Few teams were as good on the basketball court last season as the WACO Warriors. The WACO boys went 20-5 and reached the Class 1A Region 5 championship game, and with most of the roster in tow again, head coach Paul Kissell’s team looks poised to be one of the best in Southeast Iowa ahead of their new season beginning next week.

Junior guard Hunter Hughes has a chance to be one of the area’s premier guards after leading WACO in scoring last season. Hughes averaged almost 12 points per game by leading the Warriors in made three-pointers. But he can also attack teams as a facilitator and defender, putting up almost five rebounds, three assists and three steals. Senior Simeon Reichenbach is another all-around talent, piling up almost 10 points, five-and-a-half rebounds, three assists and 2.5 steals a game last season.

There are plenty of other emerging stars for the Warriors. Junior Reece Oswald surprised by averaging better than eight points per contest and could do more in an expanded role this season. Senior Isaac Oswald was limited due to injury last season but should have a bigger role this year. And senior Cody Graber and junior Colton Leichty lead a strong core of post players, with Leichty coming off eight points and five rebounds per game last season and Graber finishing fifth in the state in blocked shots. Kissell tells KCII Sports it feels like it’s coming all together.

“87 percent of our scoring and 84% of that rebounding is returning,” Kissell says. “We have a lot of experience, and not only players, but we have a lot of juniors and seniors that will be key components of hopefully a nice run this year.”

WACO moves back into the Super Conference North after a few years away and could be one of the favorites to win the division after going 12-4 in the South. The Warriors tip off a new season of boys’ basketball when they visit Holy Trinity Catholic in Des Moines Monday evening.