At KCII, we’re continuing to count down the top 10 sports stories at area high schools in the 2023-2024 academic year. At number four is the Winfield-Mount Union Wolves reaching the boys’ basketball state tournament.

A program that had suffered four straight losing seasons got a major boost when they won a combined 40 games between 2021 and 2023. But neither of those excellent years produced a trip to state. With most of the starting roster returning this past winter, WMU had big goals in mind.

The Wolves accomplished the first by going 15-0 in the North division of the Southeast Iowa Super Conference and winning a conference championship for a second time in three years.

Winfield-Mount Union’s only losses in the regular season were to Illini Bluffs of Illinois and a seven-point defeat against West Burlington in the championship game of the Super Conference Tournament.

WMU started their postseason run by dominating New London 70-37 and cruising past Danville 61-40. The Wolves exercised some demons by toppling Burlington Notre Dame 51-49 in the District 9 championship game.

After back-to-back seasons with losses in the district finals, and at one point facing a 14-point deficit in the second half, star forward Cam Buffington wouldn’t let his team get beaten again.

Buffington exploded for 26 points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots. Fellow senior Abram Edwards had a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds, but his biggest plays of the night were hitting two free throws with the game tied and only 11 seconds left to play.

A berth in Des Moines came down to the Substate 5 final February 24th against Holy Trinity Catholic, where a 12-2 run in the second quarter put Winfield-Mount Union ahead 23-13 at halftime, and, behind Buffington’s game-high 18 points, they would hold off the Crusaders to win 46-41 and punch their ticket to state.

But WMU didn’t just settle for a trip to Wells Fargo Arena. The Wolves made the most of their time at state, first by taking down Lynnville-Sully 54-37 in the Class 1A quarterfinals March 4th.

Buffington again led the scoring with 21 points and pulled down nine boards, while senior Carter Loyd poured in another 12 points and Edwards did a little bit of everything to finish with nine points, four rebounds, five assists and four blocks.

Winfield-Mount Union would take on top-ranked North Linn in the Class 1A state semifinals two days later. Despite Buffington missing much of the first half with foul trouble, WMU had a two-point lead at the end of the first quarter and rode big plays from junior Jake Edwards to only trail 28-23 at halftime.

Unfortunately, despite 17 points on five three-point baskets by Jake Edwards and 12 points and seven boards for Buffington, the Wolves couldn’t catch the Lynx in the second half and fell 67-51 to the eventual state champions.

It was a small blemish on an otherwise superb season, one that ended with an overall record of 21-3. Buffington and Abram Edwards were both first team all-conference choices, with Buffington being named the Super Conference North Player of the Year and going on to be an first team all-state selection.

Loyd, Jake Edwards and senior Gabe Hemsworth all picked up all-conference nods, while head coach Klay Edwards was named the Super Conference North Coach of the Year.

Be listening this week as the countdown of KCII’s Top 10 Area Sports Stories from the last year continues, and find the stories as their spot on the countdown is revealed at KCIIradio.com.