Cedar Rapids Kennedy rolls past Davenport North, 62-34, for 4th straight boys’ state basketball berth

CEDAR RAPIDS – Cedar Rapids Kennedy’s seniors know how to get to Wells Fargo Arena.

They’ve traveled down that road to Des Moines a few times. Actually, they don’t what it’s like to end the season before the boys’ state basketball tournament.

“Competing down there, it’s an expectation nowadays in this program,” Kennedy’s Trey McKowen said. “Getting it done is a good feeling.”

The fifth-ranked Cougars put the clamps and pulled away from Davenport North in the second quarter, rolling to a 62-34 victory for the Class 4A Substate 6 championship Tuesday night at Kennedy. The Cougars advance to next week’s state tournament for the fourth straight season, looking to improve last year’s runner-up finish.

“It’s pretty exciting,” Kennedy senior Reuben Schlaak said. “I was a younger guy before, watching the older guys do it. Now, it’s continuing the culture and keep winning. It just feels natural.”

This repeat feat has been almost a year in the making. Holding the banner for pictures and cutting down the nets were a product of offseason meetings and training, lots of summer games and improvement throughout all 52 varsity practices and 23 previous games.

“We don’t have to coach effort and attitude with the culture we have,” Cougars Coach Jon McKowen said. “All we have to do is coach X’s and O’s and try to make them better every day. These guys always bring great energy and excitement. It allows us to get better.”

Kennedy (19-4) built a 20-11 lead after the opening quarter, getting a jumper and dunk from Schlaak during a 6-0 run with about a minute left in the opening frame. Schlaak also drained the first of his three 3-pointers as the first quarter expired.

The Cougars took control in the second quarter, outscoring the Wildcats, 16-3. Shut down defense and a decisive advantage on the defensive glass propelled Kennedy to a 36-14 halftime lead. North’s only points during the frame of free throws by DeAndre Smith, who was fouled on a 3-point attempt.

“It all starts on the defensive side,” Jon McKowen said. “When you give up three points you have a really good chance to separate from teams. I think we took good shots on the offensive side, too, which allowed our defense to get set.”

Kennedy hauled in 39 rebounds, including 24 on the defensive end. Jaxson Bean had a team-high 10 (seven defensive) and Pierce McCrary added eight (five defensive). North was limited in second-chance shots.

“That was a big emphasis in practice,” Trey McKowen said. “We did a lot of rebounding drills. We knew they crash hard and if we crash harder then we can get easy boards and run-out layups.”

North’s quickness and athleticism was a concern but Kennedy neutralized their ability to drive to the basket. The momentum was fully on Kennedy’s side. Trey McKowen and Bean hit 3-pointers in an 8-0 run and the younger McKowen tipped in a missed shot to beat the buzzer before halftime.

“We just started getting easy shots on offense,” Trey McKowen said. “We kept it simple. It led to a good win.”

Kennedy tallied 13 points in each of the last two quarters. McKowen and Schlaak led the Cougars with 14 points apiece. Bean had 10 and McCrary finished with nine. Senior Landon Deiters added eight.

Seniors have provided the vital leadership for a team with a lot of new contributors this season. The elder McKowen said that even with talented juniors and sophomores the team will go as far as the seniors take them.

“They’ve led from start to finish, embracing the younger guys and teaching also,” Jon McKowen said. “There is only so much coaches can do. When they hear about what’s important from their teammates, that’s a big thing.

“Our seniors aren’t just good players. They are coaches on the court.”

Kennedy will play in the quarterfinals Monday. The opponent and time are still to be determined. They will be prepared for another run, looking to better last season’s ending.

“I think we’re definitely capable,” Schlaak said. “We just have to get it done on defense, rebound and keep getting good shots on offense, like we did tonight .”

Smith led the Wildcats with 13 points. North closed the season with a 16-8 record, beating No. 10 Muscatine to reach the substate final.

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