Cedar Rapids Jefferson edges Davenport Central 61-58 in girls’ basketball opener

CEDAR RAPIDS — They probably would have lost this one last season.

The Jefferson J-Hawks surrendered a six-point fourth-quarter deficit. Trouble appeared imminent.

But they’re a year older now, a year more mature.

A year more resilient.

“We’ve learned to play together, and down the stretch, it showed,” Emma Slings said.

Madie Denlinger hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:52 remaining, and Cedar Rapids Jefferson edged Davenport Central, 61-58, in a season-opening girls’ basketball game Friday night at Jefferson High School.

“It feels great,” Slings said. “After last season, we worked really hard. We came to multiple open gyms, and we came together as one.”

And Friday, they held together when the chips were down.

Jefferson scored eight in a row for a 54-48 lead with 5:52 to go. But the Blue Devils answered with their own 8-0 surge in less than two minutes.

Slings knotted it, 56-56, with a pair of free throws at the 2:24 mark. Then, a half-minute later, Denlinger followed with the biggest shot of the game.

Noelle Smith’s putback got the Blue Devils back within a point, then Jefferson’s Aubrey Luvan converted both ends of a one-and-one to push the mark back to three.

Luvan missed the front end of the bonus with 0:09 left, but Central’s Bria Clark hit the back of the rim on a potential tying 3-pointer as time expired.

So it’s a promising start for the J-Hawks, who had won just four of 59 games through the past three seasons. They were 1-16 last year

“We’re still trying to figure out each role,” J-Hawks Coach Jason Edwards said. “It’s going to take a couple of games. But when I take a look at us out there, I think that’s a good team.”

Contributions came from a wide array of sources. Slings scored 15 points. Luvan added 11 points, six assists and three steals. Jariah Harris collected 13 rebounds to go with six points. Madison Mercil scored all 10 of her points in the second half.

In all, seven J-Hawks scored five points or more.

“I think we’ll be cohesive. I think we’ll stick together,” Edwards said. “Our goal is a winning season.”

The game featured 10 ties and 14 lead changes. Jefferson’s 54-48 advantage was the largest margin for either team.

Adriauna Mayfield led Central (6-8 last year) with 17 points. Smith posted 16 points and 12 rebounds off the bench.

CEDAR RAPIDS JEFFERSON 61, DAVENPORT CENTRAL 58

At C.R. Jefferson

DAVENPORT CENTRAL (58): Asia Pegues-Jarrett 0-1 0-0 0, Aniah Smith 0-6 2-2 2, Bria Clark 5-12 4-6 14, Adriauna Mayfield 6-16 2-3 17, Addisen Ford 2-8 5-7 9, Noelle Smith 7-14 2-6 16, Alexay Johnson 0-0 0-0 0, Anayshia Mitchell 0-0 0-0 0, Emma Hendershott 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 20-57 15-24 58.

C.R. JEFFERSON (61): Aubrey Luvan 3-6 2-3 11, Emma Slings 5-13 2-2 15, Jariah Harris 2-9 2-4 6, Holly Madsen 0-2 0-0 0, Jada Platt 3-5 0-0 6, Madison Mercil 5-7 0-0 10, Madie Denlinger 2-3 0-2 5, Lily Schreckengast 0-0 0-0 0, Camryn Abrams 2-2 0-0 6, Madison Williams 0-0 2-2 2. Totals 22-48 8-13 61.

Davenport Central 14 16 16 12 — 58

C.R. Jefferson 15 16 15 15 — 61

3-point goals: Central 3-14 (A. Smith 0-3, Clark 0-2, Mayfield 3-6, Ford 0-3), Jefferson 9-16 (Luvan 3-5, Slings 3-5, Harris 0-2, Madsen 0-1, Denlinger 1-1, Abrams 2-2). Team fouls: Central 17, Jefferson 13. Fouled out: A. Smith. Rebounds: Central 34 (N. Smith 12), Jefferson 37 (Harris 13). Assists: Central 6 (A. Smith, Clark 2), Jefferson 14 (Luvan 6). Steals: Central 6 (Clark 2), Jefferson 8 (Luvan, Denlinger 3). Turnovers: Central 12, Jefferson 20.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com