The Hillcrest Academy boys basketball team will get some live action in as part of their winter break schedule today when they travel to Benton for a quad scrimmage. The Ravens came into the holidays with a 5-2 overall record and 5-1 standing in the Southeast Iowa Superconference after back-to-back wins over Pekin and Wapello to close December. The Ravens are scoring 60 points per game, giving up 47, shooting 49% from the floor, 10th best in 1A, 37% from three, fifth in 1A, 51% at the line with 23 rebounds, 16 assists, 13 steals and 12 turnovers per game. Individual leaders include senior Grant Bender at 18 points and six boards per game. senior Luke Schrock has a team high four assists and three steals per night. Sophomore guard Seth Ours is fifth in Class 1A with 25 made three pointers this season, seventh in the state with a 52.1% mark from downtown and his 70.7% field goal efficiency mark is eighth in 1A.

In action today the Ravens will meet North Cedar, Jesup and the home Bobcats. North Cedar is 1-7 overall and 0-3 in the Tri-Rivers Conference. The Knights dropped three straight entering the break, including a 67-56 loss to Lisbon December 20th. They are scoring 44 points per game and giving up 55, shooting 35% from the floor, 19% from long range and 50% at the line with 27 rebounds, nine assists, 10 steals and 20 turnovers per game. Individual North Cedar leaders include junior Johny Amina with 14 points and eight boards per game. Senior Ben Koth dishes out five assists and junior Jaydon Nabb a team best three steals.

Jesup is 5-2 on the year and 2-0 in the North Iowa Cedar Conference. They closed the first part of the year with back-to-back wins over Union and Don Bosco. The J-Hawks are scoring 71 points per game and giving up 60, shooting 43% from the field, 32% from deep and 68% at the line with 32 boards, 14 assists, nine steals and 10 turnovers per night. Individually, Jesup is keyed by junior Jack Miller at 25 points per game. Senior Brevin Dahl averages seven boards per night, and sophomore Ryan Treptow three assists and three steals.

The home Bobcats are 1-7 overall, 1-4 in the WAMAC West. They scored their first win of the season in their last game before the holidays 69-65 over Clear Creek Amana. On the year, Benton is scoring 54 per night and giving up 66, shooting 39% from the floor, 35% from three and 61% at the line with 23 boards, 11 assists, seven steals and 14 giveaways per night. Senior Evan Daughtery leads the way scoring 12 points per game. Senior Noah Franck has five boards per night, junior Owen Tjemeland two assists and a steal.

These are scrimmages that do not count on the team’s records and are not open to the public. Action continues all day Friday at Benton High School.