It’s back-to-back nights in Winfield for the KCII Area Game of the Week, as the Wolves welcome Superconference foe Columbus for a basketball doubleheader on Senior Night.

The girls of WMU enter Friday night 4-12 and find themselves in the middle of a two-game skid after falling to WACO yesterday 58-37. A 20-2 first quarter put the Wolves in an early hole and they were unable to recover despite 16 points from Madisen Kellogg. The Wolves average just over 33 points per game this year while allowing 49. They shoot nearly 30% from the field, 19% from three, and 52% from the line to go with 31 rebounds, nine assists, 10 steals, two blocks and 28 turnovers a night. Kellogg has been the team leader in points, rebounds, and blocks while other pace-setters include Pacey Schlee in assists, Maggie Hutton in steals.

Columbus rides into Winfield atop the Superconference North at 13-4. The Wildcats are clinging to that lead by just a half game, however, after losing 53-33 last night to Lone Tree. No 2A team has taken more shots than the Wildcats this season, who average 48 points per game and give up 35. This has come off of 27% shooting from the field, 20% from the perimeter, and 50% from the free throw line. Columbus is also top ten in its class with more than 35 rebounds and 17 steals per game. Individually, Ariana Vergara is third in steals with 75, and has taken the third most shots in 2A. The Wildcats’ 55-20 win over the Wolves in December snapped a WMU nine-game winning streak in the series.

Winfield’s boys, ranked third in the State, kept their perfect conference record in tact last night with a 64-56 victory over WACO. Cam Buffington had his fourth-straight game with 20 or more points as the Wolves survived a late Warrior rally. WMU is scoring 63 points per game and allowing 33. As a unit they shoot over 50% from the floor, 35% from deep, and are hitting 50% of their free throws. Top-10 in 1A hoops in assists and blocks, the Wolves also average 31 rebounds, 11 steals and 9 turnovers per night.

Columbus is riding high after snapping a five-game skid last night against Lone Tree for their third conference win of the season. The Wildcats nearly got the best of Wapello on Tuesday, thanks to 36-combined points from Tim and Ellis Hills-Carrier. Tim Hills-Carrier’s 18 points per game have accounted for nearly half of the Columbus offense. The Wildcats are averaging 44 points and allowing more than 66. This season they have shot 33% from the field, more than 24% from three, and 58% from the line to go with 30 rebounds, 9 assists, 6 steals, two blocks and 24 turnovers per game. Winfield has taken 28 of the last 32 games with Columbus, including eight straight.

You can listen to this Superconference doubleheader on the KCII3 Stream. Pregame coverage starts tonight at 5:30, with tip of the girls’ game at 6, followed by the boys live from Winfield.