Xavier 'wanted it more'

By Jeff Linder The Gazette CEDAR RAPIDS - You can chew on the numbers, most notably plus-15 (Cedar Rapids Xavier's rebounding advantage) or 0-for-12 (Cedar Rapids Kennedy's 3-point inaccuracy). Or you can save some time and simply take Kennedy Coach Dennis Roloff at his word: “They deserved to win because they wanted it more.” Class 4A 13th-ranked Xavier out-desired and out-efforted No. 5 Kennedy, 51-32, in a Mississippi Valley Conference girls' basketball game last night at Thillen Gymnasium. The outcome further muddled an already tight Mississippi Division race. Xavier (13-6 overall, 10-4 MVC) moved into a first-place tie alongside the Cougars (14-4, 10-4). Dubuque Wahlert and Iowa City High, both 9-4, have an opportunity to join the logjam tonight. Xavier's last two games are at home. “We need to come out these next two games and play our best,” said Caitlin Kray. If the Saints play like they did Thursday, they'll be in good shape. They took the lead early, held it throughout, and blew it open late. “The kids played hard. I'm proud of our effort,” said Xavier Coach Tom Lilly. “Fortunately, they weren't lights-out from the perimeter, and the kids remembered that long misses usually mean long rebounds and didn't race to the glass to go get them.” Xavier scored the final eight points of the first quarter to take a 19-9 lead. And even though the Saints tallied just 10 points in the middle two quarters, their lead held steady. “They got the lead, and they controlled the game,” Roloff said. Jade Rogers' putback brought the Cougars within 29-24 with 7:50 left, but Hannah Breitbach scored back-to-back hoops to send the lead to nine. Xavier's Colleen Bouchard was 10-for-10 from the line in the fourth quarter, and the Saints concluded the game with an 11-0 run. Kray and Bouchard led the Saints with 16 points apiece, and Kray's eight boards staked the home team to a 38-23 rebounding advantage, 19-6 in the first half. Breitbach added eight points. Jade Rogers paced the Cougars with 15 points and six boards. Xavier hosts Cedar Rapids Washington on Monday; Kennedy is at Waterloo West on Tuesday. n Contact the writer: (319) 368-8857 or jeff.linder@gazcomm.com