Wolves out in 1A semifinals

DES MOINES — A thrilling 2023-24 Winfield-Mount Union boys basketball season has come to an end in Des Moines.

The fourth-seeded Wolves were defeated by tournament favorite North Linn on Wednesday evening. The top team in Class 1A knocked off WMU 67-51.

WMU held an early lead, going up 6-0 early on and holding an 8-3 advantage with under two minutes to go in the first quarter. North Linn took the lead early in the second, but the two squads traded advantages until the final minute of the half.

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The two teams were tied 23-23 with 2:30 left in the first half. North Linn scored the next five points and led throughout the final two periods.

Junior Jake Edwards led the Wolves with 17 points and seven rebounds. Cam Buffington finished with 12 points and seven rebounds to give the Wolves two double-digit scorers.

Abram Edwards finished the night with nine points and seven boards. Carter Loyd scored nine points. Gabriel Hemsworth scored three, and Cole Milks finished with one.

North Linn’s star-powered duo of Mason Bechen and Ty Pflughaupt burned the Wolves all night. Bechen scored 32 points and pulled down seven rebounds, and Pflughaupt ended the night with 18 points.

WMU ended the season 21-3. A full story for this game will be available on Thursday morning.