For the second time in the last week, the Highland Huskies and Winfield-Mt. Union Wolves will appear in the Area Game of the Week tonight in Winfield.
The Winfield-Mt. Union girls are back in action after suffering an overtime loss to Hillcrest Tuesday that moved them to 2-4 overall and 1-3 in the SEISC. As has been the theme early on this season for the Lady Wolves, freshman Kynlee Buffington led WMU in a 21-point 13-rebound double-double. WMU puts up less than 40 points-per-game, and gives up 47. They shoot 27.4 percent from the field and 21.3 percent from three. The Lady Wolves pull down 28 boards a contest, as well as record over seven steals a night.
The #14 in Class 1A Highland Huskie girls fell for the first time Tuesday at the hands of Columbus. Freshman Kamryn Fink continued a stellar start to the season, though, posting 11 points and 23 boards. The Highland offensive attack has been fruitful for Jody Fink, putting up over 55 points-per-game, shooting a 5th-best in 1A 37.5 percent from the field. The Huskies have crashed the boards better than anyone else at this point in the season in 1A girls basketball, pulling down nearly 46 per game.
Even though the season may not have started like she hoped, WMU Head Coach Mendy McCreight told KCII Sports that Buffington has brought her team some strength under the basket. “We’ve seen some great improvement through practice,” McCreight said. “Kynlee Buffington brings us the height and great post moves underneath.”
Tuesday’s loss to Columbus knocked Highland off the top of the SEISC North standings, but Huskie Head Coach Jody Fink told KCII Sports that he’s liked the way his team has played early in the season, noting their chemistry. “We’ve got almost four girls averaging double figures with Emersyn Schultz being up there. It’s been great having that and the girls be excited for each other,” Fink said.
The series on the girls’ side is tied 18-18 dating back to 2006.
The Winfield-Mt. Union boys will look to end a two-game losing streak when they hit the court tonight. Senior Cooper Buffington led the way against Hillcrest Tuesday with 10 points. The Wolves will try to get the offense going tonight, having only been able to muster 42 points a contest, shooting 33.3 percent from the field, 28.4 percent from three and 48.8 percent at the line. WMU averages almost 30 boards, 11 assists and seven steals a game.
Bill Zywiec’s bunch will arrive in Winfield looking for their first victory of the season after starting 0-2 overall and 0-2 in conference play. On Tuesday at Columbus, Louis Horak battled in the post, finishing with a team-high 20 points, while teammate Bryce Hazelett had 15 in the loss to the Wildcats. This season, Highland collects 11 rebounds per game, and has over three assists and four steals a night.
WMU Head Coach Klay Edwards spoke to KCII Sports about his team’s winning formula. “Get shots on the board, go get it and play inside out. Usually when you’re getting a bunch of offensive rebounds you’re going to the line too, so that’s the way we’re going to have to win games,” Edwards said.
Highland Head Coach Bill Zywiec joined the KCII Radio Coaches Corner to talk about what he saw from his team after their conference opener with Hillcrest Academy last week. “We’re trying to implement a lot of new things this year, and the things we watched on video are just minor things that have to be adjusted,” Zywiec said. “I liked our effort. I thought the kids stayed focused. I thought they stayed positive. The stuff we need to adjust is stuff we can fix.”
The series is also tied on the boys’ side at 17 all dating back to 2006.
You can hear tonight’s doubleheader between Highland and Winfield-Mt. Union streaming exclusively online at KCIIRadio.com on the KCII3 Stream, beginning with pregame coverage of the girls game at 5:30, tipoff at 6, and coverage of the boys game to follow from WMU High School.