CEDAR RAPIDS — Dennis Roloff underestimated the significance of his team’s comeback.

“What were we down?” he asked. “Ten points? Twelve.”

Higher, Coach. Higher.

Class 4A seventh-ranked Cedar Rapids Kennedy rallied from a 15-point deficit to defeat 3A No. 5 Davenport Assumption, 58-54, at Rivalry Saturday in the U.S. Cellular Center.

“That’s a big win,” Roloff said. “A big comeback. I don’t know if they got tired or what. We could have folded, but we didn’t, and it shows how much we’ve grown.”

Kennedy (11-3) faced a steep uphill climb at 40-25 when Grace Fennelly converted a three-point play with 3:01 left in the third quarter.

“I didn’t even look at the scoreboard,” said Kennedy’s Kristen Hahn. “I just knew we needed to push.”

The Cougars got within 42-36 by the end of the third quarter. It was 48-43 when University of Iowa recruit Jade Rogers fouled out with 3:07 to go.

But Hahn hit a 3-pointer, then Mariah Duke hit another. And when Olivia Meier scored from 10 feet out, Kennedy had a 51-50 advantage with just over a minute to play. Kennedy clinched it from the free throw line.

The Cougars shot 37 free throws, making 23. They missed several early in the fourth quarter but made the ones they needed to keep the Knights (12-3) at bay.

Hahn led the Cougars with 16 points. Rogers and Duke added 14 apiece. Rogers grabbed 11 rebounds.

Kennedy scored the first six points and led most of the first half. But the Knights surged at the end of the half for a 22-21 lead, then extended the lead behind Alyson Spinas-Valainis, who led all scorers with 19 points.

Sam Thrapp added 17 points for Assumption.

Kennedy hosts Waterloo East on Tuesday.

n Contact the writer: (319) 368-8857 or jeff.linder@gazcomm.com