The Hillcrest Academy boys and girls basketball teams are in action on Bud McLearn Court tonight at Mediapolis when they take on the Bullettes and Bulldogs. The Hillcrest girls are 0-2 season after losses to Tri-County and Winfield-Mt. Union to start the year. A week ago they fell in Winfield to the Wolves 67-21. Esther Hughes had 10 points to lead Hillcrest. Their season opener against Tri-County went to the Trojans 37-31, despite 26 points from Hughes.

Mediapolis is 1-0 on the year after dismantling Columbus 74-14 a week ago. Hallie Mohr led the Bullettes with 18 points, Liz Lane added 14. MEPO had 29 steals, dished out 21 assists, shot 51% from the floor and won the rebounding battle by 18 against the Wildcats. The Bullettes have beaten the Ravens 23 times in a row including a 65-18 count two seasons ago.

The Hillcrest Academy boys get the campaign started tonight against the Bulldogs. The Ravens had a pair of tuneups prior to Thanksgiving, falling to defending 1A state champ Montezuma in a jamboree at Hillcrest Union 34-19 with Grant Bender scoring 11. Hillcrest also took on Washington in a scrimmage on Thanksgiving Eve. The Ravens were 13-8 last season, 10-5 third place in the North Division of the Superconference. The Ravens scored 48 points per game, gave up 41, shot 42% from the floor, 30% from downtown and 59% at the line last year. The Ravens had 25 rebounds per game, dished out 12 assists per night, grabbed nine steals and committed 14 turnovers. Hillcrest has to replace their top two scorers who graduated from a year ago, including 1,000 career point scorer, team leader at 16 points per game and assist and steals leader Eli Ours and second leading scorer at 11 points per game and leading rebounder at five per contest John Hughes. Bender returns after averaging six points, two assists and two steals per night last year and Noah Miller with five points, two assists and two steals per game a season ago is also back.

Mediapolis was 8-14 last season, 8-7, fourth place in the North Division of the Superconference. They scored 43 a night, gave up 47, shot 38% from the floor, 29% from three point land and 55% at the line. They had 25 rebounds per game, 10 assists, nine steals and 14 turnovers. The Bulldogs return their top four scorers from a year ago, all averaging five or more, led by Cole Lipper at 11 per game during his sophomore season. He also led the team with eight boards per night. The guard court leader Ben Egan is back after a sophomore campaign that saw him lead the team at three assists and three steals per night to go along with nine points. This week head coach Dwight Gingerich talked about the challenges the Bulldogs present. “Mediapolis brings back their top seven from last year and they finished right behind us in the conference a year ago. We’ve got our hands full right off the bat. Would love to see us continue to grow on what we have done in the early season and go on the road and play well.”

Hillcrest has won 20 of the last 24 against MEPO including sweeping the series last year with 44-34 and 60-33 wins. Action starts tonight at 6p.m. at Bud McLearn Court in Mediapolis.