Warriors rally past Hawks: Girls’ prep basketball roundup

Their depth and full-court pressure finally wore the opponent down.

This won't go down as the prettiest win the Cedar Rapids Washington Warriors have had this girls' basketball season, but a strong second half was enough to knock off Cedar Rapids Prairie, 43-34, last night at Washington.

'In the locker room at halftime, we just kind of challenged them to bring some energy, and I think we did,” said Washington Coach Frank Howell. 'That provided a little spark and some excitement. And we finally hit some shots.”

Prairie (4-16) scored the first eight points and held a 12-5 lead after a quarter. Washington (12-8) cut its deficit to 16-15 by halftime, which had to feel like a victory.

Anne Visser hit a pair of big 3-pointers, and Allie Semrau added another to help Washington grab its first lead of the game and then keep it. Visser finished with 9 points, two fewer than Kandis O'Donnell's team-leading 11.

'I really think we were tired. We didn't play the best at the beginning,” Visser said. 'But once we got started, we got into it and played together.”

Olivia Usher had 11 points to lead Prairie, with Lauren Kuch adding 10 off the bench. The Hawks shot just 25 percent from the field and did not make a 3-pointer.

Washington shot just 26 percent.

C.R. KENNEDY 65, C.R. JEFFERSON 26 - Lela Sellers scored 26 points and Stephanie Botkin added 24 as the Cougars (10-2, 15-5) rolled to a Mississippi Valley Conference win at home.

Botkin hit five field goals, including four 3-pointers, and went over 1,000 points in her Cougar career. She now sits 1,005.

IOWA CITY HIGH 62, CEDAR FALLS 55 - Ashley Joens scored a team-high 17 points to lead a balanced attack for Class 5A seventh-ranked City High at home.

Courtney Joens added 13 points for the Little Hawks (14-6, 10-2 MVC), while Kenya Earl had 11 to go along with seven rebounds.

Adrienne Boettger paced Cedar Falls (15-5, 7-5) with 17 points and seven rebounds.

IOWA CITY WEST 58, DUBUQUE WAHLERT 26 - The Woman of Troy improved to 18-2 overall and 11-1 in conference play with a win at home over Wahlert (9-11, 5-7 MVC).

West took a 19-11 advantage into halftime and broke the game open in the second half.

Dani Craig scored a game-high 13 points and Mikaela Morgan added nine.