The road warrior Ravens from Hillcrest Academy are back at it Friday when they travel to Wapello for a Southeast Iowa Superconference double dip with the Arrows and Indians. The Raven ladies are 3-2 on the year after scoring their first Superconference win in dramatic fashion Tuesday at Winfield-Mt. Union 62-56 in overtime, after trailing by 19 points in the second half. Malia Yoder and Claire Withrow each scored 20 and Niva Helmuth 15 in the win. On the year, the Ravens average 53 points per game and give up 48, shooting 33% from the floor, 30% from three and 42% at the line with 37 rebounds, 18 steals, 15 assists and 25 turnovers. Individually, Withrow’s 18 points lead as do Delaney Shaw’s 10 boards and Yoder’s five steals and five assists.

Wapello is 1-4 on the year and 0-4 in conference after a 71-32 Tuesday loss to Lone Tree. On the year, the Arrows average 33 points per game and give up 45, shooting 25% from the floor, 21% from three and 50% at the line with 17 rebounds, six assists, six steals and 15 turnovers per game. Individual leaders are Macey Kuntz with 10 points, Rachel Hoeg at seven boards and Annaka Greiner with four steals and three assists per game. This week, Raven head coach Chris Nachtigall spoke with KCII Sports at Winfield about his team’s recent play.

Nachtigall said, “It’s a ton of fun to see them grow. What I’m excited about is how hard they play and what they chose to do. It’s fun to see them all buy-in!”

Wapello has won 16 of the last 17 in the series, but the two teams split last year, each winning on their home floor.

The Hillcrest boys are unbeaten at 4-0 on the year, 3-0 in conference, after a statement win 61-37 at WMU Tuesday where Bryce Bailey scored 18 to lead the way followed by 14 each for Seth Ours and Mason Bender. This year the Ravens average 70 per night and give up 36, shooting 55% from the floor, 33% from deep and 62% at the line with 30 rebounds, 16 assists, 12 steals and 11 turnovers per game. Individually, Ours, this week’s Jessica Yoder and Sarah Bigley with Kalona Realty Athlete of the Week leads the Ravens with 18 points per night, Bender goes for eight boards per game and Rowan Miller six assists and three steals per night.

Wapello is winless through four games this year after a 60-55 home loss to Lone Tree Tuesday. The Indians average 47 points per game and give up 69, shooting 37% from the floor, 23% from three and 56% at the stripe with 19 rebounds, six assists, five steals and 17 turnovers per game. Individually, Justyn Faulkner averages 18 points per night with three assists and two steals while Kinnick Richenberger pulls in five boards. This week, Hillcrest head coach Dwight Gingerich talked with KCII Sports after the Ravens win over the Wolves about what his team is doing well in the early season.

Gingerich said, “(This brand of basketball) has been a beautiful thing to watch. This team is very unselfish. It’s a really good thing to see when the ball moves from one to the next. Everybody is for the team and it’s fun to watch. We’ve been trying to do a better job (defensively) of containing penetration, identifying where people are at and playing with our head on a swivel. We have rebounded well enough.”

Hillcrest has won 24 of the last 30 in the series including six straight and both meetings last year. Action starts tonight with the girls contest at 4:30p.m. At Wapello High School.