 |
 |
* Contact Metro Sports Report * Jim Ecker, President & Editor jim.ecker@metrosportsreport.com 319-390-4236 |
BURLINGTON - Burlington High School boys basketball coach Jeff Bloomer knew what to expect from Class 4A Substate 5 opponent Cedar Rapids Jefferson.
He expected the J-Hawks to show good guard play. They did.
He expected the J-Hawks to switch defenses. They did.
He expected them to spread the court. They did.
Jefferson hosted Ottumwa in a Class 4A substate quarterfinal boys basketball game Monday night and came away with a decisive 79-57 victory.
The J-Hawks (12-10) came out aggressively and built a 19-4 lead by the end of the first quarter and eased to the victory from there.
“Offensively we moved the ball pretty well and we got some good looks,” said Jefferson Coach Stu Ordman. “We aren’t used to building that kind of a lead; I got a little worried about keeping our intensity.
CEDAR FALLS - Jacob Olson put on a free throw clinic Thursday as Cedar Rapids Jefferson upset Cedar Falls, 54-46, in the final game of the Mississippi Valley Conference season.
Olson cashed 11 of 12 free throws and scored 23 points as the J-Hawks finished the regular season with records of 11-10 overall and 8-8 in the league.
Ky Kramer scored 12 points for Jefferson and Creighton Robinson added 11. The J-Hawks won the game at the foul line, hitting 18 of 20 compared to 8 of 18 for Cedar Falls.
To say that Rylea Bennett was down in the dumps coming into Thursday’s Iowa high school Class 2A qualifying bowling meet would be an understatement.
“My confidence level was pretty low,” the Jefferson sophomore admitted. “I wasn’t feeling up to snuff.”
Competing in her regular Wednesday night league along with her mom, Jefferson assistant coach former state prep champion Stacie Bennett, Rylea had rolled three games totaling 475.
Kennedy hosted crosstown rival Jefferson in a Class 5A regional quarterfinal girls basketball tournament game Wednesday night and used the long ball to shoot down the J-Hawks, 58-50.
In beating Jefferson for the third time this season, Kennedy (15-7) advances to play Waterloo West (15-6) in Saturday's regional semifinals at West. Tip-off is 7 p.m.
“We are looking for a tough game in Waterloo this weekend,” said Coach Tony Vis. “We got them by nine earlier this year, but we can’t take them for granted.”
Led by Madi Meier’s school record seven 3-pointers, the Cougars knocked down 10 bombs to go with only nine two-point baskets and 10 free throws to defeat Jefferson.
Maybe it’s because several of the players competed against each other for years in AAU ball, but the boys game Tuesday night between Jefferson and Prairie seemed more like something you’d see at the Salvation Army gym.
The refs, for the most part, let them play without too much concern about fouls. There were quite a few wayward passes and loose balls on the court. And, as is so often the case in kids’ league contests, a few key players scored most of the points while the rest looked on.
In a matchup of two struggling teams trying to bounce back for postseason play, the J-Hawks prevailed 58-45 at Jefferson.
Austin Kluth and the Jefferson J-Hawks were red-hot on the May City Bowl lanes Tuesday in a 3345-2617 rout of Iowa City in boys bowling.
Kluth rolled games of 248 and 269 for a 517 series. Four other J-Hawks rolled series of 441 or better.
Noah Tiedtke had a 259 high game and 466 series, Sean Ely a 451 series, Zach Ficken a 445 series and Will James a 441 series.
Jessie Alff had it going for Jefferson Tuesday at May City Bowl, rolling games of 184 and 235 for a 419 series that led Jefferson to a 2854-2241 win over Iowa City High in girls bowling.
Savannah Fowler also had a 235 high game for Jefferson, and Rebecca Early a 214.
Jefferson finished the regular season with a 10-1 record.
A major milestone will be marked at halftime of Tuesday night’s Jefferson boys basketball game when the Jefferson Athletic Booster Club formally presents its latest donation.
The $55,000 check will put the contribution of the club to the high school athletic fund to more than $2 million since the volunteer organization was formed by parents in the 1957-58 school year.
“It’s $2,013,834.54 to be exact,” said Mark Fiala, a longtime member of the J-Hawk booster club and president for the past 10 years. “It’s amazing how much money can be made by selling a candy bar or a bag of popcorn one item at a time.”
Linn-Mar wrestling coach Doug Streicher never panicked when the Lions kept losing to Cedar Rapids Prairie during the season.
He knew he had a potent lineup that could accomplish great things this season once it was healthy and fully assembled.
They proved it Saturday.
Linn-Mar topped Prairie for the Class 3A district title with an impressive performance Saturday and qualified a school-record 12 grapplers for the state meet.
Page 4 of 29
