A pair of basketball games originally scheduled for last Tuesday go down tonight in Winfield, as the Wolves host the WACO Warriors in the KCII Area Game of the Week.
Winfield-Mt. Union’s girls hit the floor Thursday night at 4-11, coming off a 50-32 loss to Wapello last Friday. It was the first game for the Wolves in a week and a half as they saw Madisen Kellogg go for 21 points and fall one rebound short of a double-double. WMU is averaging just over 33 points per game this year while allowing 49. They shoot nearly 30% from the field, 19% from three, and 52% from the line to go with 31 rebounds, nine assists, 10 steals, two blocks and 28 turnovers a night. Kellogg is averaging more than 16 points and nine rebounds to lead the team.
The Warrior girls come to town at 6-8, currently fourth in the Superconference North. WACO dropped its most recent game to Highland Tuesday night 52-49. Nearly coming all the way back after being down 20-7 in the first quarter, Brenna Graber set the pace with 21 points while Naomi Egli had 10. WACO is scoring 43 points and giving up less than 45 each night behind 32% shooting from the field, 23% from three, and 46% from the charity stripe. This combines with 31 rebounds per game, eight assists, nine steals, two blocks and 17 turnovers. Emma Wagler is averaging a double-double per night and also leads the Warriors in steals. WACO snapped a six-game losing streak to the Wolves in December, taking the contest 47-29.
The top two teams in the Superconference square off in the boys game, with Winfield-Mt. Union getting its first action since an 83-33 drubbing of Wapello last Friday. The Wolves shot better than 61% in the victory and had four players in double figures, led by Cam Buffington with 26. Sitting third in the latest IHSAA rankings, WMU is scoring 63 points per game and allowing 33. As a unit they shoot over 50% from the floor, 35% from deep, and are hitting 50% of their free throws. Top-10 in 1A hoops in assists and blocks, the Wolves also average 31 rebounds, 11 steals and 9 turnovers per night.
They welcome the 9-3 Warriors, who enter Thursday night two games behind the Wolves in conference play. WACO allowed just three first-half points to Highland on Tuesday en route to a 65-23 win. Sixteen points from Hunter Hughes led all scorers, and landed Hughes into the 1,000 point club. This season the Warriors have scored 61 points per night and allow 40, shooting 44% from the field, 23% from three and 63% at the line. Their 196 steals are eighth-most in 1A, in addition to 33 rebounds, 15 assists, three blocks, and 14 turnovers per night. WACO is seeking revenge, as their lone conference loss came at the hands of the Wolves in December. The Warriors had won seven of eight over WMU heading into this season.
Catch the second meeting between Winfield-Mt. Union and WACO basketball on the KCII3 Stream, available at KCIIradio.com. Pregame coverage starts tonight at 5:30, with tip of the girls’ game at 6, followed by the boys live from Winfield.