Royshawn Webb's buzzer beater lifts C.R. Jefferson past Clinton

CEDAR RAPIDS — They worked through just about every late-game scenario you could think of at Monday's practice.

Ahead by a couple of points, tied, behind by a point or two. There were 10 seconds on the clock, five seconds, three.

The funny thing was Royshawn Webb never ended up taking the last shot for the Cedar Rapids Jefferson J-Hawks. That had to wait until Tuesday night.

'I wasn't the one getting the ball when we were practicing,' Webb said, after his buzzer beater gave his team a season-opening 66-64 win over Clinton. 'But, honestly, when your name is called, you've got to be ready to go.'

The senior guard was sure ready. With 4.9 seconds left, he took an inbounds pass at about his own free-throw line, power dribbled down the left side of the court, pulled up from about 10 feet out just to the left of the lane and banked a winner off the glass.

What a beauty.

'Coach told me I should have time to get almost to the hoop,' said Webb, who had a game-high 27 points. 'I knew that he was playing me from behind, so I just went straight through, got the ball, I saw he was giving me some space, so I used my speed to get around him. Once I saw the rim, kissed it off the glass, and it went in.'

'We knew he could get down to the hoop,' said Jefferson Coach Brandon Horman. 'Just under five seconds, we knew he could get all the way there. A little luck went our way with the shot dropping in. But that's a shot he can hit. Happy for all the guys.'

This was a significant victory for the J-Hawks. It was their first in a season opener since the 2012-13 season and marks the first time they are above .500 since beating Cedar Falls way back on Feb. 14, 2013.

This program has struggled, but there's no doubt it's getting better. Jefferson went from one win to 10 last season and is plus-one to begin 2016-17.

There are winnable games coming up this weekend against Burlington and Marion, too.

'I'm happy as heck for the boys,' Horman said. 'They have put so much time in to (improve) from where we were two years ago. Just seeing how competitive our guys are ... We've got a great opportunity to start out our season strong. We lost eight seniors who played, returned only two guys who played quality minutes last year. For us to come out and win Game 1, that's huge.'

It should have come a lot easier, too. Jefferson led by 12 points, 60-48, with 3:37 left, but had a couple of empty possessions, missed two one-and-ones and saw Clinton suddenly start making everything.

Back-to-back 3-pointers by Jaden Mixon tied it with 48 seconds left, 62-62. A Webb drive put Jeff back on top with 26 seconds left, but Quavon Jones drove and scored to re-tie it at 64-64.

These teams played a virtually identical game to start out last season, with Clinton hitting the winner at the horn. Revenge felt oh, so nice.

'I told the kids five seconds was a lot of time,' Clinton Coach Chris Powers said. '(Webb) hurt us all night, whether it was against our man or zone. He hit a tough shot. It was a contested, tough shot, but he made it.'

Kane Kramer added 13 points and sophomore Willie Guy Jr. 12 for Jefferson. Mixon had 24 points and center Makai Hart 18 for Clinton.

'This just shows that our hard work in practice pays off,' Webb said. 'Guys getting in the gym during the summer and everything. They beat us last year on a buzzer beater, and we returned the favor.'

AT C.R. JEFFERSON

CLINTON (64): Lincoln Thomas 3-7 0-0 8, Makai Hart 7-14 4-6 18, Brennen Lemke 2-6 0-0 5, Quavon Jones 2-3 0-0 4, Jaden Mixon 8-16 4-6 24, Jamiere Broughton 2-8 0-0 5, Keaton Comstock 0-0 0-0 0, Demonte Jones 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 24-55 8-12 64.

C.R. JEFFERSON (66): Kane Kramer 5-11 0-1 13, T.J. Kuennen 4-7 0-0 8, Willie Guy Jr. 4-7 0-1 12, Kyler Bell 3-8 0-0 6, Royshawn Webb 13-19 1-1 27, Raezjuan Shockley 0-0 0-0 0, Dakota Hulsing 0-0 0-0 0, Curtis Shaw 0-2 0-0 0, Isaiah Smith 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 29-55 1-3 66.

Halftime — Jefferson 27, Clinton 26. 3-point goals — Clinton 8-24 (Thomas 2-5, Lemke 1-4, Q. Jones 0-1, Mixon 4-8, Broughton 1-5, D. Jones 0-1), Jefferson 7-18 (Kramer 3-6, Guy 4-7, Bell 0-3, Webb 0-1, Shaw 0-1). Rebounds — Clinton 30 (Hart 8), Jefferson 28 (Kramer 5). Total fouls — Clinton 13, Jefferson 10. Fouled out — None. Turnovers — Clinton 11, Jefferson 12.

l Comments: (319) 398-8259; jeff.johnson@thegazette.com