SEISC North boys’ basketball: WACO leads

Back in 2021-22, the Southeast Iowa Super Conference North Division race was a tight one.

This year, midway through the season it's much of the same.

Winfield-Mt. Union made it's presence known last year, sweeping conference competition, 16-0. This year, the Wolves are right near the top again sitting at 6-1 in the SEISC North. That’s good enough for second in the conference.

At the top, is the No. 5 WACO Warriors. WACO made the move back to the North Division after competing in the SEISC South last season.

The Warriors are currently the only unblemished team left, holding the top spot in the North with a 5-0.

Battles between the top teams in the conference this season have been toss ups.

In the first meeting between WACO and WMU, the Warriors edged the Wolves 42-38.

Hillcrest Academy is not to be taken likely.

The Ravens hold the third spot in the North with a 5-1 conference record.

Hillcrest’s one loss on the season thus far came from the hands of Winfield-Mt. Union and that was a 59-56 overtime loss.

WMU and Hillcrest will meet again in the two’s first game of 2023 on January 3.

Following the top three is Louisa-Muscatine in fourth. The Falcons are 3-2 in conference play and Pekin comes in close behind at 3-2 as well.

Louisa-Muscatine holds the edge over the Panthers with a 4-5 overall record and the Falcons got the better of the Panthers in the final 2022 meeting, 54-45.

Both squads have been bested by Winfield-Mt. Union and Hillcrest Academy once on the season.

Pekin will take on top seeded WACO in it's first game back in 2023 on January 6.

Sitting in the sixth position is Wapello at 2-4. The Indians come into 2023 off a loss to Hillcrest Academy.

Lone Tree holds the seventh spot, while Columbus and Highland round out the North Division in eighth and ninth.

The Lions and Wildcats both hold a 1-5 record in the SEISC North and Highland currently sits at 0-6.

Columbus’ lone win on the season came against Lone Tree in the second game of the season, 56-55.

The Wildcats will take on Van Buren County on January 5.

Highland will look for it's first victory on Jan. 5 against English Valleys.

SEISC North Boys Basketball Standings

1. WACO 5-0, 8-0

2. Winfield-Mt Union 6-1, 6-1

3. Hillcrest Academy 5-1, 5-2

4. Louisa-Muscatine 3-2, 4-5

5. Pekin 3-2, 3-5

6. Wapello 2-4, 2-6

7. Lone Tree1-5, 3-7

8. Columbus 1-5, 1-8

9. Highland 0-6, 0-7

Top-Five Scorers

1. Ty Northup (11), Louisa-Muscatine: 21.7 PPG

2. Hunter Hughes (11), WACO: 18.4 PPG

3. Grant Bender (12), Hillcrest Academy: 18.1 PPG

4. Jackson Lanz (11), Wapello: 17.6 PPG

5. Cam Buffington (11), Winfield-Mt. Union: 17.4 PPG

Top-Five Assists

1. Jake Edwards (10), Winfield-Mt. Union: 4.9 APG

2. Cade Bemis (12), Pekin: 4.6 APG

3. Isaac Oswald (12), WACO: 4.1 APG

4. Hunter Hughes (11), WACO: 4.1 APG

5. Luke Schrock (12), Hillcrest Academy: 4.0 APG

Top-Five Rebounds

1. Cam Buffington (11), Winfield-Mt. Union: 9.6 RPG

2. Abram Edwards (11), Winfield-Mt. Union: 8.6 RPG

3. Jackson Lanz (11), Wapello: 8.1 RPG

4. Cody Graber (12), WACO: 8.0 RPG

5. Ty Northup (11), Louisa-Muscatine: 7.6 RPG