The Winfield-Mount Union boys’ basketball team nearly pulled off a championship win to remember, but their fourth-quarter rally could not be completed in a 58-52 loss to New London last night in the Class 1A District 7 final in Mediapolis. New London opened the game with an 11-3 run, and the Tigers not only had the lead all night, but they led big for most of the game. WMU’s seven-point deficit at the end of the first quarter became 38-21 at halftime, and the Wolves were down by as much as 21 points in the second half. Winfield-Mount Union finally got the game to flip in their favor when they entered the final period trailing 50-32. The Wolves closed the game on a 20-8 run, but it was not enough to completely erase the deficit.

Junior Cam Buffington led WMU with a huge game, piling up 30 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and three blocked shots. Abram Edwards also had a double-double with 13 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and two blocks, but the Wolves still lose in a district final for a second consecutive year. Winfield-Mount Union finishes the season with a record of 19-5 and will graduate seniors Jacob Haines, Caleb Giese, Andrew Brown and Isaac Wilson.