WACO, Winfield-Mount Union split in final showdown before division realignment

WAYLAND — Before the Warriors moved South in 2016, the WACO-Winfield-Mount Union basketball rivalry was a twice-a-year battle in Henry County. On Saturday, the two schools gave a preview of what is to come next school year, when WACO returns to the Southeast Iowa Super Conference’s North Division.

In the final non-divisional doubleheader between the two schools, the WACO boys struck a hefty blow to their next-door neighbors, handing WMU its first defeat of the season with a 49-41 comeback victory. The Lady Wolves took the girls game, 52-25.

The boys game was a back-and-forth bout all night long. WMU rallied back from down 8-0 to lead by four at halftime, at 27-23.

WACO dominated the third period, outscoring the rival Wolves 13-2 in the quarter. WMU cut the lead to one point on a pair of Jake Edwards 3-pointers to start the fourth, but the Warriors pulled away late to put an end to the Wolves’ undefeated run.

“Basketball was invented in Henry County, and Winfield and WACO played tough against each other,” said WACO head coach Paul Kissell after the game. “This is nothing new, and it's great that we're both kind of peaking at the same time.”

Hunter Hughes scored 12 points to lead WACO. Colton Leichty scored 11. Cody Graber and Simeon Reichenbach each had eight. Reece Oswald scored seven. Vincent Jones tallied two, and Chase Waterhouse scored one.

WMU leading scorer Cam Buffington spent much of the second half on the bench with foul trouble, but he still found a way to pace the team with 10 points. Konnor Wade had nine points on a trifecta of 3-pointers. Jake Edwards scored eight. Abram Edwards and Andrew Brown scored seven apiece.

“We gave up too many offensive rebounds and turned the ball over too much,” said WMU boys coach Klay Edwards. “It pretty much boils down to that.”

The preceding girls game tipped off less than 24 hours after WMU girls coach Mitch Wachs tallied career win No. 400. Wachs picked up No. 401 on Saturday, as the Lady Wolves led coast-to-coast.

After Saturday’s win, Wachs spoke about the milestone.

“It's just a number,” Wachs said. “It means I've been around a while, and had some great kids and a great community behind me.”

Bradie Buffington had a monster game for WMU in the win. She led the team with 17 points and 14 rebounds, eight of which were on the offensive end.

Melina Oepping finished with nine points and seven rebounds. Jobey Malone scored seven. Keetyn Townsley and Anna Anderson finished with six apiece. Carlee Sloan scored three, and both Keely Malone and Josie Nelson chipped in two.

WACO’s Ellah Kissell was held relatively quiet, but still scored 13 points on the night. Katie Liechty put in five. Grace Coble had four. Breonna Gentry had a pair, and Marie Farmer scored one.

Saturday’s games were the last scheduled games between the two old rivals. The next time they play a regular season doubleheader, it will be in a pair of North Division clashes next season.