The WACO Warriors kept cruising Friday night with a pair of conference basketball wins against the Columbus Wildcats. The undefeated WACO boys had a particularly strong night, defeating Columbus 94-29. The Warriors were already up by an impressive margin of 34-6 at the end of the first quarter, and the Wildcats couldn’t slow them down the rest of the way.

WACO had nine players score six points or more, led by junior Colton Leichty’s 15 points, five assists and five steals. Senior Odee Shtefanchuk came off the bench to provide 14 points and five assists, while classmate Simeon Reichenbach added 12 points, five dimes and three steals. The Warriors’ leading scorer on the season, Hunter Hughes, was held to only nine points, but the number-three-ranked team in Class 1A still had 38 made buckets, 36 of which were assisted, on their way to 15-0. Senior Grant Watson led Columbus with 11 points and four rebounds, but the Wildcats still drop to 1-10 in the Southeast Iowa Super Conference North and 2-14 overall.

The WACO girls also beat Columbus Friday evening 52-38. Despite a game effort from the Wildcats most of the night, the Warriors racing out to a 10-0 lead one quarter in proved to be ground that would not be made up. WACO improves to 13-3 overall and 10-2 in conference play. Despite 10 points, seven rebounds and three steals from senior Sara Vela, Columbus falls to 6-7 in league action and 7-10 overall. Both Wildcat teams will next face Wapello on Tuesday, while both Warrior squads next play Highland the same night.