Jefferson keeps Washington winless, 71-42

CEDAR RAPIDS -- The doctors didn't want to operate because Tyler Hemphill is still growing.

Hemphill didn't want surgery because, well, because he wants to play.

The victim of a torn ACL in his left knee, Hemphill fastens his brace and grits it out for the Cedar Rapids Jefferson boys' basketball team. He posted 14 points and seven rebounds in the J-Hawks' 71-42 demolition of Cedar Rapids Washington in  in a Mississippi Valley Conference boys' basketball game Friday night at Jefferson High School.

"I know it affects my play a little bit," Hemphill said. "I've got to learn to play a little different and try not to overcompensate."

Hemphill, who suffered the tear last summer during AAU play, said he's not in tremendous pain, though the knee "shifts every once in a while. I just play through it."

Jefferson Coach Stu Ordman said, "That kid's got a big heart."

And because doctors anticipate Hemphill adding another inch or two to his 6-foot-3 frame, they agreed to hold off with surgery until the season is over.

Jefferson (11-3 overall, 7-2 MVC) ruled this one throughout, assembling a 19-0 run in the first half to turn a competitive 12-7 game into a 31-7 runaway.

The J-Hawks didn't commit a turnover until midway through the second quarter, coughed it up only twice in the first half, seven times in the game.

A clean, efficient effort.

"We know how we can play. Taylor Olson takes the game into his hands, and we feed off him," Hemphill said.

Olson outscored Washington (0-12, 0-10) by a point by himself in the first half as the J-Hawks built a 39-15 lead. He finished with 18 points to lead all scorers. Ky Kramer hit five 3-pointers -- eliciting three pushups from front-row members of the Stu Cru each time -- and added 17 points.

Cybryan Moa led Washington with 13 points.

C.R. JEFFERSON 71, C.R. WASHINGTON 42

At C.R. Jefferson

C.R. WASHINGTON (42): David Tann  2-5 2-5 6, Cybryan Moa 5-12 1-1 13, Peter Holmes 0-2 0-0 0, Jason Oney 2-6 3-4 8, Sean Bredl 1-4 0-1 2, David Rosenthal 2-3 0-1 4, Austin Bergstrom 0-0 2-2 2, Sam Bil 0-4 0-0 0, Paul Nash 0-2 0-1 0, Brock Butterfield 2-4 3-5 7, Zachary Williams 0-0 0-0 0, Lucas Pint 0-0 0-2 0. Totals 14-42 11-22 42.

C.R. JEFFERSON (71): Alec Saunders 2-6 4-4 9, Creighton Robinson 0-3 2-3 2, Ky Kramer 5-10 2-5 17, Tyler Hemphill 4-7 6-9 14, Taylor Olson 6-9 5-6 18, Justin Underwood 2-4 2-2 6, Austin Goodell 0-0 1-2 1, Christian Knox 0-1 0-0 0, Jacob Olson 0-2 0-0 0, Taylor Mueller 1-3 0-0 3, Layne Sullivan 0-0 0-0 0, Terrance Taylor 0-0 0-0 0, Andre Kearney 0-0 1-2 1, Jason Lafler 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 20-46 23-33 71.

Halftime: Jefferson 39, Washington 15. 3-point goals: Washington 3-14 (Moa 2-6, Holmes 0-1, Oney 1-3, Bil 0-2, Butterfield 0-2), Jefferson 8-21 (Saunders 1-3, Robinson 0-2, Kramer 5-9, Hemphill 0-1, T.Olson 1-2, J.Olson 0-1, Mueller 1-3). Team fouls: Washington 22, Jefferson 22. Fouled out: Tann. Rebounds: Washington 34 (Tann, Moa, Bredl 6), Jefferson 35 (Hemphill 7). Assists: Washington 4 (four with 1), Jefferson 10 (T.Olson 4). Steals: Washington 6 (Tann 3), Jefferson 9 (Hemphill, T.Olson 3). Turnovers: Washington 20, Jefferson 7.

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