Four KCII area Southeast Iowa Superconference teams were on display Thursday night in the first round of the class 1A boys district tournament at Hillcrest Union in Kalona. 

The doubleheader featured WACO battling Lone Tree in game one and a rematch of Highland and IMS in the nightcap. In the first game it was the Warriors who advanced by the Lions with a 48-42 win. WACO used two runs in the first half to build a 15 point lead at intermission. The first was an 8-0 run, the second a 9-2 run fueled by three consecutive three pointers from Dalton Diers. Out of the break it was Lone Tree’s turn to get hot from downtown. The Lions hit seven second half threes, including five in a row to put together a 16-4 run to get back in the contest. The Lions kept the pressure on down the stretch, cutting what at one point was a 16 point WACO advantage all the way down to one at 43-42, but the Warriors made enough plays and free throws in the final two minutes to advance. After the game WACO head coach Paul Kissell talked about his team’s play.

Paul

Nik Coble led the Warriors with a double double 15 points and 14 rebounds. Diers added 14. Lone Tree was led by 16 from Keegan Edwards, including five three point goals. Austin Marshek chipped in 10. Lone Tree ends their season at 8-11 while WACO improves to 15-4 and moves on to the district semifinals Tuesday to face Pekin.

In game two, it was the third meeting of the year between Highland and IMS. IMS took both regular season meetings from the Huskies by a combined eight points, the third game in the series was just as tight, with IMS winning 64-63. Highland sprinted out to leads of eight and nine points on two separate occasions in the first half, but each time the Huskies found some breathing room IMS would counter with a run to hang around. The Huskies were up one at the break 33-32. Each team battled foul trouble down the stretch. Highland continued leading into the fourth quarter before IMS overtook them in the final five minutes. With the game at 64-60 in favor of IMS, Cole Adamson knocked down a three for the Huskies to pull them within one. IMS missed the front end of a one and one at the line with five seconds left, Highland hustled the ball up the floor but a possible game winning 14-footer went begging off the right rim and IMS survived. After the game, IMS head coach Dwight Gingerich talked about the win.

Dwight

Eli Ours led IMS with 19 points, Trevor Leyden and Kobe Borntrager each had 12. Zack Lasek had 25 for the Huskies, Mason McFarland finished with 11. With the win, IMS improves to 13-6, advancing to the second round of district play to take on Calamus-Wheatland on Tuesday while Highland ends their season at 12-8.