We are down to number four on our top 10 countdown of the best sports stories from the 2021-22 academic year. This countdown we highlight area schools of Columbus Community, Highland, Lone Tree, Winfield-Mt. Union, WACO, Sigourney, and Keota. The fourth best story takes us to the hardwood with a pair of Southeast Iowa Super Conference boys’ basketball teams making huge strides last winter.
Coming off of a 6-18 season in 2020-21, the WACO boys put together one of the most impressive turnarounds in 2021-22 by adding 14 wins to their total for a 20-5 record. They brought back all but one player from the previous year and predicated themselves on the defensive end giving up just 40 points a game. The Warriors marched their way to a class 1A substate final where they fell to Danville in a classic double overtime game by a 46-39 final. Top wins on the winter included taking two of three from New London, beating Winfield-Mt. Union, and downing defending champion Montezuma in the second round. Four players were named all conference including first teamer Hunter Hughes. The sophomore paced a balanced Warrior attack with 11.9 points a game, hauled in 4.8 boards a night, and finished fourth in the league with 40 three pointers made.
The Winfield-Mt. Union boys also turned some heads with their play on the court winning the north division with a perfect 16-0 mark in the league and 21-3 overall. That was a 12 win improvement from the previous winter and a big reason why was the one-two punch of first team all conference selections Cam Buffington and Abram Edwards. Buffington led the league in rebounds, field goals made, field goal percentage, and three point percentage. The 6’4’’ sophomore was second in the league with 19 points a game, averaged 10.2 rebounds a contest, shot 63% from the floor including 46% from long range, dished out 66 assists, and had 52 steals. Edwards was a 6’6’’ nightmare inside creating a league best 49 blocks and second in rebounds with 219. The sophomore tallied 12 points and 9.1 boards a contest, had a 52% field goal efficiency, and paced the team with 80 assists. The Wolves advanced to the district final where they took eventual state qualifier Danville to the brink in a 44-41 loss. Five of their top six scorers return for what could be a special 2022-23.
Check back in tomorrow for number three on our countdown when we analyze the WACO football campaign.