The KCII Area Game of the Week visits Hillcrest Union tonight for the annual Alumni Night basketball games, as the Ravens welcome the WACO Warriors in a boy/girl doubleheader.
After a promising 2-2 start, the Raven girls find themselves in the middle of a four-game skid, with two of those games decided by four points or less. A loss to Pekin Tuesday night has Hillcrest seeking its first Superconference win, and first over WACO since 2014. Averaging 37.5 points per game, the Ravens have leaned on Claire Withrow and Malia Yoder. The two had combined for 191 points heading into the week, as Withrow’s 22 three-pointers are tied for fourth-best in 1A. Delaney Shaw provides a spark in second-chance opportunities, as she’s snared 34 offensive rebounds, tied for eighth-most in the class. Defensively, Hillcrest is allowing just 43 points per game this season, more than a 10-point improvement from one year ago.
The WACO girls hit a bit of a snag as well last week, dropping games to Columbus and Danville before getting back in the win column versus Highland on Tuesday. Behind 13 points from Emma Wagler and 10 from Brenna Graber, WACO took the contest 44-29 despite just 11 second-half points. The offense continues to grow for the Warriors, who have shot 34.5 percent from the field and 24 percent from three. While the team is fifth in Class 1A basketball with 122 free throw attempts, WACO is making just 43.4 percent from the line through the first month of play. Hillcrest enters the contest with the statistical edge in rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks, but the Warrior girls have history on their side. WACO has taken eight in a row over the Ravens including a sweep last year.
On the boys’ side, a 6-1 Hillcrest team was met with its first loss of the season Saturday, falling to conference-leading WMU 63-35. The Ravens, who average more than 57 points per game were held to their season-low. Pace-setter Seth Ours still managed 15 points, while Mason Bender added nine along with eight rebounds. Hillcrest returned to its winning ways Tuesday over Pekin. A mostly-new group of starters have meshed together well, as Hillcrest enters tonight’s contest with the seventh most assists in 1A. Forty-two of those 123 have come from Rowan Miller, who is tied for second in the class. Ours has made the third most three-pointers, shooting an eight-best 56.4 percent beyond the arc. Miller and Bender have a combined 35 steals to lead the charge for a defense allowing 44 points per night.
They contend with a WACO team beginning to heat up after a 1-2 start. The Warrior boys are coming off two dominant wins, both by 40 or more points. The latest, a 76-22 victory over Highland saw the Warriors shoot better than 53 percent from the field while forcing 27 Husky turnovers. Hunter Hughes added to his team-leading point total with 16 Tuesday night. Colton Leichty and Clayton Miller joined Hughes in double figures, with 10 points each in the rout. WACO has used timely shooting along with its size to average nearly 60 points per contest. On the other end, a suffocating defense has produced 97 steals, fifth-most in 1A basketball. A win for the Warriors Friday would jump the Ravens in the early conference standings and move WACO into second. The Warriors swept Hillcrest last season, and have won three-straight in the series.
You can catch this Superconference doubleheader on the KCII3 Stream available at KCIIradio.com. Pregame coverage kicks off at 5:30 p.m. followed by the girls tip at 6, then the boys live from Hillcrest Union.