Photos Courtesy of Hillcrest Academy Yearbook
The Hillcrest Academy Raven boys and girls basketball teams travel to Pekin Tuesday for a Southeast Iowa Superconference doubleheader with the Panthers. The Hillcrest girls are 0-16 on the year and 0-10 in conference play following a loss in Kalona Friday to Louisa-Muscatine 45-35 where Claire Withrow and Malia Yoder led the way with 14 points each. This year, Hillcrest scores 24 points per game and gives up 52, shooting 23% from the floor, 22% from three and 48% at the line with 27 rebounds, four assists, seven steals and 25 turnovers per night. Individually, Withrow averages a team best 10 points, Niva Helmuth five rebounds and Malia Yoder three steals and two assists per game.
Pekin is 2-14 on the year, 2-6 in Superconference play after a 32-29 loss to Cardinal last time out. The Panthers average32 points per game and give up 49, shooting 26% from the floor, 21% from deep and 52% at the line with 27 boards, seven assists, eight steals and 24 turnovers per game. Individual leaders include Emma Phillips with nine points and six boards per game. Brooke Miller has two assists and two steals per night. These teams met December 13th with the Panthers scoring a 36-28 win. They have won 26 of the last 27 in the series.
The Hillcrest boys are 9-7 on the year after a bounce-back win Saturday at West Liberty 59-51. The Ravens put up 56 points per game and give up 47, shooting 45% from the field, 33% from three and 51% at the line with 22 boards, 13 assists, 10 steals and 10 turnovers per game. Individually, Grant Bender averages a team best 17 points and six boards with Luke Schrock posting four assists and three steals per night.
Pekin is 8-8 on the year, 7-5 in the Superconference after a 66-33 win over Highland in their last game. The Panthers score 53 per night and give up 47, shooting 43% from the floor, 29% from long range and 68% at the line with 26 rebounds, 13 assists, 10 steals and 13 turnovers per game. Luke Long averages 15 points and two steals, Jaedon Wolver eight boards and Cade Bemis six assists to pace the Panthers individually. These two met in December with the Ravens taking a 40-32 home win. Hillcrest has won three straight in the series. You can hear all of the action live from Pekin High School Tuesday, on FM 106.1 and KCIIradio.com, beginning with the Washington HyVee Pregame Show at 5:30, tip of the girls game at six with the boys to follow.