Wolves draw Lynx for first-round matchup

DES MOINES — The Winfield-Mount Union girls basketball team is off to Des Moines on Wednesday, as the Wolves take their shot at the Class 1A state tournament.

The eight-ranked Wolves earned their spot with a thrilling 52-47 win over No. 13 North Mahaska in Thursday’s regional final. WMU knocked out Holy Trinity 56-42 in the quarterfinals and Notre Dame 57-54 in the semis.

WMU brings an all-senior starting lineup to the state tournament. Included in the starting five is a tough frontcourt that has led the team in scoring all season.

Bradie Buffington and Melina Oepping are both everyday threats for a double-double. Buffington averages 14.2 points per game and 8.2 rebounds per game, and also leads the team with 2.3 blocked shots per game. Oepping scores 13 points per game and brings down 8.9 rebounds per contest.

Oepping’s numbers were helped out by a fantastic showing in Thursday’s regional final. She scored 24 points to lead the Wolves to victory.

Keetyn Townsley is up to 9.8 points per game after scoring 11 points against North Mahaska. She also leads the team with 3.6 steals per game.

Keely Malone enters the state tournament scoring 8.8 points per game, and leading the team in assists, with 4.7 per game. Anna Anderson scored 4.1 points per game. Josie Nelson scores 3.7, and Mariana Hagmeier scores 2.3.

The Wolves take on a North Linn team that breezed through its regional, including a 69-40 win over Montezuma in the finals. To get to the regional final, North Linn smashed Iowa Valley 57-22, and Calamus-Wheatland 68-17.

North Linn’s Kamryn Kurt leads the team with 17.1 points per game. The junior does it all for the Lynx, also pacing the squad with 4.4 assists per game and 4.0 steals per game.

Macy and Molly Boge also score in double digits for the Lynx. Macy Boge scores 12.5 points per game and averages 3.9 steals per game. Molly Boge scores 11.6 points per game, and averages 3.6 steals.

The top senior on the North Linn squad is Ellie Flanagan, who puts up 8.8 points per game and has also brought down 4.7 rebounds per contest. Fellow senior Elise Ware scores 6.8 points per game.

As a team, the Lynx have been phenomenal from the 3-point arch, making 207 3-pointers this season, compared to WMU’s 97. The Wolves do a lot of their work on the inside, and have been cleaning up the glass. WMU averages 31.8 rebounds per game, compared to North Linn’s 26.6.

The Wolves and Lynx will play in the final game of the Class 1A first round, which begins on Wednesday when top-seeded and defending champion Bishop Garrigan takes on Martensdale-St. Mary’s. Fourth-seeded Remsen St. Mary’s and fifth-seeded West Fork will play in the next game, at 3:15 p.m.

Newell-Fonda and Woodbine will be the next two teams up, as the second-seeded Mustangs look to avoid an upset at the hands of the Tigers. The winner of the game will take on the winner of the North Linn-WMU contest on Friday.

The two semifinal winners will meet on Saturday at 7 p.m., as the Class 1A state championship takes place.