On the KCII Area Game of the Week on Tuesday WACO completed the sweep over Winfield Mt. Union. On the girls side, the Warriors ended their five game losing skid, winning 42-25. WACO is now 12-8 and 10-6 in the Southeast Iowa Super Conference North. In the first quarter, it was a bit of a slow start for both teams as WACO led 6-2. In the second, the Warriors scored 8 in the quarter, to take a 14-9 lead at half. In the third, WACO woke up and scored 13 in the third to take a 27-18 lead. The Warriors held on and won 42-25, thanks to 15 points in the fourth quarter. Turnovers were the story of the game as both teams combined for 53. WMU had 30 turnovers with 19 coming in the first half. WACO had 23 turnovers with 17 in the first half. The Wolves won the rebounding battle 27-23. Leading the way for the Warriors was sophomore Brenna Graber who scored 20 points.
Senior Ella Huisenga joined KCII Sports to discuss the turnover battle. “We turned the ball over a lot tonight. The best we could do was to recover and I think we were efficient in that. We got back as best we could and we just played defense and that was our best option and we executed that pretty well. In the second half we definitely picked it up. We went up at halftime to discuss what was going on and decided to clean things up. The third quarter has been rough for us throughout the season and we decided we gotta take it out here. We executed that very well.”
WMU now goes to 4-16 and 3-12 in the Southeast Iowa Super Conference North. Before Tuesday night, the Wolves had won two straight. Madison Kellogg had 12 points to lead the way for the Wolves.
The WACO boys continued their winning ways by beating WMU 45-40. In the first, WACO jumped out to a 19-8 lead going into the second. In the second quarter, WMU trimmed the lead and outscored the Warriors 8-3. At half it was WACO leading Winfield Mt. Union 22-19. In the third, the Warriors scored 13 to take a 35-25 lead going into the fourth. In the final period, WMU tried to come back, but it was too little too late. WACO held on to win 45-40. WMU had 16, while WACO had 12 turnovers. Most of the turnovers from the Wolves happened in the first half with 9. Winfield Mt.Union did win the rebounding department, 33-27. Leading the way for the Warriors was Christian Stacy, who scored 18 points.
Christian Stacy joined KCII Radio after leading the way in scoring. “When you put me in the high post like that and you got Holden (Hughes) down low and they got to pick between the two. I have been having a pretty good season, so they’re gonna come out on me and then Holden (Hughes) is gonna be wide open down low. Basketball is a game of runs. We came out and were ready to go. We were locked in our practice yesterday and I think that played a huge factor in it all.”
WMU now goes to 11-8 and 11-4 in the Southeast Iowa Super Conference North. The Wolves have now been swept by the Warriors this season. Leading the way for the Wolves was Cooper Buffington, who had 10 points.
Both schools will play their next game on Friday and Saturday during the Southeast Iowa Super Conference Shootout. WMU will then play Pekin next Tuesday to finish the regular season. WACO will play Van Buren on Monday and then travel to Wapello to take on the Indians to finish their regular season.