KALONA

The gym at Hillcrest Union was packed on the night of December 21.

Sure, a boys basketball game between Southeast Iowa Super Conference rivals Hillcrest Academy and Highland High School always draws a big crowd.

But for Hillcrest, this was party night. It was Alumni Night. A gathering of nearly 2,000 were there to celebrate longtime basketball coach Dwight Gingerich’s history-making 700^th win that came 10 nights earlier and celebrate an expected easy 702^nd win against winless Highland.

The 47-40 win didn’t come so easily for the Ravens.

“We played with heart and determination,” Gingerich said, “which allowed us to overcome too many turnovers and Highland offensive boards.”

The intensity of the night motivated the Huskies, who lost their seventh straight game.

“I really felt that our kids were ready to play,” Highland head coach Bill Zywiec said. “I told them before the game it was going to be a great atmosphere for a basketball game. I always enjoy coaching against Coach Gingerich and his teams. I can’t fault our effort. Everyone played hard.”

The final seconds of the third quarter showed exactly what the Ravens (6-1) faced.

After missing a shot, the Huskies got the rebound. Then, again and again and again and again.

A basket off an offensive rebound pulled Highland within six points, 31-25, at the end of the quarter.

Highland senior guard Connor Grinstead had a game-high 5 rebounds with probably three of them coming on that one play. The Huskies outrebounded the Ravens by 10.

“We were concerned going into the game with Highland’s physicality on the boards and that proved to be an issue as they several times had multiple opportunities,” Gingerich said. “When we rebounded well, it really helped us. Their physicality also affected us when we were on offense in that we were not as strong with the ball as we needed to be. We turned it over, which led directly to points for them.”

Hillcrest junior forward Grant Bender scored a game-high 23 points, topping 20 points for the fourth consecutive game, but the Ravens had to fight off a Highland comeback that trimmed the Ravens’ lead to three points early in the final quarter.

After Highland’s Kaige Vonnahme hit a 3-pointer in the first minute of the fourth quarter and Devin Lovetinsky hit a free throw to cut Hillcrest’s lead to 31-29, the battle turned into an end-to-end showdown. Hillcrest freshman Seth Ours hit a couple of 3-pointers down the stretch. A basket by Ours with 2:05 remaining in the game put the Ravens back in front by 10, 43-33.

“We were able to get it down to two, but lost sight of Ours twice late in the game and he was able to hit two big 3s,” Zywiec said.

Ours hit a game-high four 3-pointers and wound up with a career-high 16 points. His performance helped the Ravens overcome injuries to senior point guard Noah Miller and junior guard Jace Rempel.

“We had everyone step up and make big plays at key times to pull ahead and then hold off Highland for the win,” said Gingerich.

Ours and Josiah Beachy each had four rebounds for the Ravens, who have won six straight following a season-opening loss to Mediapolis.

The Ravens (7-0, 5-1 SEISC North, second place) play at Lone Tree (2-6, 2-4) next Tuesday.

Highland senior forward Chase Schultz scored a team-high 12 points and had four rebounds despite fouling out. Grinstead and Trevor McFarland each scored 9 points.

The Huskies (0-7, 0-6) go after their first win next Tuesday in a home game against Pekin (2-6, 2-4).

“We will use this break to continue working on the areas that we need to improve on,” Zywiec said. “I truly feel this team is close to putting it all together.”