The best in Southeast Iowa Superconference boys basketball will be in the spotlight tonight at Burlington Notre Dame High School when the Nikes host the boys Final Four of the Superconference Shoot out. The runner-up game features Winfield-Mt. Union against Mediapolis. The Wolves earned their spot by finishing 13-5 overall and second in the North at 13-2. WMU has won three straight entering play including a 54-31 rivalry win over WACO last time out. This year, the Wolves score 51 points per game and give up 41 shooting 37% from the floor, 25% from three and 59% at the line with 32 rebounds, 12 assists and steals and 13 turnovers per game. Individually, Isaac Egli leads at 13 points and four assists per night. Cody Milks has eight rebounds and three steals per game.
Mediapolis is 13-6 this season, 11-3 in conference to place second in the south. They beat Fort Madison Monday in overtime 51-49. On the year, the Bulldogs score 60 points per game and give up 52 on 47% shooting, 29% from three and 67% at the line with 26 rebounds, 17 assists, 10 steals and 12 turnovers per game. Individually, Max Griffin scores 18 points per night with five rebounds and Will Luttenegger has six assists and three steals per game. This week, WMU head coach Klay Edwards talked about what he wants to see from his team Saturday. “We have to take care of the ball better than we did the first time against Mediapolis. Some of their pressure in the second half got to us a little bit and we wore down. They’re a really good team and this is a good game for us because we aren’t playing someone we’ll see the following week in districts. Get everyone on the same page and comfortable. It’s a fun game to be in. At the Shootout on championship Saturday!”
These two teams have split their last 28 meetings with the Bulldogs winning in Decmeber on their home floor 56-39.
The boys championship game sees Hillcrest Academy take on Burlington Notre Dame. The Raven boys are 17-2 this year, 15-1 North Division Champions for the second straight year. The first time the program has back-to-back division titles in 15 years. They were 85-61 winners over Lone Tree Tuesday. This season, the Ravens score 65 points per game and give up 46, shooting 49% from the floor, 33% from three and 59% at the line with 32 rebounds, 17 assists, 12 steals and 14 turnovers per game. Individually, Kale Bailey is best at 18 points per night, Gibson Scott goes for seven rebounds and Rowan Miller seven assists and three steals per game.
Burlington Notre Dame is 19-1 overall, 14-0 champions of the Superconference South. It’s their first division title since 2018. The Nikes dropped their first game of the year Monday 70-66 to Pella Christian. Notre Dame is ranked No. 3 in the latest Class 1A poll from the Iowa High School Athletic Association. The Nikes score 75 points per night and give up 48 on 52% shooting, 31% from three and 65% at the line with 35 rebounds, 17 assists, nine steals and nine turnovers per game. Individually, Shay Stephens scores 26 points per night with nine rebounds, seven assists and three steals to lead. This week, Hillcrest head coach Stephen Bender talked with KCII Sports about the keys Saturday. “Notre Dame’s only loss is to a very good Pella Christian team that’s got three 6’7 guys. They’re going to be hungry coming off that loss. They’ll be ready to go. We have three days to get ready. We have to put together a full four quarters. The guys are ready for the challenge and so am I.”
These teams have not met since 2021, a Notre Dame win. The Ravens last series win came in 2013. You can hear all of the Boys Superconference Shoot Out Final Four Action live tonight on FM 106.1, the KCII1 App and KCIIradio.com, beginning with the Final Four Pregame Show at 5:30p.m., tip of the runner-up game at six with the championship game to follow from Burlington Notre Dame High School.