It’s an all-KCII area showdown Tuesday night at Hillcrest Union when the Hillcrest Academy Ravens welcome the Highland Huskies for a Southeast Iowa Superconference boys and girls basketball doubleheader on Alumni Night. The Raven boys come into the game red hot, having won five straight, including a 60-59 overtime win at Pekin on Friday. Grant Bender scored 26 including the game winner, Seth Ours and Luke Schrock each had 12 as the Ravens rallied from 10 down in the first half. On the season, Hillcrest is scoring 58 points per game and giving up 42. Their 48% field goal percentage is seventh in 1A, they shoot 34% from downtown and their 65% team free throw percentage is sixth in Iowa. They average 26 rebounds, 15 assists, nine steals and 13 turnovers per night. Individually, Grant Bender leads the way with 19 points and seven rebounds a night. Noah Miller has a team best four assists and two steals per game.

Highland is still in search of their first win at 0-5 after a 56-42 loss to Columbus Friday. On the year, they score 30 points per game while giving up 52. They shoot 30% from the floor, 24% from beyond the arc and 67% at the line, fifth in 1A. They average 19 rebounds, three assists, eight steals and 17 turnovers a night. Individually, Chase Schultz is the stat leader at nine points and four rebounds per game. Kaige Vonnahme has two steals a night and Connor Grinstead and Devin Lovetinsky one assist apiece. Hillcrest has won 23 of the last 30 in the series including both games last year.

In the girls contest, Hillcrest is 1-7 entering play, and looking for their first conference win after a 36-21 loss in Packwood Friday. They score 30 points per night and give up 46 while shooting 30% from the floor, 21% from long range, and 61% at the line. They gather 20 rebounds, four assists, seven steals and 14 turnovers per game. Individually, the Ravens are led by Esther Hughes’ 16 points, four rebounds, three steals and two assists per night.

Highland is .500 at 4-4 on the season and 3-2 in the SEISC after a resounding 61-23 victory against Columbus Friday behind Abbi Stransky’s 21 points, Dani Laughlin’s 16 and Sarah Burton’s 10. The Huskies score 46 per game, give up 42, shoot 44% overall, 41% from three, fifth best in 1A and 47% at the line. They average 37 boards per game, seventh most in the state, 11 assists, 11 steals and 20 turnovers. Individually, Stransky scores 14 per game to go along with eight rebounds, four steals and three assists. This week on the KCII Radio Coaches Corner, Highland head girls coach Jodi Fink talked about the keys to the win against Columbus and what he expects tonight. “Against Columbus Abby Stransky knocked down four threes, Dani Laughlin had three so we got the outside game going a little bit. Katelyn Waters did a good job on defense and in our press. I thought the win against Columbus was a good team effort. Tuesday, Esther Hughes is who we are going to have to focus on. She is what the offense goes through for them. She does everything and we’re going to have our hands full.”

Highland has won 20 of the last 22 in the series. You can hear all of the action live tonight between the Huskies and the Ravens on AM 1380, FM 102.5 and KCIIradio.com, beginning with the Washington HyVee Pregame show at 5:30p.m., tip of the girls game at six with the boys to follow.