It was an inter-division Southeast Iowa Superconference sweep for the Mediapolis boys and girls hoops teams on Bud McLearn Court Thursday night as they scored two victories over the visitors from Winfield-Mt. Union. In the girls contest, the top 10 in Class 3A Bullettes flexed their muscles in an 81-29 win. MEPO scored the first eight and the Lady Wolves came back with four-in-a-row of their own to cut the lead in half. The Bullette response was another nine straight, and they were not threatened again on the night. MEPO build a lead of 22-6 after one and enacted the running clock out of half, leading 46-10. A Bullette run of 18-2 spanned the full third quarter and the two schools played even in the fourth, each scoring 17. MEPO shot 44% and knocked down 11 threes, winning the glass 44-17 and turnovers 31-12 with 28 steals and 27 assists. Four got to double figures with 17 points each for Grace Holsteen and Madden Thie, Ellah Wagenbach added 13 points and Paytan Gerling 10. Winfield-Mt. Union got a dozen points from Suttyn Schlee, 10 in the second half with five rebounds and three steals. The Bullettes rise to 6-0 with the win, while the Lady Wolves drop to 1-7.

The nightcap was tight for three and a half quarters, but a late Bulldog run gave them the home win 56-39. WMU started the game with a 9-1 run, but MEPO charged back with 14 straight to go on top. The Wolves led 9-8 after the first and things were tied at 20 late in the second before an Isaac Egli three from the volleyball line send WMU into half with momentum and a 23-20 advantage. MEPO led 33-31 through three. The Wolves answered with a basket to start the final frame, only to see the Bulldogs take a tie game and run away on a 15-2 sprint down the stretch to secure the win. Following the contest, WMU head coach Klay Edwards talked about the deciding points in the game and his standouts. “We just turned it over to much. I think we ended up with 23 turnovers. That was the difference and then we couldn’t make a shot during that fourth quarter to save our lives. Probably a little bit of legs. I’ll bet we also missed somewhere close to 15 free throws tonight. We did a good job of playing downhill and made them foul us but we just couldn’t convert. I thought Max (Edwards) did a good job of being aggressive down low. Isaac (Egli) did a good job of getting in the paint and make tough shots, they were giving him a lot of attention. Cody (Milks) was good and aggressive. We just want him to keep attacking. Nick (Sparrow) hit a couple of big threes.”

Mediapolis won the glass by three and turnovers 21-16. Three got to double figures for the Bulldogs, paced by 15 points for Max Griffin, 12 for Henry Luttenegger and 11 for Will Luttenegger. Isaac Egli led the Wolves with 15 points and Max Edwards went for 12. Each team now stands at 4-2 on the year.