Photo Courtesy of Hillcrest Academy Yearbook

The Hillcrest Academy boys basketball team started the district tournament with a sprint past rival Lone Tree Monday on Dwight Gingerich Court at Hillcrest Union. The victory for the Ravens was the third over the Lions this season, this time by a 65-24 score. Hillcrest overwhelmed Lone Tree from the opening tip, starting the game on a 17-2 run that lasted the entire first quarter, and backing that up with a 23-8 second quarter push, parlayed into a 40-10 lead at half. The Ravens enacted the running clock with a 16-6 third quarter to secure the win.

Bryce Bailey led the Raven attack with a game high 16 points. Seth Ours added 14 and Rowan Miller 11. Ten total players scored for Hillcrest. Mason Bender led on the boards with 10 and Ours and Miller had five assists each. Lone Tree was led by Domonic Garcia’s 10 points. With the win, the Ravens are now 15-7 on the season and advance to Thursday’s second round of 1A district play to meet Maquoketa Valley on the road. Lone Tree finishes their season at 6-16. The Lions say goodbye to six seniors, Ethan Bockelman, Jader Sanchez, Dominic Graap, Pietro Setti, Joey Birtcher and William Rockafellow.