Thursday, the WACO Warrior boys basketball team welcomed the North Linn Lynx to Wayland for a non-conference contest that featured top tier hoops, and the chance to honor a legend. In the action on the floor, it was the Lynx that captured a 56-42 win. North Lynn jumped out to a 19-10 advantage after one and was on top 34-23 at the half. The Lynx put a stranglehold on the game with a 13-5 run out of the break to lead 47-28 going to the fourth. Mason Bechen paced the Lynx with 14 points and Ty Plughaupt added 11. Colten Leichty scored 13 to lead the Warriors. Each team grabbed 22 rebounds and the Lynx won the turnover battle 19-10. After the contest, Warrior head coach Paul Kissell talked with KCII Sports about what he saw from his team.

Paul

The loss drops the Warriors to 5-3 entering Christmas break. North Linn remains unbeaten at 9-0. Also part of the Thursday festivities was a chance to honor Bob Hilmer, the all-time winningest coach in Iowa High School Boys basketball, who served as head man at both the Warrior and Lynx programs, setting the all-time record for wins with his 681st victory while on the sidelines at WACO and winning one of his two state title as head coach at North Linn. He spoke during the night with KCII sports about what it was like to be back at Wayland where the court bears his name.

Hilmer

Hilmer patrolled the sidelines at WACO for 14 seasons, from 2001-2015. His 57-year coaching tenure started in Fredericksburg in 1963, also saw a stop Forest City. He holds a 917-347 career record, a 72.5% win percentage, is the only coach in Iowa boys basketball history to clear the 900 win mark and only the 33rd nationally.