Washpun hits for 31; City cruises

DES MOINES -- Kiera Washpun had a career night, and Iowa City High displayed a championship-level performance.   Washpun hit 12 of 14 shots in a 31-point masterpiece as the top-ranked Little Hawks blistered Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 68-34, in a Class 5A quarterfinal at the girls' state basketball tournament Wednesday evening at Wells Fargo Arena.   "Oh, boy. That was the best (Washpun has) played in four years," City High Coach Bill McTaggart said after the Little Hawks breezed to 24-0. "When she's on like that, it absolutely opens things up like you wouldn't believe."   Washpun drilled her first six shots, including four 3-pointers. The result was a mismatch -- and, for the Little Hawks, a semifinal date with No. 5 West Des Moines Dowling (21-3) at 1:45 p.m. Friday.   Dowling held off No. 4 Waukee, 62-56, Wednesday.   The Little Hawks stormed to a 25-6 lead after a quarter. It was 40-13 with 3 minutes left in the half, and though the Cougars (16-8) weren't competitive during the game, they were highly complimentary afterward.   "Their shots were on, they gave us great pressure and that's why they're 24-0," said Paige Hendrickson.   Added Morgan Martin: "All the credit goes to them. We tried seven different defenses against them in the first quarter, and they still scored at will. I'll be rooting for them to win the championship."   And, from Kennedy Coach Tony Vis: "If they continue to play like that, they'll be holding a big trophy Saturday night."   Washpun wasted no time in making an indelible impact. She nailed a 3-pointer to open the scoring and never cooled off.   "It was a team effort," she said. "Everybody played well. I got the shots when I needed when I was open. I was just thinking I needed to go hard for my team."   Haley Lorenzen added 16 points and nine rebounds for City High. The University of Florida recruit was more than willing to defer to Washpun.   "It's like picking your poison with us," she said. "If Kiera gets hot, great. If it's Courtney (Joens), awesome. If it's me, OK.   "Whoever it is, we will find the person that's open."   Kennedy had one good stretch, closing the first half with five straight points and scoring the first five of the second half, getting within 40-23.   But the window closed just as quickly as it opened. City High responded with a 12-2 surge for a 52-25 cushion.   "We never got relaxed out there," Vis said. "I think we were a little intimidated by the environment, a little in awe. It was a combination of things."   More than anything, though, it was City High.   "It was their night tonight," Hendrickson said. "We didn't show up in the first half. But it was their night."   Hendrickson led the Cougars with 13 points. Martin compiled 10 points and nine rebounds.  

IOWA CITY HIGH 68, CEDAR RAPIDS KENNEDY 34  

Class 5A Quarterfinal, at Wells Fargo Arena  

C.R. KENNEDY (34): Madi Meier 1-2 3-4 5, Jordan Holmes 0-8 1-2 1, Paige Hendrickson 4-7 3-4 13, Stephanie Botkin 1-2 0-0 2, Morgan Martin 4-11 2-5 10, Madi DeLong 0-4 0-0 0, Mariah Vis 0-3 0-0 0, Maddi Hennessey 0-0 0-0 0, Paige Timmerman 0-0 0-0 0, Carly Langhurst 0-2 0-1 0, Abby Hellweg 1-2 1-1 3, Sydney Hayden 0-0 0-0 0, Katelynn Dye 0-1 0-0 0, Brinley Milbrath 0-1 0-0 0, Linden Runels 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 11-44 10-17 34.  

IOWA CITY HIGH (68): Sara Blowers 1-1 2-3 5, Kiera Washpun 12-14 3-4 31, Sam Blowers 2-4 2-2 7, Courtney Joens 3-9 0-1 6, Haley Lorenzen 7-14 2-2 16, Sarah Plock 0-1 0-0 0, Bryn Hanrahan 0-1 0-0 0, Jessica Onnen 0-0 0-0 0, Peyton Koenig 0-2 0-0 0, Ronetta Jenkins 1-2 0-0 3, Lillie Christopherson 0-0 0-0 0, Kenya Earl 0-2 0-0 0, Emma Pradarelli 0-0 0-0 0, Venia Xayasene 0-0 0-0 0, Loshika Embery 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-50 9-12 68.  

Halftime: City High 40, Kennedy 18.

3-point goals: Kennedy 2-10 (Meier 0-1, Holmes 0-2, Hendrickson 2-3, Martin 0-1, Vis 0-3), City High 7-18 (Sara Blowers 1-1, Washpun 4-5, Sam Blowers 1-2, Joens 0-4, Hanrahan 0-1, Koenig 0-2, Jenkins 1-1, Earl 0-2).

Team fouls: Kennedy 18, City High 17.

Fouled out: none.

Rebounds: Kennedy 31 (Martin 9), City High 31 (Lorenzen 9).

Assists: Kennedy 4 (four with 1), City High 12 (Washpun, Joens 3). 

Steals: Kennedy 9 (Martin 4), City High 10 (Washpun 4).

Turnovers: Kennedy 20, City High 14.