Video: Drake Brewster with the buzzer-beating winner for Cedar Rapids Kennedy

CEDAR RAPIDS — The play was called 'Union.' And it was a winner.

Drake Brewster's drive and leaning jumper in traffic with nine-tenths of a second left gave Cedar Rapids Kennedy a 60-59 win Tuesday night over Cedar Rapids Jefferson at the J-Hawk gym.

The 6-foot-5 junior took a pass at the elbow, dribbled to the lane and bounced home a shot from about eight feet over three defenders. Brewster also was fouled on the play, but wisely missed his and-one free-throw attempt, not allowing Jefferson any chance at a full-court Hail Mary.

'It was pretty close to what Coach wanted,' Brewster said. 'I come to the high post, I catch the ball, and my first look is to (center) Adam (Wall) over the top. If that's not there, I'm going to shoot it. If the defender is too close, I go to the hoop. I got a hip on him, pump faked, he went up, and it just bounced through.'

Kennedy (7-11) led only twice in the second half. The first time was at 41-40 midway through the third quarter.

The second time? Well, you know.

'It just felt like 'finally,'' Brewster said. 'We've had so many close games that we just haven't quite made it. That game we made it. Feels like we got over the hump.'

To say it's been an uneven season for the Cougars is an understatement. They came in here losers of five of their last six, including a horrible performance last Friday night against Cedar Rapids Washington.

The hope is this was their turnaround moment.

'Keep our heads up,' said Kennedy's Michael Bisenius. 'All my teammates have stayed very positive about things.'

'I think a win springboards you,' said Cougars Coach Jon McKowen. 'It verifies what you're telling them. There are times where you worry about if they are really hearing messages you are trying to teach and give them, when you don't have the wins you feel you should have. We've given quite a few games away this year, whether (by) not showing up mentally. Or physically not playing hard. Or giving up leads at the end. That makes it a grind. But we've had 50 practices this year, and we've had 49 really good ones.'

Jefferson (7-12) has had a resurgence this winter, going from a one-win team a season ago to seven wins and counting. But this was just another what-if loss.

The J-Hawks led most of the way, including by eight after three quarters. They were nursing a 59-58 lead but suffered a turnover on a 50-50 deflected-ball call at their bench with 17.8 seconds left.

McKowen called timeout with 8.5 seconds to go and the ball on his side of the half-court line. Derrick Diggins inbounded to guard Jackson Foley in the backcourt, he flipped a pass back to Diggins, who immediately lobbed to Brewster.

You know the rest. Kennedy has beaten Jefferson twice this season by a point.

Jeff has six losses this season by three points or less.

'What I expected to happen was they would get it to Diggins or Brewster,' said Jefferson Coach Brandon Horman. 'If it was Brewster, he'd be driving to try and finish or get the foul called. The last thing we talked about before we left the bench after that last timeout was don't make sure we stay down. We had three guys leave their feet, trying to make a play.'

Bisenius led Kennedy with 20 points, including six 3-pointers. Brewster added 18.

James Brown Jr. had 14 ponits off the bench to lead Jefferson. Adam Van Oort added 13 and Kane Kramer 12.

AT C.R. JEFFERSON

C.R. KENNEDY (60): Drake Brewster 8-13 1-3 18, Adam Wall 2-2 0-0 4, Michael Bisenius 7-11 0-0 20, Matthew Berst 0-4 2-2 2, Jackson Foley 1-4 0-0 2, Nick Duehr 0-2 0-0 0, Derrick Diggins 2-10 2-4 6, Shaun Beyer 4-6 0-0 8, Malik Haynes 0-1 0-0 0, Derek Girling 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-53 5-9 60.

C.R. JEFFERSON (59): Valentino Green 2-3 1-2 5, Adam Van Oort 4-13 4-5 13, Dennis McKinney 4-7 1-1 9, Kane Kramer 4-8 0-0 12, Royshawn Webb 2-8 0-0 6, James Brown Jr. 5-9 4-4 14, Treyton McCauley 0-1 0-0 0, Grant Wiederin 0-0 0-0 0, Zachary Larsen 0-0 0-0 0, Zachariah Szabo 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-49 10-12 59.

Halftime — Jefferson 35, Kennedy 27. 3-point goals — Kennedy 7-22 (Brewster 1-3, Bisenius 6-10, Berst 0-2, Foley 0-2, Diggins 0-4, Haynes 0-1), Jefferson 7-17 (Van Oort 1-3, Kramer 4-8, Webb 2-4, McCauley 0-1). Rebounds — Kennedy 28 (Berst 6), Jefferson 29 (Van Oort 6). Total fouls — Kennedy 12, Jefferson 15. Fouled out — McKinney. Turnovers — Kennedy 13, Jefferson 11.

l Comments: (319) 398-8259; jeff.johnson@thegazette.com