The KCII Area Game of Week is back Friday when the Hillcrest Academy Ravens make the road-trip to Columbus Junction to battle the Wildcats in a Southeast Iowa Superconference basketball doubleheader. The Hillcrest girls are 2-1 on the year and 0-1 in league play after a 55-24 loss at Highland earlier this week. Claire Withrow led the way with a 10 point, 10 rebound double double. This season, the Ravens shoot 35% from the floor, 32% from three, and 45% at the line, averaging 47 points per game with 36 rebounds, 13 assists, 13 steals and 26 turnovers per contest. Withrow is the leader at 20 points and three assists per night. Niva Helmuth leads at eight boards and four steals per game.

Columbus is 0-3 after losses to Louisa-Muscatine, Lone Tree and North Cedar to start the year. The ‘Cats were beaten Thursday in Clarence by the Knights 52-43. This season, Columbus scores 48 points per game on 28% shooting, 27% from three and 39% at the line with 41 rebounds, 14 assists, 11 steals and 32 turnovers per game. Individual leaders are Isabel Rendon and Kennedy Woepking, each at 10 points per game. Naveiah Garza is the leader on the glass at 10 boards per game. Iris Garza is best with four assists and Rendon has four steals per night. Columbus has won 21 of the last 30 over the Ravens, including eight straight with a 46-33 and 55-35 sweep a season ago. The last Hillcrest win came in 2020.

The Hillcrest boys won their opener Tuesday over Highland 68-39 behind 44% shooting, winning the glass by 10, assists 17-6, steals 20-3 and turnovers 26-13. Rowan Miller had a 21 point five assist night, Kale Bailey 20 points seven boards and Gibson Scott 11 points to lead the Raven attack. The Columbus boys were also a winner on opening night 64-55 over Lone Tree where they won the boards by four and turnovers 20-18. Drake Marin lit it up with 17 points including three threes. Ellis Hills-Carrier scored 15, Drew Totemeier 13 and Elliot Wessley 12. The Ravens have won the last 33 in the series.

You can hear all of the action live tonight on AM 1380, FM 102.5, the KCII2 App and KCIIradio.com, beginning with the Area Game of the Week Pregame Show at 5:30p.m., tip of the girls game at six with the boys to follow from Columbus High School Friday.