Kennedy's Dennis Roloff moved one game closer to a coaching milestone Friday night when the Cougars clobbered Jefferson, 66-44, in a Mississippi Valley Conference girls basketball game at Jefferson.

The win was the 299th of Roloff's 20-year career at Kennedy. He goes for his 300th Saturday night in a home game against Marion.

“It’s just another game,” Roloff said.

Courtney Strait, who led the Cougars with 17 points, said she would like to be a part of the team that gets Roloff his milestone win. “We think we can do it, we feel confident,” Strait said. “We haven’t felt any pressure to get this win so that should help.”

Kennedy (7-13, 6-10 MVC) came out hot against the J-Hawks. The Cougars made their first three shots and continued to shoot the ball well throughout the game.

“It’s tough to come in to another gym and shoot well,” Roloff said. “Hitting shots early really got us going and gave us confidence.”

Jefferson (7-14, 5-11 MVC) came into the game looking for its third straight win that would send its upper classmen out on a high night note on Senior Night.

Kennedy was coming off a close loss to third-ranked Iowa City West on Tuesday.  The Cougars used a variety of defenses to pressure and slow the J-Hawk offense. Jefferson turned the ball over 16 times and had problems shooting, making only 36 percent of its shots. 

Kennedy led 19-12 after the first quarter and stretched the lead to 37-22 by halftime. The Cougars held Jefferson leading scorer Taylor Jacobson to just three points in the first half. Strait had the job of slowing Jacobson most of the night.

“This whole week we have been focusing on Jacobson and (Brittney) Steffeny,” Strait said. “I just tried not to let (Jacobson) catch the ball.”

Jefferson scored only seven points in the third quarter. The Cougars' stingy defense and warm shooting pushed their lead to 25 by the end of the period. The Cougars coasted home in the fourth as both teams emptied their benches.

Steffeny lead the J-Hawks with 12. Sophomore Kaitlyn Davidson added 11.

Senior Olivia Meier added nine points for Kennedy.

“They have good rims to shot on,” Strait said. “Coach (Roloff) turned off some lights at practice this week because it is a little darker here (Jefferson).”

The J-Hawks next play in a regional quarterfinal tournament game at home Wednesday night against Dubuque Senior.

KENNEDY (66): Olivia Meier 4 1-1 9, Courtney Strait 7 0-0 17, Kassi Nunnikhoven 4 0-0 8, Shauna Happel 2 0-0 4, Kali Hildebrand 3 0-0 7, Kristen Huebsch 1 0-0 2, Kaylese Johnson 2 0-0 6, Mariah Simmons 0 0-0 0, Kim Muench 2 0-0 4, Ashley Schlueter 0 3-4 3, Valerie Ross 0 0-0 0, Katherine Schulz 1 0-0 2, Dominique Wright 1 0-0 2, Capria Davis 1 0-0 2, Haley Corkery 0 0-0 0, Grace Reinhart 0 0-0 0, Marissa Klinger 0 0-0 0. Totals 28 4-5 66.

JEFFERSON (44): Kaitlyn Davidson 4 2-2 11, Ashley Madsen 0 0-0 0, Taylor Jacobson 3 2-4 9, Rachel Broghammer 3 2-2 8, Britteny Steffeny 4 4-4 12, Maddie Koolbeck 0 0-1 0, Dani Stromert 0 0-1 0, Madison Blietz 0 0-0 0, Whylie Massey 0 0-0 0, Alleigha Green 0 2-2 2, Kadijah Bush 0 0-0 0, Amber Grimm 0 2-3 2, Kieley Brathwaite 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 14-19 44.

Halftime – Kennedy 37, Jefferson 22. 3 point goals – Kennedy 6 (Strait 3, Hildebrand, Johnson 2), Jefferson 2 (Davidson, Jacobson).