The Winfield-Mt. Union basketball teams were experiencing differing emotions by night’s end on Tuesday after a split in a crucial doubleheader against Mediapolis with the Southeast Iowa Super Conference North Division race heating up.

The girls’ game was an instant classic with WMU on the wrong side of a 40-39 overtime bout to the No. 10 ranked in 2A Bulldogs (16-0). The entire contest was nip and tuck with the Wolves holding a slight 20-18 lead at half and 28-24 advantage after three. Mediapolis made a flurry in the fourth to take a late lead, but free basketball ensued when Bradie Buffington tied it up at 37-37 with just seven seconds left. Only two field goals were made in the extra four minutes and Hallie Mohr delivered the final blow with a layup for the win in the final 12 seconds. A shot at the other end was off the mark and the Bulldogs took a stranglehold on the division crown by staying undefeated at 13-0 in the league. WMU drops to 14-3 overall and 11-2 in the SEISC. Buffington finished with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Jobey Malone added 13 points. 

While the girls chances at a conference title took a big hit, the boys put themselves into the driver’s seat with a 44-31 season sweep of the Bulldogs (9-4). The second quarter was the difference with a 9-7 WMU lead stretched to 26-13 at the break with a 17-6 frame. That margin stayed steady in the second half for the home Wolves to taste victory and take a two game lead in the division. Abram Edwards and Cam Buffington led the team with 13 points a piece. They improved to 15-1 overall and 12-0 in the league compared to Mediapolis’ 10-2 mark with four conference games remaining. 

Both WMU teams travel to Wapello tomorrow.