The Hillcrest Academy Raven boys and girls basketball teams are back on Dwight Gingerich Court this afternoon when they welcome two schools to Kalona. The Raven girls will match up with Morningstar Academy from Bettendorf. Hillcrest is 1-2 following a tough overtime loss to Highland Tuesday 45-42 in Kalona. Claire Withrow led the way with 21 points, Malia Yoder added 13 points and five assists and Niva Helmuth had 13 boards. On the year, the Ravens score 38 per game and give up 40, shooting 26% from the floor, 30% from distance and 47% at the line to go with 39 rebounds, nine assists, nine steals and 21 turnovers. Individually, Withrow is scoring 18 points per game, Niva Helmuth has 13 boards per night, Yoder and Delaney Shaw three assists per game and Yoder three steals. This is the first contest of the year for Morningstar.
The Hillcrest boys are 2-0 this season after wins over Highland 57-18, and Fairfield 64-49 this week. The Ravens are scoring 61 points per game and giving up 34, shooting 40% from the floor and three while going 50% at the line. They average 15 boards, 10 assists, nine steals and six turnovers per game. Seth Ours scored 25 and had five assists and three steals to lead the Ravens past Highland. Kale Bailey had eight boards.
The Hillcrest boys draw Rivermont Collegiate from the Quad Cities Saturday afternoon. The Lions are 0-1 this year after a 55-37 loss to Quad City Christian, despite a 17 point, 13 rebound double double from Tahir Kaplan. These teams met two seasons ago, with the Ravens defending their home floor 63-26 and Ours scoring 11 points. That victory was the 700th in the legendary career of Hillcrest boys coach Dwight Gingerich. Action starts at 1:30 this afternoon at Hillcrest Union.