Uthoff's career-high board work lifts Jefferson

CEDAR RAPIDS -- Jarrod Uthoff posed for pictures, the young admirers barely topping out at his waist.

He signed autographs, asking the kids how to correctly spell their names.

He was a mini-rock star after surviving -- even thriving -- in an extremely physical game.

Uthoff matched his scoring average with 26 points and nabbed a career-high 19 rebounds as Class 4A ninth-ranked Cedar Rapids Jefferson upended No. 3 Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 53-44, in a Mississippi Valley Conference boys' basketball game Friday night at Jefferson High School.

"We had a lot to play for tonight," said Uthoff, a University of Wisconsin signee. "Kennedy is so big, so physical, a very good team."

Uthoff stood up to style of play. An added 10 pounds -- he's up to 190 now on his 6-foot-8 frame -- since last year sure didn't hurt.

"He did a great job catching the ball in traffic," said Jefferson Coach Stu Ordman. "You can tell he has worked in the weight room. He needed that because this game officiated like a state-tournament game -- no blood, no foul."

The J-Hawks (14-4 overall, 10-4 MVC) held a slight lead virtually the whole way, then pulled away from the free throw line late. Jefferson was 15 of 15 from the stripe, including 12 of 12 by Uthoff.

Free throws and rebounds. That was the game.

While Jefferson didn't miss from the foul line, Kennedy (14-4, 9-4) was a subpar 6 of 13. And the J-Hawks enjoyed a 39-29 advantage on the glass.

"We didn't make free throws and we got outrebounded. That's the telling story right there," said Kennedy Coach Bob Fontana. "And (Uthoff) ... he wanted this game. It was important to him. That's why he's the player he is."

Tyler Meiborg came off the bench to add 10 points for the winners. Ky Kramer scored eight.

Kyle Lamaak paced Kennedy with 13 points and eight rebounds. Jacob Misener posted nine points and four assists.

Misener's basket gave Kennedy its final lead at 10-8. The J-Hawks led 26-24 at the half, then edged slowly away.

When Uthoff grabbed a long offensive rebound, stepped back and drilled a 3-pointer to make it 39-31 with 6:55 to go, victory appeared imminent.

"We really wanted this game," Uthoff said. "Kennedy's ranked third in the state. We had nothing to lose, and we played like it."

AT C.R. JEFFERSON

C.R. KENNEDY (44): Jacob Manning 2-8 2-3 6, Jacob Meisner 4-7 0-1 9, Kyle Lamaak 5-14 2-5 13, Josiah Coleman 4-13 0-0 8, Christian French 3-5 0-2 6, Trevor Heitland 0-1 0-0 0, Darius Fuller 0-1 0-0 0, Herschel Dixon 0-1 0-0 0, Elliott Christians 0-0 2-2 2, Cody Bell 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 18-50 6-13 44.

C.R. JEFFERSON (53): Tyler Hemphill 1-8 0-0 2, Ky Kramer 3-4 0-0 8, Alec Saunders 2-9 0-0 5, Alexander Denny 0-0 0-0 0, Jarrod Uthoff 6-13 12-12 26, Tyler Meiborg 3-8 3-3 10, Alexander Larson 1-3 0-0 2, Michael Rooney 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 16-46 15-15 53.

Halftime: Jefferson 26, Kennedy 24.

Team fouls: Kennedy 17, Jefferson 11.

Fouled out: none.

3-point goals: Kennedy 2-9 (Manning 0-1, Misener 1-1, Lamaak 1-2, Coleman 0-5), Jefferson 6-14 (Hemphill 0-1, Kramer 2-3, Saunders 1-3, Uthoff 2-4, Meiborg 1-2, Larson 0-1).

Rebounds: Kennedy 29 (Lamaak 8), Jefferson 39 (Uthoff 19).

Assists: Kennedy 6 (Misener 4), Jefferson 6 (Uthoff 3).

Steals: Kennedy 4 (Coleman 2), Jefferson 3 (Hemphill 2).

Turnovers: Kennedy 8, Jefferson 8.