Courtney shoots Strait as Kennedy stomps short-handed Jefferson, 70-35

CEDAR RAPIDS - This wasn't so much a game against an opponent as it was a game against themselves.

The Cedar Rapids Kennedy Cougars weren't going to lose Friday night. No way.

Not playing against a Cedar Rapids Jefferson team that has evolved into an “iron five” because of massive injuries. The goal here was to work on what's needed heading into next week's postseason.

“We wanted to focus on playing against the 2-3 zone,” said Kennedy's Courtney Strait after her club doubled up Jefferson, 70-35, in the opener of a boy-girl doubleheader at Jefferson. “We knew that's what they were going to play. We practiced that all week. Moving the ball as fast as we could and getting somebody open. I think we moved the ball as quickly as we wanted to and got people open.”

Kennedy (12-8) has a lot going for it as Class 4A regional play begins Wednesday. The Cougars have won eight of 10 at the close of the regular season and should make it nine of 11 Saturday night against Marion.

And they have Strait. The 5-foot-10 senior guard made 8 of 10 shots in a 24-point game, including six 3-pointers. The Truman State (NCAA Division II) signee entered averaging 20. She's talented enough to ride in the postseason.

Jefferson, meanwhile, is a wreck. Three starters are out the rest of the season with injuries, with five girls playing every second Friday night until midway through the fourth quarter.

Center Maddie Koolbeck led the J-Hawks (8-13) with 16 points. The J-Hawks committed a telltale 25 turnovers against Kennedy's pressure defense.

“I don't think it was tough (mentally) to get ready for this game,” Strait said. “There was always that chance they could have come back and played really well. I thought we started off with confidence right at the start. We knew if we started off with a good run, we could focus on our defense. Our offense would then come after that.”