A pair of KCII area rivals will square off in conference play Friday when the Hillcrest Academy Ravens host the Columbus Wildcats in a Southeast Iowa Superconference hoops doubleheader on KCII. The Hillcrest boys enter play with a 5-3 overall record. The Ravens are 5-2 in the Superconference, after a 59-42 loss to Winfield-Mt. Union on the road Tuesday, where they were led by 16 points from Grant Bender and 13 from Luke Schrock. On the year, Hillcrest is scoring 58 points per game and giving up 48, shooting 48% from the floor, 36% from three point range and 51% at the free throw line to go with 23 rebounds, 15 assists, 12 steals and 12 turnovers per game. Individual leaders include Bender at 18 points and six boards per night. Schrock leads the guards with four assists and three steals per game.

The Columbus boys are 2-9 overall this year, 1-5 in the Superconference. They were on the floor last night in a 73-38 loss to Van Buren. Grant Watson and Ryan Coil each had nine points to lead the way. For the season, Columbus is scoring 38 points per game and giving up 63 while shooting 30% from the floor, 23% from three and 52% at the line with 31 rebounds, eight assists, nine steals and 20 turnovers per game. Individual leaders include Watson and Timothy Hills each at 11 points and two assists per game. Watson leads the team with seven boards per night. Daniel Martinez paces Columbus with three steals per outing. Hillcrest has won 27 straight in the series dating back to 2007, with last year’s victories coming by 62-35 and 74-37 scores.

The Wildcat girls are 5-7 overall, 4-4 in the Superconference coming into the night. They were on the wrong end of a 45-23 score at Van Buren Thursday. On the year, the ‘Cats score 36 points per game and give up 43, shooting 30% from the floor, 24% from three and 55% at the line with 27 rebounds, nine assists, 12 steals and 17 turnovers. Individually, they are led by Ariana Vergara’s 10 points and two assists per game. Aracely Garza pulls in a team best seven boards per night, while Sera Vela, Victoria Howell and Frannie Sosa all average three steals per game.

The Hillcrest Academy girls are 0-10 on the season and 0-6 in the Superconference, after a 64-4 loss at Winfield-Mt. Union Tuesday, where Malia Yoder scored the team’s lone field goal. On the year, the Ravens are scoring 20 points per game and giving up 51, shooting 24% from the floor, 25% from three, and 53% at the line with 23 boards, three assists, five steals and 23 turnovers per night. Individual leaders include Claire Withrow at 10 points per game, Delaney Shaw seven boards per night and Yoder with two steals and two assists per game. Columbus has won 16 of the last 25 in the series including a 54-31 win in CJ on November 22nd where Victoria Howell and Ariana Vergara each went for 12 points and Frannie Sosa had 11 with Claire Withrow leading the Ravens with a dozen.

You can hear all of the action tonight between the Wildcats and the Ravens on AM 1380, FM 102.5 and KCIIradio.com, live from Hillcrest Union in Kalona, beginning with the Washington HyVee Pregame Show at 5:30, tip of the girls game at six with the boys to follow.