No. 10 Wolves outlast Warriors

Winfield-Mount Union’s Keely Malone (pictured) and the Wolves downed SEISC North opponent WACO 61-40 on Tuesday night. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)

WAYLAND — Through the 2022-23 girls basketball season thus far, only one team has came to within single digits off the No. 10 (Class 1A) rated Winfield-Mt. Union Wolves.

That team was the Warriors of WACO. The first go around between the two squads, WMU took the win, 46-39.

When the two met for their second and final meeting of the regular season on Tuesday night, it was the Wolves yet again picking up a win, this time bested the Warriors 61-40.

WACO’s Grace Coble (pictured) and the Warriors fell short to Winfield-Mt. Union 61-40 on Tuesday night. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)

The Wolves and Warriors split each of the four quarters on the night, but WMU’s scoring outweighed WACO’s pair of quarters.

WMU jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the first quarter Tuesday night and would never trail.

WACO kept the game within reach though, trailing by just five at 15-10 and with 1:58 to go in the quarter.

From then on to the end of the first, five straight points from the Wolves’ Keetyn Townsley, a WACO lay in by Katie Leichty and a shot with only two second’s on the clock by Bradie Buffington pushed the Wolves’ lead to 22-12 after one.

In the second, WACO slowly clawed its way back.

The Wolves were able to keep their lead at right around eight points for the majority of the quarter, but after a layup by Grace Coble and a floater by Ellah Kissell the Warriors trailed by just three, 26-23, with 1:59 to go in the half.

That would be as close as the Warriors would come in the game and marked their last bucket of the half.

WMU closed the quarter with five straight to put itself up 31-23.

Out of the break, it was all Winfield-Mt. Union on both ends of the ball.

Josie Nelson kicked off what would end up being a 22-4 quarter for the Wolves with a three point play just a minute into the period.

WACO answered with a two of its own off a Kissell lay in at the 6:04 mark, but the Warriors would score just two more points the rest of the way.

Heading into the fourth, the Wolves held on to a commanding 53-27 lead.

In the fourth, the Warriors fought to the end, but the Wolves were able to keep the spread.

WACO would take the fourth 13-8, but it wasn’t enough.

For Winfield-Mt. Union Townsley finished with 16 points. Buffington followed with 15. Nelson added 10. Melina Oepping had nine. Keely Malone ended with seven. Anna Anderson and Mariana Hagmeier each had two.

For WACO, Kissell finished with 19 points. Grace Coble tallied nine points. Katie Leichty ended with six. Marie Farmer added three. Ella Huisenga had two and Emma Wagler one.

With the win, Winfield-Mt. Union stays undefeated at 15-0.

WACO drops to 12-2 on the season.