The high school basketball season returns to the court and the KCII airwaves Friday night with a Southeast Iowa Superconference doubleheader between the Columbus Wildcats and WACO Warriors. In the girls contest, the Wildcats enter with a 3-5 overall record and 3-4 mark in conference, following a 48-40 loss at Wapello before Christmas. This year, the Wildcats score 45 points per game, shooting 27% from the floor, 23% from three and 51% at the line with 35 rebounds, 18 steals, 11 assists and 23 turnovers per game. Individually, Kennedy Woepking and Ellie Sanders each score 10 points per game. Woepking averages six rebounds, and Isabel Rendon four steals and three assists.

WACO is 1-5 overall and in conference play after a 52-43 loss to Highland. The Warriors average 37 points per game on 34% shooting, 25% from three and 34% at the line with 27 rebounds, 12 steals, nine assists and 20 turnovers per game. Individually, Brenna Graber leads with 13 points, three assists and three steals per game. Madelyn Farmer pulls in seven boards per night. These two teams have split their last six meetings which includes a WACO double overtime 58-57 win in Wayland and a Wildcat 44-33 win last year in CJ.

The Columbus boys are 4-3 this year and 3-3 in the Superconference after a 71-53 win at Wapello. The Wildcats score 34 points per game, shooting 35% from the field, 27% from three and 58% at the line with 19 rebounds, seven assists, and five steals per game. Individually, Ellis Hills-Carrier leads at 27 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals per game.

WACO is 3-2 this year, 3-1 in the Superconference after a win over Highland to close the first half of the year. The Warriors score 55 points per game on 43% shooting, 35% from three and 64% at the line with 26 rebounds, 13 assists, 10 steals and 15 turnovers per game. Individually, Holden Hughes averages a dozen points per game with nine rebounds. Niles Reichenbach has three assists and Sam Meyer two steals per night. The Warriors have won 24 of the last 25 in the series including a 72-55 and 66-44 sweep a season ago. 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, live from Columbus High School.