It would come down to the very end, but the WACO Warrior boys’ basketball team would get a hard-earned 53-52 win over Pekin Friday night. A tie game after one quarter would see WACO down two at halftime, but they would tie things up going into the fourth quarter.

It would come down to the final 30 seconds, where junior Christian Stacy drove to the basket and hit a game-tying layup for the Warriors while also being fouled, meaning his and-one free throw after would provide the winning margin. Stacy scored a game-high 20 points, while senior Isaac Rich added 10 points as the Warriors earned their first win of the new season.

The WACO girls would not have the same good fortune, losing to Pekin 52-45. The Warriors only trailed by a point after the first quarter and at the half, but an 18-2 run by the Panthers to start the third period would put them in control.

Sophomore Brenna Graber hit four three-point baskets on her way to scoring a game-high 20 points for WACO. Senior Ella Huisenga also had 10 points as the Warriors drop to 1-2 overall and 1-1 in the North division of the Southeast Iowa Super Conference.

Winfield-Mount Union also took a pair of losses Saturday in Donnellson at the Iowa/Illinois Shootout. The WMU boys only trailed Centerville by a point at halftime, but a 19-6 run by the Big Reds put them in command on their way to a 58-42 victory.

Despite the defeat, senior guard Jake Edwards still hit six three-pointers and scored 24 points for the Wolves, who see their 2-0 start to the season come to an end.

The Winfield-Mount Union girls would suffer a 52-21 loss to Mendon. Already trailing 23-6 at the break, WMU was on the wrong end of a 25-7 run to start the second half and could never recover.

Freshman Kynlee Buffington had 15 points, 13 rebounds and seven blocked shots to lead the Wolves, who fall to 2-3. Both Winfield-Mount Union teams next play tomorrow against Hillcrest Academy.