Hillcrest rally muzzles Bulldogs

KALONA - The Hillcrest Ravens overcame foul trouble and a halftime deficit to overpower the visiting Mediapolis Bulldogs boys basketball team in the second half of Tuesday's Super Conference North Division game.

Hillcrest was able to shut the visitors down for a 60-33 victory in the Ravens season opener.

Trailing 20-19 at the break, the Ravens scored first and fast to overcome the Bulldogs 22-5 in the decisive third period. Already leading 41-25. an 11-3 spurt to begin the fourth quarter gave Hillcrest a 52-28 lead, prompting everyone to get into the action for the Ravens.

Senior guard Eli Ours led four Ravens in double figures with 17 points. Junior guard Noah Miller tallied 11 points with eight assists, and junior wing Aiden Krabill and sophomore guard Grant Bender added 10 points apiece.

The Ravens knocked down eight 3-pointers, including three from Ours, two apiece from Krabill and Bender, and one from Miller.

Krabill led with five rebounds, while Ours and Miller had three steals apiece. Senior forwards John Hughes and Will Kolck had five and four points, respectively, and senior forward Aidan Yoder rounded out the scoring with three points.

'I liked how our guys fought through foul trouble to get to halftime, and then it was good to see us put together some runs to pull away,” Hillcrest coach Dwight Gingerich said. 'Each player did good things to help the team, and it's always great to get that first one.”

Hillcrest next plays on Friday at home against division favorite Wapello.