One game separates the WACO boys’ basketball team from the big dance and the squad that stands in their way is Southeast Iowa Super Conference foe Danville. The two meet up on Saturday at Fairfield High School in a class 1A substate final with the winner advancing to Wells Fargo Arena. 

The Warriors hope that third time is a charm against the Bears having lost a pair of regular season meetings by a combined seven points. WACO sits at 20-4 and advanced to this round after capturing a district title holding off New London 52-48 on Tuesday. A balanced offensive attack has seven players average at least four points a night led by Hunter Hughes recording 11.9 of their 59 points. Danville is 22-2 and they edged Winfield-Mt. Union 44-41 to get to this point. Three players average double figures paced by Drake Johnson with 14.3 points a game. Expect a defensive struggle with both teams giving up just 41 points a game and Hughes tells KCII Sports the contest is going to be won at that end. “Danville always brings great defense so we have to focus in on our defense to keep up. The atmosphere has been crazy lately and I expect the same on Saturday. Our last playoff game we tried talking to each other on the court and we can’t hear a thing. It is amazing.”

WACO is seeking just their second state bid since consolidating in 1963 with the only other appearance coming in 2006. All of tomorrow’s substate action can be heard on FM 106.1 KCII, kciiradio.com, and the free KCII Mobile App with the pregame show starting at 6:30 p.m. and tip set for 7 p.m. at Fairfield High School.

Photo Courtesy of WACO Schools