Visser’s basket sends Washington past Jefferson

CEDAR RAPIDS — It doesn't get any easier. Not for Frank Howell. Not for Jason Edwards.

'It was tough seeing him in the handshake line after the game,' said Howell, girls basketball coach at Cedar Rapids Washington. 'It was tough because in many ways, they outplayed us.'

Anne Visser capped a 27-point masterpiece with the go-ahead basket with 22 seconds remaining, and Class 5A 15th-ranked Washington escaped Cedar Rapids Jefferson, 64-63, in a Mississippi Valley Conference battle Friday night at Washington High School.

Edwards served as Howell's assistant for eight years before taking the head position at Jefferson. He is still seeking his first win against his old boss and continued buddy.

'Obviously, this one hurts,' Edwards said. 'Credit goes to them. They have a lot of speed, and that hurt us. We weren't strong with the ball when we had to be down the stretch.'

Washington (14-7 overall, 8-5 MVC) trailed by 10 points entering the fourth quarter, then scored the first eight points of the final period to get right back in it.

Joniqua Clark's drive with 42 seconds left got the Warriors within 63-62. Then, after a steal gave Washington the ball back, Visser took a feed inside and converted to give the Warriors the lead for good.

'I knew (Clark) would see me,' Visser said. 'She sees everything. It's intuition.'

Visser scored her points in a variety of ways. She posted up. She hit five 3-pointers in nine tries. She tallied in transition.

'I'll play where teammates need me,' she said. 'I like to shoot, but I enjoy posting up, too. I like posting up people that are shorter than me.'

Howell said, 'It's neat to have a kid that versatile. she'll play wherever we need her, and a lot of kids won't do that.'

Jayla Johnson added 12 points for the Warriors; Clark registered 11 points and six rebounds.

Kennedy Dighton accumulated 24 points and eight rebounds for Jefferson (9-12, 6-7). Kylie Wise added 15.

The teams combined for 20 3-pointers. Jefferson was 11 for 22 from long distance; Washington was 9 of 21.

For the second time this week, Jefferson (9-12, 6-7) let a healthy lead get away. The J-Hawks led Kennedy by eight points in the third quarter Tuesday.

Friday, they took a 57-47 lead into the fourth quarter. But 28 turnovers ultimately did them in. Avery Guy had a 3-pointer to win it at the buzzer, but it bounced off the back of the rim.

The first half featured three ties and 12 lead changes. Washington held the largest advantage at 18-12 late in the first quarter, then Jefferson scored the final nine points of the period, and back and forth they went.

Jefferson led, 35-33, at intermission.

CEDAR RAPIDS WASHINGTON 64, CEDAR RAPIDS JEFFERSON 63

At C.R. Washington

C.R. JEFFERSON (63): Samantha Kitterman 0-1 0-0 0, Avery Guy 2-7 0-0 6, Kylie Wise 5-9 0-0 15, Kennedy Dighton 7-14 8-8 24, Emily Oler 3-4 2-2 8, Kaylee Donner 2-3 0-0 6, Erin Kuba 0-2 2-2 2, Erica Oler 0-1 2-4 2, Sparkle Melton 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 19-41 14-16 63.

C.R. WASHINGTON (64): Joniqua Clark 3-8 3-4 11, Anne Visser 9-14 4-6 27, Vanessa Eniola 2-6 2-2 6, Payton Bruner 1-7 1-3 3, Jayla Johnson 5-11 1-2 12, Jessica Puk 1-2 0-0 3, Sandra Mia 1-1 0-0 2, Grace Carey 0-1 0-0 0, Caitlin Riley 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 22-53 11-17 64.

Halftime: Jefferson 35, Washington 33. 3-point goals: Jefferson 11-22 (Kitterman 0-1, Guy 2-6, Wise 5-9, Dighton 2-3, Donner 2-2, Kuba 0-1), Washington 9-21 (Clark 2-4, Visser 5-9, Bruner 0-2, Johnson 1-1, Puk 1-2, Riley 0-2). Team fouls: Jefferson 18, Washington 17. Fouled out: Kitterman. Rebounds: Jefferson 33 (Dighton 8), Washington 24 (Clark 6). Assists: Jefferson 12 (Guy, Wise 3), Washington 11 (Clark, Johnson 3). Steals: Jefferson 4 (Emily Oler 2), Washington 15 (Johnson 4). Turnovers: Jefferson 28, Washington 10.

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com