Photo Courtesy of Hillcrest Academy
**********************************THIS GAME HAS BEEN MOVED TO FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17TH AT 7PM***********************************
The Hillcrest Academy Raven boys basketball team hits the road on the tournament trail Thursday when they travel to Lynnville-Sully to meet the Hawks in the Class 1A District 12 Semifinals. Hillcrest advanced through their opener Monday in Kalona with a 60-55 win over Iowa City Regina, behind a monster 34 point performance from Grant Bender. The 12-10 Ravens are scoring 56 points per game and giving up 47, shooting 45% from the floor, 32% from three and 60% from the line with 25 rebounds, 13 assists, 11 steals and 12 turnovers per game. Individual leaders include Bender with 19 points and six boards per game with Luke Schrock at three assists and steals per night.
Lynnville Sully is 20-2, they were 15-1 champions of the South Iowa Cedar League West Division. They opened the playoffs Monday with a 75-41 win over English Valleys led by Klayton Van Dyke’s 18 points. This year the Hawks score 68 points per game and give up 42, shooting 45% from the field, 31% from three and 55% at the line with 37 rebounds, 17 assists, 11 steals and nine turnovers per game. Individual leaders include Van Dyke at 12 points and eight boards per game. Conner Maston averages three assists and two steals per night. Raven head coach Dwight Gingerich joined the KCII postgame show following their win over the Regals Monday to break down the victory and thoughts on second round preparation. “It’s right on our play board, rebounding is going to be one of our big keys. We have to work hard. I thought (in the opening round) Mason Bender as a sophomore and Bryce Bailey came in and did a pretty nice job, along with our older guys. We need all of that effort and energy. Luke (Schrock) out top and Seth (Ours) have worked really hard. Rowan Miller and Jace Rempel have given us some big minutes. It took everyone in the first round. There were also some things we didn’t execute as well as we’re going to need to if we want to continue to advance, but Regina was a great win for our guys.”
These teams have met three times in the last 15 years with Hillcrest winning two of those. The most recent at 2018 substate where the Hawks were a 52-48 winner. You can hear all of the action between the Ravens and the Hawks live tonight on FM 106.1 and KCIIradio.com from Lynnville-Sully High School beginning with the Washington HyVee Pregame Show at 6:30 and tip at 7p.m.