WACO boys heating up

COLUMBUS JUNCTION — After an undefeated regular season in 2019-20, the WACO boys basketball team had a reset last season, winning just six games. Through three games of the 2021-22 campaign, it looks like the Warriors are back to their old ways.

WACO went coast-to-coast for a 78-29 victory in a Southeast Iowa Super Conference crossover game at Columbus on Tuesday night. It was the Warriors’ second blowout win in three games.

WACO’s Mason Miller takes a 3-pointer in front of the Columbus student section on Tuesday night. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)

We had a good summer, so our confidence was really expanded after last year taking our lumps,“ said WACO head coach Paul Kissell. ”It's nice to come out here and compete on a regular basis.“

The Warriors pressed the Wildcats into oblivion in the first half. Seven different Warriors scored as WACO led 19-12 after one quarter and 48-22 at halftime.

“One of the things that we work on is playing with great energy and great effort,” Kissell said. “We're trying to really put pressure on people.”

WACO outscored Columbus 30-7 in the second half, gaining basket after basket off its pressure defense.

Columbus’ Marco Martinez handles the ball during the Wildcats’ home loss to WACO on Tuesday night. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)

“That's the way we're going to play all year,” Kissell said. “We've got tremendous depth, a lot of kids that can get after it.”

Though the Warriors got the majority of their points off the fast break, it was center Vincent Jones who led the team in scoring, putting up 16, all in the paint.

“Vincent is a different build than the rest of the team,” said Kissell. “He knows how to create space and use that space to finish.”

WACO’s Vincent Jones (00) makes a layup over the outstretched arm of Columbus’ Oscar Alcala (10). (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)

Hunter Hughes scored 12 points, including a pair of 3-pointers. Reece Oswald scored 11. Mason Miller finished with seven points and seven rebounds, and Cody Graber scored seven points of his own.

Simeon Reichenbach had six points fo rhte Warriors. Colton Leichty finished with five. Roman Roth and Chase Waterhouse scored four each. Oleh Shtefanchuk had three. Clayton Miller scored two, and Taylor Sutton chipped in one.

Columbus’ Grant Watson and Tim Hills coled the team with eight points apiece. Marco Martinez finished the day with seven. Jeff Hoback, Oscar Alcala and Daniel Martinez each had two.

WACO moved to 2-1 with the win. Columbus now sits at 1-2.

Columbus’ Yahir Ayala takes the ball down court during the Wildcats’ home loss to WACO on Tuesday night. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)