The Hillcrest Academy Raven boys and girls basketball teams are back on the court tonight following Christmas break, taking on the Louisa-Muscatine Falcons. The Raven boys are 7-1 this season, and 5-1 in the Southeast Iowa Superconference, after wins over Fairfield and Pekin going into break. Hillcrest averages 65 points per game while giving up 39, on a 1A best 53% from the floor, 31% from three and 60% at the line with 27 rebounds, 17 assists and 11 steals per game. Individually, Seth Ours leads at 16 points per game, Mason Bender has seven boards per night and Rowan Miller five assists and two steals.

Louisa-Muscatine is 3-5 this season, 2-3 in the Superconference after a win over Lone Tree to end 2024. The Falcons score 51 per night and give up 60, shooting 41% from the floor, 24% from three and 60% at the line with 32 rebounds, 12 assists, eight steals and 21 turnovers per game. Individually, Finn Cline scores 20 points with 11 rebounds per night to lead, followed by four assists for Ty Rosenboom and three steals for Oscar Cline. The Ravens have won 25 of the last 30 in this series with the two teams splitting a season ago. This week, Hillcrest head coach Dwight Gingerich talked about what led to his team’s first half success.

Gingerich said, “I think when there’s a high trust level like we have, people aren’t trying to do too much. We talked early in the season with our guys about turnover rate, and we have taken pretty good care of the ball. Having veterans in the lineup makes a big difference. They are sharing the ball well and doing that leads to more opportunities. We are finding that balance of being aggressive and looking to give it up.”

The Hillcrest girls are 5-3 this year, 3-3 in conference after a 49-36 win at Pekin before Christmas. The Ravens score 52 points per game and give up 46 on 33% shooting, 25% from three and 48% at the line with 36 rebounds, 17 steals, 11 assists and 24 turnovers per game. Individually, Claire Withrow scores 19 points per night, Delaney Shaw averages 10 rebounds and Malia Yoder six steals and four assists.

Louisa-Muscatine is 2-6 on the year, 1-4 in conference after dropping a game to Lone Tree before the Holidays. The Falcons score 35 points per game and give up 45 on 31% shooting, 33% from three and 44% at the line with 18 rebounds, six steals, two assists and 16 turnovers per game. Individually, Bailey Runnells goes for 15 points and eight rebounds per night, Hannah Kissell has two assists and two steals per game. L-M has won 20 of the last 27 in the series including seven straight with the Raven’s last victory in 2019. Raven head coach Chris Nachtigall talked with KCII Sports about his team’s first half success

Nachtigall said, “It’s about being consistent with how we play defense and the effort that we play with. It’s what we do on a daily basis. Our effort. I want to see that continue to grow. It’s going to take some mental fortitude, but these girls are up for the challenge.”

Action starts tonight with the girls game at 6p.m. At Hillcrest Union in Kalona.