The Hillcrest Academy boys basketball team advanced through the first round of the playoffs Tuesday night with a 41-37 home win over Iowa Valley. The Ravens led early, using a 7-0 run to go up 9-3 in the first quarter. The Tigers answered that with eight straight to lead 13-9 after the first. The Hillcrest defense ratcheted up the pressure in the second frame allowing just two made field goals and four points, but one of those, a Brody Ward tip in at the halftime buzzer, gave Iowa Valley a 17-16 lead going to the half.

Halftime adjustments paid off early for the Tigers, starting the second half with an 8-0 run, they pushed their lead to nine, the largest it would reach all night at 25-16. Hillcrest closed the quarter with a 10-3 run of their own to get back within two going to the fourth. The two teams traded the lead back and fourth in the final eight minutes with Hillcrest wrestling it away for good at 36-35 on free throws from Grant Bender. Two defensive stands up three in the final minute put the contest on ice for Ravens. After the game, Hillcrest senior Eli Ours spoke about his play, the team and finding a way to win. “I think our defense has been one of the strongest parts of our team this year. We don’t give up a lot of points so we are always in the game. When I made those threes in the third quarter I had a good idea they were going in. I wasn’t shooting it well in the first half so it felt good for those to go in. In pregame we talked about playing as a team and having three guys in double figures shows we did that. It’s nice to have that many guys scoring. It’s happened a few times this year that we have been down late in the game and we always find a way to come back and win. Coming out of a timeout late in the game I just told the guys, we aren’t losing this game. It felt really good to get the win.”

Ours was one of three players for Hillcrest in double figures with 12 points. Grant Bender and John Hughes each posted 11 points. Brody Ward led Iowa Valley with 20 points. The Ravens won the turnover battle, forcing 22 Tiger giveaways and outrebounded Iowa Valley by four. With the win, Hillcrest is now 13-7 on the season and will play in the district semifinals Thursday at No. 1 North Linn who was a 110-21 winner over Cedar Valley Christian in the first round.