SEISC South winter break recap

Once again, the Southeast Iowa Super Conference South division has shown its competitiveness.

As most of the area schools have made it one time through the conference scheduled, 2022 is sure to be a tight race with the top four teams being within one game.

Here we will take a look back at the nine schools in the division, four in Union coverage area.

Currently in the boys’ race, it’s New London who is in the drivers seat. The Tigers are the only undefeated team left in the conference, sitting at a flawless 6-0. New London is led by juniors Blaise Porter, who missed the first three games of the season due to injury, and Kade Benjamin.

It hasn’t been an easy road for the Tigers — the Tigers won two of the last three games by three points or fewer. Against West Burlington, the Tigers picked up an overtime victory 50-47 and in a matchup with then undefeated Danville, the Tigers needed a game winner for a 55-54 victory.

Danville currently sits at second in the standings with a 4-1 conference record. If the Bears slip up, it would be WACO or Cardinal, both 3-2 in the conference, jumping in the second position.

One of the Warriors’ two losses came from the hands of New London in the second game of the season, 60-57. The other a 63-49 loss to West Burlington.

WACO has picked up big wins during the first half of the season, with victories over Cardinal and Southeast Iowa Super Conference North leader Winfield-Mt. Union.

Before the break, WACO was set to square off with Danville, which was sure to have conference implications, but the game was postponed.

The Warriors lead with a balanced attack. Sophomore Hunter Hughes averages 10.9 points, and junior Simeon Reichenbach, 9.8 per game.

Cardinal gets a chance to make a statement in the conference with its first game back in 2022.

They will take on Danville on Jan. 4. The Comets have shown that they can hang at the top of the conference. Cardinal’s two conference losses came from New London, 67-55, and WACO, 66-60.

Cardinal is led by senior Dawson Lewis, who is averaging 16.6 points per game, while senior Landon Becker adds a 12.4 points per game average.

The Union’s other conference team, Van Buren County, currently sits in seventh with a 1-5 SEISC South record.

The top four leaders in scoring are all in Union coverage. New London’s Porter averages 21 points per game; Cardinal’s Lewis, 16.6; New London’s Benjamin, 15.6; and Van Buren County’s Jackson Manning, 15.3.

Porter is second in assists average with 4.5, and Benjamin in second in rebounds with 9.4.

On the girls side of things, Burlington Notre Dame remained untouchable for much of the first half of the season, leading the conference with an 5-0 record.

West Burlington, 6-1, holds the second place spot and Holy Trinity Catholic, 6-2, is in third.

WACO currently holds the fourth spot with a 2-3 division record. The Warriors lost their first two games of the season against Notre Dame and Holy Trinity, before going on a five game win streak. Heading into the break, WACO has lost two straight games against West Burlington and Winfield-Mt. Union, who is second in the north division.

Ellah Kissell leads the Warriors with a conference best 20.9 points per game average.

Cardinal currently holds the sixth position in the conference. The Comets are 1-6 in conference play, with the one win coming from a victory over New London.

The Comets struggled to end the year, heading into 2022 on a four game slide.

Sophomore Emma Becker leads Cardinal in scoring with a 9.3 average, while junior Kinsey Hissem follows with an 8.2 average.

Van Buren County, 1-1, sits at seventh in the division. After beginning the year with five straight losses, the Warriors picked up a big win before the break with a 51-38 victory over Cardinal.

New London rounds out the division, while still searching for its first win, sitting at 0-4.

The top two scorers in the division are Union area players. Following Ellah Kissell’s division leading 20.9 points per game, Van Buren County’s Jaelyn Boley is averaging 18 points.

Cardinal’s Emma Becker currently leads the division in assists per game with a 4.2 average.

In the top five for rebounds, WACO’s Katie Leichty sits in fourth while averaging 6.8 per game.

BOYS STANDINGS

TEAM CONFERENCE OVERALL

1. New London 6-0, 6-0

2. Danville 4-1, 6-1

T-3. WACO 3-2, 6-2

T-3. Cardinal3-2,6-3

4. West Burlington 4-3, 4-4

5. Burlington Notre Dame 3-3, 4-4

6. Holy Trinity Catholic 2-4, 2-6

7. Van Buren County 1-5, 1-6

8. Central Lee0-6,0-7

GIRLS STANDINGS

TEAM CONFERENCE OVERALL

1. Burlington Notre Dame 5-0, 8-0

2. West Burlington 6-1, 7-1

3. Holy Trinity Catholic 6-2, 6-3

4. WACO 2-3, 5-4

5. Central Lee 1-3, 5-3

6. Cardinal1-6,3-7

7. Van Buren County 1-1, 2-6

8. Danville0-2,3-5

9. New London 0-4, 0-11

Comments: hunter.moeller@southeastiowaunion.com