Winning just six games last winter and now finding themselves one victory away from state. That is the case for the WACO boys’ basketball team and their dream season continued last night after knocking off New London 52-48 in the class 1A district 10 championship game. 

Both Southeast Iowa Super Conference foes defeated the other on their home floor during the regular season and the rubber match in Mediapolis was destined to be a nail biter throughout. The first half was a game of runs with WACO scoring the first six points only for New London to answer with 11 straight. It was 16-15 Tigers after one and the lead got out to three when the Warriors had a 9-0 close to the half to take a 32-26 upperhand at intermission. The strong ending to periods continued in the third with WACO scoring the final eight points to take their largest lead of 46-37. The Tigers would not go away cutting it to 48-46 with two minutes left, but the Warriors hung on to snatch the district crown. Hunter Hughes and Colton Leichty led the blue and white with 12 points each. The stifling WACO defense held New London well under their 61 point season average while containing leading scorers Blaise Porter and Kade Benjamin to 21 combined points. 

The south division champs New London close the campaign 20-3. WACO improves to 20-4 and advance to Saturday’s substate final against Danville (22-2) at a site to be determined. The Bears defeated Winfield-Mt. Union last night by a 44-41 score. Danville edged WACO in a pair of regular season contests by a combined seven points. 

Photo Courtesy of WACO Schools