Southeast Iowa Super Conference North teams took the floor for the first time in the high school basketball playoffs, and a pair of them came away with victories in district quarterfinal games. That includes the top-seeded WACO Warriors, who defeated the Columbus Wildcats 87-22 in Class 1A District 7. WACO’s 25-7 lead at the end of the first quarter became a 60-11 advantage by halftime, and the fifth-ranked team in the state in 1A would cruise to victory from there. A balanced offensive attack led the Warriors, as all but one player on the roster scored. Senior forward Cody Graber had a game-high 15 points, while junior guard Hunter Hughes added 11 to help WACO improve to 21-1.

The Winfield-Mount Union Wolves also won handily in the 1A District 7 quarterfinals, beating Wapello 57-37. A seven-point lead after a quarter of play more than doubled for second-seeded WMU to a 33-13 lead at the half, and the Wolves never looked back. It was another big night for Winfield-Mount Union’s top junior forwards. Cam Buffington had a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Abram Edwards finished with a triple-double of 15 points, 14 boards and 10 assists. Junior guard Carter Loyd added 11 points as WMU raises its record to 18-4.

The sixth-seeded Lone Tree Lions were not as lucky in District 12, falling 74-58 to Pekin. Lone Tree actually had the early 18-13 lead, but Pekin would rally before halftime to go up by two, and the Lions allowing 40 points in the second half would prove to be their undoing. Despite the efforts of graduating seniors Drew Gauley, Mitch Koedam, Ethan Willoz, Braden Viers, Tyce Ault, Jack Buser and Taj Williams, Lone Tree sees its season end with a record of 7-16.