It’s an All-KCII area contest Tuesday night at Highland when the Huskies entertain the Hillcrest Academy Ravens in the quarterfinal round of the Class 1A girls regional tournament.

Highland enters at 16-7 on the year, after finishing 11-5, third in the Southeast Iowa Superconference North Division. The Huskies opened regionals Thursday with a 48-29 home win over Wapello behind a 25 point 13 rebound double double from Kamryn Fink. This season, the Huskies score 51 per game and give up 45 on 32% shooting, 25% from deep and 53% at the line with 44 rebounds, 16 steals, 14 assists and 22 turnovers per game. Individually, Fink is the leader at 17 points and 15 boards per game. Hailey Brun adds five steals and Katie Herrig four assists. This week, Highland head coach Jody Fink joined the KCII Radio Coaches Corner to talk about the keys for his team’s postseason success and what he expects from a matchup with the Ravens.

Fink said, “We have to do a good job on Claire Withrow and Malia Yoder. A big one has been Beachy there too. She has been kind of a silent assassin for them. We have to keep Niva (Helmuth) off the boards. Those things are very important. We have to execute what we do well and control the controlables.”

Hillcrest is 11-11 on the year, finishing 8-8, fifth in the North Division of the Superconference. They got by New London in the opening round Thursday 47-44 in Kalona behind a career high 30 points from Claire Withrow. This season, the Ravens score 48 per game and give up 47 on 33% shooting, 25% from the floor and 50% at the line with 34 rebounds, 15 steals, 10 assists and 24 turnovers per game. Individually, Withrow and Malia Yoder average 15 points per game each. Yoder is the leader with four steals and four assists per game while Delaney Shaw goes for nine boards per night. Raven head coach Chris Nachtigal talked with KCII Sports following their tournament win over the Tigers about the keys to a deep playoff run for his team.

Nachtigal said, “It doesn’t matter how you win at tournament time, anything can happen. We have to pressure the guards a little bit, box out, take advantage of turnovers that we get, and put those in the basket. Our girls will be ready to go!”

Highland has won 28 of the last 30 in the series, including 10 straight, with two wins this season 56-50, and 60-40. The last Hillcrest win over Highland was 2019. The winner of this game advances to Friday’s region seven semifinal. Action starts tonight at 7p.m. At Highland High School.