WACO girls power past Wapello

WAPELLO — The game may have been played on Wapello’s court, but it was WACO that looked right at home during the Class 1A Region 6 girls basketball opening round on Thursday night.

The WACO Warriors knocked off the Arrows on their own home court, winning 40-36 to move on to the quarterfinals.

WACO had just three players score all night, but those three were enough to win each of the first three quarters. WACO led 10-8 after one quarter, 22-17 at halftime and 30-22 after three periods.

“That took off a bunch of stress for us,” said WACO’s Ellah Kissell about the fast start. “We could push the ball up the court more and play our speed.”

Kissell was hitting shots from all over. Despite Wapello’s box-and-one defense, designed specifically to slow the Warrior standout, she put up 21 points to lead the way.

“My dad and I talk about what to do if they box-and-one me,” Kissell said. “He just tells me to change up my speed. I didn’t let it get to my head too much.”

Although only three players scored, it was still a night of relative balance for the Warrior girls. Grace Coble and Katie Leichty combined for 19 points after averaging just 13 combined all season.

Leichty put up 10 points for the Warriors. Coble finished with nine.

“I definitely had to get my mental game on,” said Leichty. “Coming into the tournament, I think I was pretty well mentally prepared.”

Thursday’s victory was WACO’s 10th of the season. The Warriors have now won double-digit games for the first time since 2017.

WACO will have its hands full on Tuesday in the quarters. The Warriors will travel to play at No. 7 Notre Dame, the top seed in the region.

“We had a nice first half against them last time we played them,” said WACO head coach Lisa Graber. “We know who to recognize and play defense against.”