The start of a new basketball season has arrived for the Columbus girls tonight when they travel to Hillcrest Academy to take on the Ravens. The Wildcats were 7-16 a season ago, 6-10 in the Southeast Iowa Superconference North Division. They averaged 35 points per game, gave up 46, shot 25% from the floor, 21% from three and 52% at the line while grabbing 29 boards, handing out eight assists, swiping 13 steals and committing 18 turnovers per game. Columbus returns leading scorer and assister, junior Ariana Vergara at eight points and two helpers per game. Also back is rebounds and steals leader junior Lily Coil who posted six and three respectively per game a year ago. The Wildcats will need to replace a quartet of seniors, Sara Vela, Victoria Howell, Miram Ruvalcalba and Arletta Campa who combined for 14 points, nine rebounds, six steals and four assists per game a year ago. The Wildcats scrimmaged Tipton Friday, falling 47-36 with Coil’s 12 points leading the way.

Hillcrest Academy is out to 1-0 start after a come-from-behind 47-35 win over Moravia Friday, the first time in nearly 15 seasons the Ravens put their opener in the win column. Hillcrest was impressive on the glass, grabbing 45 total rebounds, 18 on the offensive end, with Delaney Shaw and Niva Helmuth combining for 27 boards. Claire Withrow and Malia Yoder supplied the offense, posting 20 and 14 points respectively. Yoder and Shaw each had four assists. Hillcrest shot 30% as a team, 25% from downtown, and gave up just 14 second half points to the Mohawks.

Columbus has won the last four meetings with the Ravens including 54-31 and 39-18 victories a season ago. Action starts tonight at 6p.m. at Hillcrest Union in Kalona.