Photo Courtesy of Hillcrest Academy
The Hillcrest Academy Raven boys and girls basketball teams welcomed the Louisa-Muscatine Falcons to Hillcrest Union Tuesday night for a Superconference double dip. The Falcon girls won the opener 44-22. Hillcrest led 10-8 late in the first quarter but a six minute drought paired with a 16-2 L-M run put the Ravens down 23-12 at half. The L-M defense was again stingy in the third, holding the Ravens without a field goal for the first 11 minutes of the second half in building a lead as large as 25. Class 2A’s leading scorer Kaylee Corbin had a game high 16 points to lead the Falcons. Esther Hughes had nine to lead Hillcrest. The Ravens fall to 1-12 overall with the loss.
The boys game saw the Ravens snap a short two game losing streak with a 51-25 victory, completing a season sweep of the Falcons. The Raven defense was stifling in the first half, allowing just eight Falcon points and three made field goals in rolling to a 24-8 lead at the break. Hillcrest outscored L-M 18-11 in the third to open a lead as large as 27 in the second half. After the game, Raven head coach Dwight Gingerich talked about his team’s defensive effort and individual standouts. “We were pretty stingy defensively, made it difficult on them, taking away ball reversal and they turned it over. For the most part we had to really grind it out. Grant (Bender) played really well. His decision-making was very good, he moved the ball, along with his shooting he had some really nice passes tonight too. Really his game continues to elevate. It was good to see Seth (Ours) knock down a couple of threes. Aiden Krabill had a couple of really nice buckets tonight and his decision-making with his passing was good. Josiah Beachy played hard. Bryce (Bailey) came in and gave us some nice minutes tonight. Really all of our guys are playing together pretty well, so I’m pleased with the effort of each of the guys.”
Hillcrest forced 22 turnovers, and give it away just 11 times themselves while outrebounding L-M by eight. Grant Bender was the lone player for either side to get to double figures with 27 points. Luke Schrock had seven. Hillcrest is now 8-3 on the year. The Raven boys and girls now gear up for a Friday road trip to Columbus Junction.