“Battle of the Blue” charity basketball game is Friday night at Cedar Rapids Jefferson

CEDAR RAPIDS — This is for keeps, kids.

So don’t think you are just going to roll into the gym and roll over these guys because you’re younger. Jon McDowell wants you to know that.

“A lot of trash talking has been done,” he said, with a laugh. “We’ve got a pretty good team. I think we’ve got a pretty good shot at winning. I told them I’m not coming in here like the Harlem Globetrotters and try to provide a good time. I’m coming here to win.”

A Cedar Rapids police officer, McDowell is the Student Resource Officer at Jefferson High School and has put together a charity basketball game called “Battle of the Blue” Friday night at the school.

The game pits McDowell and fellow CRPD officers against members of Jefferson’s boys’ and girls’ basketball teams. Game time is 6:30 p.m., with doors opening at 5:30.

Concessions will be available. Tickets are $7 and available at the door.

All proceeds from the game will go to benefit CR netWORK, a local organization that raises funds to provide opportunities and empower westside youth.

“How I have connected with the kids since I have been the school resource officer at Jeff was through basketball. My love of the game ...,” McDowell said. “When you’re a cop, and you go to a school, it can be a little rougher sometimes. They don’t trust you necessarily, right off the bat. You’ve kind of got to earn that.

“So what I would do my first year there was just play one on one with them. It has kind of grown to become a thing now. I have a running list of kids I have to play. It’s a thing: who can beat Officer McDowell? I think right now I’ve got a winning record, so I’m going to pat myself on the head.”

These one-on-one games gave McDowell his “Battle of the Blue” idea. You’ll even see a father and son go head to head, as Jeremiah White will play for the police team and his boy, Dominic, for the Jefferson team.

“Every SRO does things differently, every SRO has their strengths of what they can hang their hat on for how they get with the kids. Mine has been this, so why not do this, make it bigger and try and make some money for a good cause in the same process,” McDowell “The kids are looking forward to it, I’m looking forward to it.”

Comments: (319)-398-8258, jeff.johnson@thegazette.com