15-20 43.

Halftime: Jefferson 17, Prairie 13. 3-point goals: Prairie 2 (Altenhofen 2), Jefferson 4 (Robinson, Guy, Wise, Dighton).

Wash girls start strong, beat Jeff

Kandis O’Donnell scored 14 points and grabbed nine rebounds as the Washington girls basketball team dominated the first half and beat Jefferson, 70-52, Friday at Jefferson.

The Warriors led 22-15 after the first quarter and went on a 13-3 run in the second quarter for a 35-18 halftime lead.

Payton Bruner added 11 points for Washington, which finished the regular season 13-8.

Kylie Wise and Kennedy Dighton each scored 14 points for the J-Hawks (7-14) and Sammy Kitterman added 10 points.

WASHINGTON (70): Clark 2 1-4 5, Semrau 3 0-1 7, Visser 3 0-0 7, Corey 1 1-2 3, B.Hoeger 0 0-0 0, Hartman 2 0-0 4, Squires 4 0-0 9, Arrington 0 0-0 0, Bruner 4 1-3 11, Puk 1 2-2 5, O’Donnell 7 0-0 14, Oler 1 2-3 4, Johnson 0 1-2 1, Cullen 0 0-0 0, M.Hoeger 0 0-0 0, Levy 0 0-0 0. Totals 28 8-17 70.

JEFFERSON (52): Rolwes 0 0-0 0, Robinson 1 1-4 4, Kitterman 2 6-10 10, Guy 2 1-2 5, Watkins 0 0-0 0, Melton 0 0-2 0, Wise 5 1-1 14, Veglahn 1 0-0 2, Thurmond 1 0-1 2, Dighton 6 0-0 14, O’Brien 0 1-2 1. Totals 18 11-20 52.

Halftime – Washington 35, Jefferson 18. 3-point goals – Washington 6 (Bruner 2, Semrau, Visser, Squires, Puk), Jefferson 5 (Wise 3, Dighton 2).