Photo Courtesy of Hillcrest Academy

The unofficial kickoff to the winter sports season is Monday at Hillcrest Union when the Hillcrest Academy Ravens host their annual boys basketball jamboree. The night is packed with four contests featuring teams from southeast Iowa. The event opens at 6p.m. with the Holy Trinity Catholic Crusaders meeting the Wilton Beavers. At 6:45p.m. head coach Paul Kissell and the WACO Warriors battle the Benton Bobcats. The Warriors are fresh off of a 21-2 season as unbeaten champions of the North Division of the Southeast Iowa Superconference, Benton was 7-15 a year ago. The 7:30 contest will see the New London Tigers tangle with the BGM Bears. The night cap at 8:15p.m. is the first live action of the season for head coach Dwight Gingerich and the home Ravens when they entertain City High. Hillcrest was 12-11 last year, the Little Hawks were 8-15.

All contests will be one half in length, played under normal rules with officials and do not count on either team’s record. Action gets underway at 6p.m. Monday at Hillcrest Union in Kalona.