Martin makes grand re-entrance

CEDAR RAPIDS -- Nine seconds.

That's how long it took for Morgan Martin to make a proclamation. An exclamation, even.

She's back.

Morgan scored on the first possession of the game and led a balanced attack as Class 5A No. 9 Cedar Rapids Kennedy drummed Davenport Central, 67-38, in a season-opening girls basketball game for both teams Tuesday night at Kennedy High School.

"It just feels so good to be back with the girls," Martin said. "Even when I was hurt and not playing, I realized things could always be worse. I consider myself pretty lucky."

A 6-foot-1 post bound for Eastern Illinois University, Martin suffered a ligament tear to her left knee in the Cougars' second game last season. A piece of cartilage was impacted, and Martin didn't return all season. She underwent arthroscopic surgery in July.

"My quad doesn't look the same, but it's just cosmetic," she said. "My strength is there. I feel like I'm 95- to 100-percent back."

Martin posted 14 points and eight rebounds in limited minutes -- Kennedy Coach Tony Vis rotated 11 players in the mismatch -- and made 7 of 8 shots, including a couple from about 17 feet.

"Playing back-to-back (Kennedy was involved in a Hall of Pride scrimmage Monday), I was a little worried, but she moved well," Vis said. "Two nights in a row, she played at a high level."

She wasn't the only one. Stephanie Botkin added 13 points, Paige Hendrickson 11, Jordan Holmes 10.

The Cougars won the opening tip, and Martin raced to the block, took a feed from Holmes and converted. Talk about a fast start.

"The play wasn't really called for me," Martin said. "Coach's motto is that all of us have the ability to score, and I think that's what happened tonight."

Vis said, "We have a lot of flexibility in our lineup that we didn't have a year ago.

"Our sophomores (in the varsity rotation) are a little like the stock market -- up and down -- but they're very talented."

Kennedy blitzed the Blue Devils in the first half, scoring the first six points and sprinting to a 20-3 lead after one quarter and 45-14 at intermission.

Makayla Buck led Central with 15 points.The Cougars begin Mississippi Valley Conference play next Tuesday against Cedar Falls. 

CEDAR RAPIDS KENNEDY 67, DAVENPORT CENTRAL 38At C.R. Kennedy DAVENPORT CENTRAL (38): Makayla Buck 5-11 2-2 15, Gabrielle George 2-6 4-7 9, Letha Wallace 0-4 0-0 0, TeNesha Hawkins 1-2 3-4 5, Savannah Moeller 0-4 0-2 0, Naomi Elias 0-2 2-4 2, Aaliyah Serrano 0-2 1-2 1, Atavia Rush 1-3 0-0 3, Rodkeesha Jackson 0-0 1-2 1, Rodneeka Jackson 1-4 0-0 2. Totals 10-38 13-23 38.C.R. KENNEDY (67): Madi Meier 1-8 0-0 3, Jordan Holmes 4-9 0-0 10, Paige Hendrickson 5-10 1-1 11, Stephanie Botkin 6-7 1-2 13, Morgan Martin 7-8 0-0 14, Brinley Milbrath 0-3 1-2 1, Carly Langhurst 0-2 0-0 0, Sydney Hayden 2-6 0-0 6, Mariah Vis 1-2 0-0 3, Madison DeLong 0-1 3-5 3, Abigail Hellweg 0-0 0-0 0, Maddy Hennessy 0-0 0-0 0, Sarah Ryder 1-1 0-0 3. Totals 27-57 6-10 67.Halftime: Kennedy 45, Central 14. 3-point goals: Central 5-13 (Buck 3-5, George 1-2, Wallace 0-2, Serrano 0-1, Rush 1-2, Rodn.Jackson 0-1), Kennedy 7-25 (Meier 1-8, Holmes 2-5, Hendrickson 0-1, Martin 0-1, Langhurst 0-2, Hayden 2-5, Vis 1-2, Ryder 1-1). Team fouls: Central 17, Kennedy 20. Fouled out: Milbrath. Rebounds: Central 30 (Buck 5), Kennedy 33 (Martin 8). Assists: Central 3 (Wallace 3), Kennedy 16 (Hendrickson 5). Steals: Central 7 (George 3), Kennedy 10 (Hendrickson 3). Turnovers: Central 18, Kennedy 10.