Prairie holds Liberty’s Washpun to 11 points in 79-52 win

CEDAR RAPIDS — Todd Kuntz termed it “a week of individual challenges.”

The Cedar Rapids Prairie boys basketball coach knew that if the Hawks were to be successful this week, they would have to hold on a trio of prolific scorers in Iowa City High’s Christopher Watkins, Jerimiah Washpun of Iowa City Liberty and Clear Creek Amana’s Beckett Boeset.

Two down, one to go.

“Our guys rise to that occasion,” Kuntz said after Prairie routed Liberty, 79-52, Friday night at Prairie High School. “They like playing against kids of that talent. Our goal (against Washpun) was just to try and wear him out. Try and make everything he got tonight earned, so we threw different bodies at him and tried to make everything difficult.”

Prairie junior guard Tae Alexander was one of the bodies assigned to Washpun, who entered the contest ranked sixth in Class 4A with 21.9 points per game. Washpun finished the game with just 11 points.

“Just trusting my defense to stay in the gaps,” Alexander said. “Stay disciplined.”

The victory was the fifth in six games after an 0-2 start to the season for Prairie (5-3). The outcome was never in doubt thanks to an explosive 17-3 Hawks’ burst that opened the night.

“Trusting each other and having that confidence the whole game,” Alexander said. “Knowing what we are capable of.”

Liberty (3-6) managed to get within single digits on a few occasions in the third quarter, but the Hawks sprinted away by outscoring the Lightning, 26-9, in the fourth quarter.

Four Prairie players scored in double figures, led by 18 points from junior guard Austin Joens. Alexander registered 14, while senior guards Will Wehr and David Fason chipped in 12 apiece.

“We were sixth in 4A in scoring last year and our leading scorer averaged 12 a game,” Kuntz said. “That’s our blueprint. That’s our DNA. To share the ball. We talk about, ‘everybody eats.’ Just like a potluck, right? Everybody eats.”

Sophomore guard Chase Goodheart paced Liberty with 17 points. The Lightning will host Western Dubuque Tuesday.

Prairie will entertain Boeset and Clear Creek Amana Saturday at 4:30.

“Again, they have another good player so we are going to have to keep that guy contained,” Alexander said. “Just stick to our roots.”

Boys basketball

AT CEDAR RAPIDS PRAIRIE

Cedar Rapids Prairie 79, Iowa City Liberty 52

IOWA CITY LIBERTY (00): Asher Kahn 2 0-0 6, Jerimiah Washpun 5 0-0 11, Brooks Andersen 0 0-0 0, Cale Baldwin 1 2-4 4, Rylen Schweitzer 1 0-0 2, Chase Goodheart 3 9-10 17, Brooks Peyton 1 0-0 3, Jacob Stapleton 3 0-0 7, Braden Franklin 0 0-0 0, Ek Kazadi 0 0-0 0, Will Trettin 0 1-2 1, Chrifis Ndjibu 0 0-0 0, Victor Nakihinga 0 1-2 1, Totals 16 13-18 52.

CEDAR RAPIDS PRAIRIE (00): Will Wehr 5 2-2 12, Tae Alexander 5 4-4 14, Austin Joens 7 0-0 18, Cayden Larson 1 0-0 2, David Fason 5 2-4 12, Ayden Meier 2 1-2 7, Collin McClintock 1 2-2 4, Eli Boerschel 2 1-2 5, Caleb Eckert 1 0-0 2, Colt Hobson 1 1-1 3, Akrum Mohammed 0 0-0 0, Furious Humrich 0 0-0 0, Zach Stuecker 0 0-0 0, Owen Marxen 0 0-0 0, Totals 30 13-17 79.

Iowa City Liberty 10 8 25 9—52

Cedar Rapids Prairie 21 11 21 26—79

Three-point goals – Iowa City Liberty 7 (Goodheart 2, Kahn 2, Stapleton 1, Peyton 1, Washpun 1), Cedar Rapids Prairie 6 (Joens 4, Meier 2). Total fouls – Iowa City Liberty 18, Cedar Rapids Prairie 16. Fouled out – None.

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