The bright lights of Wells Fargo Arena clearly didn’t shake the confidence of Winfield-Mt. Union boys basketball yesterday. Putting together one of their most complete games of the season, the Wolves triumphed over Lynnville-Sully 54-37 in the Class 1A State Quarterfinals. 

Both defenses started the show yesterday afternoon, with only four total field goals scored in the first quarter. Three of them went Winfield-Mt. Union’s way as they headed to the second frame leading 7-2. The game’s next eight minutes saw each offense catch up. Cam Buffington had nine points in the second quarter while Lucas Sieck and Corder Noun Harder for the Hawks combined for 13. Despite a buzzer-beating layup from Lynnville-Sully to end the half, the Wolves enjoyed a three-point lead into the locker room.

Winfield-Mt. Union got a taste of adversity just minutes into the third when Cam Buffington picked up his third foul and sat for the remainder of the quarter. Even in the absence of their leading scorer, the Wolves didn’t skip a beat, getting timely makes from Carter Loyd and Abram Edwards. Cole Milks and Max Edwards handled their business off the bench and WMU went to the fourth up 32-26. 

After back-to-back games decided in the closing seconds, the Wolves were quick to leave no doubt that they would be winning yesterday’s game. Starting the final frame with a 17-0 run, it was the biggest punch of the night for Winfield-Mt. Union and one that would put the Hawks away. Not only did the Wolves snap what was an 18-game win streak for Lynnville-Sully, but they held the Hawks to their lowest point total of the season by 12. 

Cam Buffington set the pace offensively with 21 points, followed by 12 from Carter Loyd, all of them coming in the second half. Abram and Jake Edwards each finished with nine, and Gabe Hemsworth added three. Winfield-Mt. Union won both the turnover and rebound battle by one, and held Lynnville-Sully to just 29% shooting from the floor and 14% from beyond the arc. The Hawks never led in the game. 

The Wolves return to Des Moines Wednesday evening for a meeting with top-ranked North Linn in the State Semifinals. KCII will bring you coverage on all signals and streams beginning with pregame coverage at 5 p.m. and opening tip at 5:30 live from Wells Fargo Arena.