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Buffington leads 2023-24 All-Union basketball list
Winfield-Mt. Union takes Coach and Captain awards
Another season of Iowa high school basketball is complete. Yet again, the Union area saw a ton of talent and produced a plethora of stellar matchups night in and night out.
When all was said and done, the coverage area and Southeast Iowa were represented on the biggest stage once again. With that being said, the season’s close means it’s time for another list of All-Union Basketball.
This year’s list is dominated by upper classes, specifically a strong senior class. Six of the seven players on the 2024 list are seniors, the seventh being a junior.
Southeast Iowa Super Conference North’s Winfield-Mt. Union leads the way with three total selections, which includes coach and captain, as the Wolves punched their ticket to the state semifinals for the first time since 1996.
Fellow SEISC North squad WACO is represented by two players, while other North squads Columbus and Hillcrest Academy each have one.
The South Iowa Cedar League also makes a feature in the form of Keota.
Coach: Klay Edwards, Winfield-Mt. Union
Winfield-Mt. Union head coach Klay Edwards helped guide the Wolves to new and “old” heights in 2023-24. As a Wolves player, the state tournament was familiar territory for Edwards back in the late 90s.
This year, Edwards coached the Wolves to their highest finish in 28 years. WMU made it all the way to the state semifinals, their highest finish since 1996. The Wolves were defeated by eventual state champion North Linn, ending their season at 21-3.
WMU dominated the SEISC North, taking the title with a 15-0 record.
Captain: Cam Buffington (12), Winfield-Mount Union
This year’s All-Union captain is none other than WWU senior Cam Buffington. The senior was integral on both sides of the ball for the Wolves’ state tournament run.
While Buffington did most of his work inside as a dominant force, the forward was also a threat from the perimeter. With his combined strength and athletic ability, Buffington was a thorn to all defenses and offenses.
He led the Wolves with 18.8 points per game this season. He also pulled down 7.4 rebounds per game, 3.6 assists per game, 1.7 steals per game and one block per game.
Buffington racked up the honors this season as he was named to the All-State squad, and was the SEISC North Division Player of the Year. He also made the Class 1A All-Tournament team for his performance in the state tournament.
Sawyer Stout (12), Keota
Another senior on this year’s All-Union list is Keota senior Sawyer Stout.
Stout led the Eagles to one of their best runs in school history. The Eagles had not lost a game, posting an undefeated regular season, up until their loss in the Substate semifinals to Gladbrook-Reinbeck. Keota finished at 23-1.
He scored 20.9 points per game to lead Keota and dished out 2.1 assists per game, along with 1.6 steals per game as well.
For his play, Stout was named to second-team All-State. He was also the South Iowa Cedar Player of the Year.
Abram Edwards (12), Winfield-Mount Union
The second of the Wolves players to make the 2023-24 list is senior Abram Edwards.
The 6’6 forward had a career year in his final go and once again was one of the top post players in the area. Edwards was a wall inside, using his length to damper the opposition inside, something that helped propel the Wolves to state.
Edwards finished the season averaging a double double, notching 13.9 points and 11.1 rebounds. He also did well at dishing the rock, tallying 3.5 assists as well as 1.8 blocks and 1.1 steals defensively.
Hunter Hughes (12), WACO
WACO senior Hunter Hughes earns yet another spot on the All-Union list.
Hughes did a little bit of everything for the Warriors in 2023-24, leading in points, assists and steals per game. The combo guard tallied 15.6 points per game, 4.4 assists and 3.3 steals. He also pulled down 7.0 rebounds a night as well.
Hughes helped the Warriors to a 18-6 overall record and 14-2 SEISC North record. Those two losses came against state semifinalist Winfield-Mt. Union.
Tim Hills-Carrier (12), Columbus
Columbus senior Tim Hills-Carrier was one of the top scorers in the SEISC North this season. While the Wildcats won just four games, Hills-Carrier knew how to facilitate.
He led Columbus in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks this season. Hills-Carrier finished the year averaging 18.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.2 blocks.
Altogether, the Wildcats finished with an 4-18 overall record and a 4-12 conference record.
Seth Ours (11) Hillcrest Academy
The lone junior on this year’s list is Seth Ours of Hillcrest Academy.
Ours has been an important piece to the Ravens success since joining the ranks as a freshman. This year was no different. He notched a team-high 16.1 points per game this year. He also totaled 3.0 assists, 2.0 rebounds and 1.6 steals.
He was also one of the top outside shooters in the league, knocking down the deep ball at a 49.3% clip.
The Ravens ended the season 15-8 and 10-5 in SEISC North play.
Colton Leichty (12), WACO
The second Warrior senior to grace this year’s All-Union list is Colton Leichty.
Leichty hurt teams in a variety of ways, using his frame to hang and bang down low, while also being able to create his own shot from anywhere around the floor.
Leichty averaged 13.5 points per game and led the Warriors in rebounding with 8.1 a game. He also carded 2.6 assists and steals as well as 1.4 blocks. The forward was second or first in all major statistical categories.
