The latest chapter of the Hillcrest Academy and WACO Warrior hoops rivalry featured some historic numbers and big moments Friday at Hillcrest Union. The Raven girls were a 52-50 winner in the opener. Early action favored the visitors, with WACO up 14-8 after the first. Hillcrest got hot in the second, winning the frame 18-12 to tie the game at 26 going to the break. Third quarter went to the Ravens at 12-7 to give them a five point lead entering the fourth. That would stretch to as large as nine before the WACO comeback cut it to two, but no closer. WACO won the glass 40-35 and turnovers 23-19. The Ravens knocked down 10 threes to four for the Warriors. In the win, Hillcrest history was made by senior Claire Withrow. Her second quarter layup gave her 1,000 career points, the sixth Raven in history to reach the milestone. Withrow also connected on seven three point goals, tying the school record held by Suzanna Yoder and Kristin Davis, en route to her game high 30. Withrow spoke on the KCII postgame show about the milestone and win. “At the beginning of the season, I had an idea of what I needed to have. Going into this game, I had a better idea, but I just tried not to focus on that. (When it happened), at first I didn’t realize it until the whole crowd just erupted, and I saw my family put up the signs. Then I realized. I don’t think I could get the smile off of my face! It’s a huge accomplishment! So much work goes into it that people don’t see. Most of my (threes tonight) came off screens up top. To see (my teammates) have confidence in themselves, has really been a key part of us playing well lately.”

WACO got 22 points from Brenna Graber. Hillcrest is 5-11 with the win, the Warriors drop to 7-10.

The Raven boys took another step toward a Southeast Iowa Superconference North Division title, beating WACO 61-45 to stay unbeaten in conference. The Hillcrest offense was on it’s game early, leading 21-12 after one quarter and 43-28 at half. WACO settled in during the third, cutting the Raven lead to 52-38 going to the fourth, but would get no closer down the stretch. Following the win, Ravens of the game Rowan Miller and Isaac Birky joined the postgame show to break it down for KCII Sports.

Miller said, “We were able to move the ball well and I was able to drive and we got a lot of open looks around the perimeter on that penetration. I think (our assists numbers) really speak to how well we play as a team. We always share the ball and nobody is out there looking for a certain number of points. Any guy can be on any given night. Our defense held strong and that’s how we were able to expand our lead.”

Birky added, “We’re about hard-nosed defense. When I’m going opposite Rowan (Miller) in the zone, my job is to shut down their best players and I feel like I have been doing well with that this year. Playing every play. We didn’t take a single play off. We gave it our all!”

Hillcrest won the glass by seven and turnovers 15-11. A trio of Ravens were in double figures led by 20 for Miller, including 14 in the first half. Kale Bailey had 12 and Gibson Scott 11. Hayden Shelman led WACO with 15 points. Hillcrest is 14-1 with the win, as WACO drops to 8-8.