Boys basketball: Panthers fall on day 1, WACO and Keota win

Boys’ basketball season is underway as a few of area teams tipped off the 2022-23 season on Monday night. Mt. Pleasant was the only Union area big school to get underway, but both WACO and Keota began play as well, and the Warriors and Eagles both notched their first wins.

Cedar Rapids Washington 58, Mt. Pleasant 33

The Panthers had quite the challenge heading north to play Cedar Rapids Washington in the first game of the season.

Mt. Pleasant trailed by just four points, at 15-11, after one quarter, but the Warriors turned it on from that point forward, leading 34-16 at halftime and 47-23 after three quarters.

Payton Hagans scored nine points to pace Mt. Pleasant. Aaiden Ashton and Nate Stroud each scored six.

WACO 66, Holy Trinity 52

Holy Trinity stuck with WACO early on in the first non-conference game between the two since WACO moved to the Southeast Iowa Super Conference’s North Division.

After leading just 10-6 after one quarter and 29-26 at the half, WACO was able to turn up the head in the final two periods. The Warriors led 41-35 after three and then outscored the Crusaders 25-17 in the fourth.

Hunter Hughes led the Warriors with 23 points and eight rebounds on the night. Isaac Oswald had nine points on three 3-pointers. Colton Leichty scored nine points and pulled down seven rebounds. Cody Graber finished with eight points and four blocks.

Keota 68, Louisa-Muscatine 58

It was a strong start to the Keota basketball season as the Eagles knocked off Louisa-Muscatine in a non-conference clash.

Keota led just 30-27 at halftime, but a 19-12 second quarter helped push the lead to double digits, and the Eagles staved off the Falcons in the fourth.

Cole Kindred put up 21 points to lead the Eagles in the opener. He also paced the team with five assists, four steals and two blocked shots.

Sawyer Stout scored 14 points on the night. Evan Vittetoe had 11. Billie Kindred had seven points and seven rebounds.