C.R. Jefferson drops one to Davenport North, 68-50

CEDAR RAPIDS - Wes Bruns is struggling physically.

A life of running marathons has wreaked havoc on the Cedar Rapids Jefferson boys’ basketball coach’s lower back, which is degenerating. He was given another steroid shot this week to deal with the pain and his condition and told to take things easy.

Which he didn’t, of course, patrolling his team’s sideline during its 68-50 loss Friday night at home against Davenport North. The passionate Bruns was up off his seat virtually always, yelling instructions and encouraging his J-Hawks.

“All my marathon-running days, jump roping, running hills, it has come to bite me,” Bruns said. “I’ve had this thing since about 2011 ... I’ve gotten about six cortisone shots, I think. The doctor said no working out today, just chill out. But you know me.”

This is a small Jefferson team physically, it’s tallest guy being sophomore Ian Eirp at 6-foot-4. And he’s a skinny 6-4.

How do you win games when you are undersized?

“We try to be quick,” Bruns said. “Try to space the floor better. I drew a couple of sets for them, they made it well. Got a couple of shots that worked. We switch our defense occasionally, little things like that.”

North (2-0) had its way inside in this game, with DeAndre Smith scoring 21 points and pulling 7 rebounds. Johnale Johnson Jr., who is just 6-1, was even more impressive with a double-double of 10 points and 13 rebounds.

The Wildcats led the entire way, extending a seven-point first-quarter lead to 35-19 at halftime. Jefferson (1-1) never got things under 10 points.

“They’re hard to guard,” Bruns said. “They’re aggressive, they’re physical ... Which is challenging for us.”

Jamie Kaiser Jr. had 12 points, Eirp 11 and Khai Gatewood 10 for Jefferson, which plays Saturday against Mount Vernon. The J-Hawks opened their season with a win Tuesday night over Clinton.

“I love the kids we have,” Bruns said. “This has been a good year. I know our numbers seem kind to be low, but I just love the guys we have.”

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AT CEDAR RAPIDS JEFFERSON

DAVENPORT NORTH (68): Cailen sadrick 4-7 1-2 10, DeAndre Smith 9-18 3-5 21, Jimmy Carter 1-7 4-4 6, Johnale Johnson Jr. 5-8 0-0 10, Tenerick Brady 6-11 0-0 13, Derrick Pena 1-3 0-0 2, Mekhai Richardson 1-3 0-0 3, Jamauri Walton 1-1 0-0 2, Jakobe Worrels 0-0 0-0 0, Alexander Creighton 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 28-58 8-11 68.

C.R. JEFFERSON (50): Jamie Kaiser 5-13 0-0 12, Ian Eirp 4-7 1-1 11, Dayten Guy 3-10 3-7 9, Khai Gatewood 4-10 2-2 10, Eric Smith 1-2 1-2 3, Jonah Diekman 1-2 0-0 2, Ty Kuennen 1-3 0-0 3, Keon Lewis 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 19-47 7-12 50.

Halftime - North 35, Jefferson 19. 3-point goals - North 3-13 (Shadrick 1-2, Smith 0-4, Carter 0-3, Brady 1-2, Richardson 1-2), Jefferson 5-17 (Kaiser 2-5, Eirp 2-4, Guy 0-4, Gatewood 0-1, Kuennen 1-3). Rebounds - North 29 (Johnson Jr. 13), Jefferson 27 (Diekman 6). Total fouls - North 16, Jefferson 9. Technical foul - Smith. Fouled out - None. Turnovers - North 5, Jefferson 12.

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