Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

IOWA CITY – With leading rebounder and second leading scorer Julian Manson out with an injury West High needed a big-time effort from senior standout Jack McCaffery on Friday against cross-town rival City High.

McCaffery delivered in a big way with perhaps the best game of his career.

McCaffery scored 25 of his game-high 38 points in the second half as West High rallied for a 57-53 win over City High in front of a raucous crowd at West High.

“I tried to keep everybody involved in the first half but the second half I knew I had to step up and go get a bucket,” McCaffery said. “Without JuJu, that’s a big piece we are missing, especially on the defensive end so I knew I had to step up but a number of guys played really well.”

McCaffery had 13 points in the first half but West High trailed 31-26 at the break after City High (2-6) buried five first-half 3-pointers.

The 38 points were just two off the career high of 40 for McCaffery set earlier this season in a win over Burlington.

The 6-foot-8 McCaffery elevated his game after halftime as West High (4-2) snapped a two-game losing streak in its final game before the holiday break.

“JuJu got hurt in practice yesterday and I was really happy with the way our guys came together,” McCaffery said. “KingSton Swayzer stepped into the lineup and played great. We just have to keep getting better over break, this time last year is when we turned it around so we just have to get better every day.”

McCaffery made six of seven second-half field goal attempts and hit his final four shots including three 3-pointers as West High won its fourth in a row over City High.

Through five games McCaffery was 4-of-28 from 3-point range but he buried three in the final 11 minutes to keep West High afloat on Friday.

“I haven’t shot the ball well all season and I finally got in a rhythm shooting the ball and that felt good,” McCaffery said. “When my threes are going in there is just a lot more space that opens up the floor. I think I’m shooting 14 percent right now and I know I’m a good shooter, I’ve never shot like this in my life so it’s something I just have to keep getting better at.”

City High used a 11-1 run midway through the second quarter to take a 29-22 lead and led 31-26 at the half.

The Little Hawks took a 48-46 lead into the fourth quarter after Ja’Vion Robinson buried a 3-pointer with six seconds remaining in the third quarter.

City High led 52-46 when Christopher Watkins converted a driving layup with 5:44 remaining.

The rest of the game belonged to McCaffery and West High.

“I’d rather win ugly than lose a close game,” McCaffery said. “I’ll win ugly every day.”
McCaffery scored the next six points on a 3-pointer and three free throws after he was fouled shooting a 3-pointer with 4:20 remaining.

West High took the lead for good when junior Colin Whitters put back his own miss with 3:00 to play.

“We were clawing back all game and he finally put us over the top,” McCaffery said. “I think that gave us a little sense of we can kind of settle down. When we got down we got sped up so that helped us out and we got some stops on defense.”

City High cut the lead to 54-53 on a Watkins free throw with 1:45 remaining but the Little Hawks would score again.

McCaffery hit three free throws over the final 74 seconds to put the game away.

“He’s been struggling a little bit with his shot so it was good to see him shoot it better tonight,” West High coach Steve Bergman said of McCaffery. “It was a struggle, it was very aggravating to watch but we found a way to win and that’s ultimately what matters.”

McCaffery finished 9-of-15 from the floor and 17-of-19 from the free throw line and grabbed seven rebounds.

Whitters added six points as West High shot 57 percent from the floor but attempted just 30 field goals.

“Tonight Colin stepped up, he and Jack Jensen-Fitzpatrick they stepped in there and they didn’t play much on Tuesday,” Bergman said. “We wouldn’t have been there at the end if they hadn’t given us good minutes tonight.”

Davion Luckett had 14 points, Robinson had 12 and Watkins had 11 for City High which returns to action on January 14 at Burlington (2-5).

City High                   13  18  17   5   –  53

West High                  13  13  20  11  –  57   

City High (53) – Iyon Harris 0-2 1-2 1, Ja’Vion Robinson 3-7 4-4 12, Dominic Salibi 3-6 0-0 7, Bernard Grant 1-5 0-0 3, Christopher Watkins 5-7 1-2 11, Davion Luckett 5-10 0-2 14, Parker Sutherland 2-3 1-1 5, Totals 19-40 7-11 53.

West High (57) – Jack Wallace 0-0 1-4 1, Mason Goering 1-3 0-0 2, Jack McCaffery 9-15 17-19 38, Jack Jensen-Fitzpatrick 1-1 0-0 2, Henry Elser 1-2 0-0 2, KingSton Swayzer 1-2 0-0 3, Colin Whitters 3-4 0-0 6, Ethan Headings 1-3 0-0 3, Totals 17-30 18-23 57.

3-point field goals – City High 8-18 (Robinson 2-6, Salibi 1-2, Grant 1-2, Luckett 4-8), West High 5-8 (McCaffery 3-4, Swayzer 1-2, Headings 1-2). Rebounds – City High 14 (Sutherland 4), West High 22 (McCaffery 7). Total fouls – City High 21, West High 14. Turnovers – City High 12, West High 13. Fouled out – City High (Salibi), West High (Headings). Technical fouls – None.

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