Hull Iowa — Western Christian hosted Bishop Heelan Saturday afternoon in a basketball doubleheader. In a matchup of state ranked teams in the girls game Heelan ranked number 3 in the 3A poll downed Western 57-43. The Wolfpack are the 7th ranked team in Class 2A. The boys contest went to the Wolfpack 56-45.
The girls game was tight for the first three quarters as Heelan held a 13-12 first quarter lead and were up 28-21 at the half. At the end of the third quarter the lead was still at seven points, 39-32. Heelan was able to take control in the fourth quarter as they went on to win 57-43.
Madison Vis tied for game high honors with Katelyn Stanley of the Crusaders as both connected for 13 points in the contest. Katie Cooke and Ella Skinner who is headed for Division 2 Wayne State both hit for 12 points.
With the win Heelan improves to 13-3 on the year while Western stands at 12-6 on the season.
In the boys game it was scoreless for the first four minutes plus before the offenses got going. When they did the Wolfpack took an 11-9 lead at the end of the first quarter. At halftime the lead was 25-22. The third quarter ended with Western in front 39-35. Up to that point there had been a number of lead changes. With time winding down the Wolfpack used a pair of free throws from Tate Winterfeld along with an and-one from Ty Van Essen that went with another pair of Van Essen free throws to put the game away. Western would get the win 56-45.
Van Essen had 17 points to lead all scorers. He was joined in double figures by Eli Van Essen who pumped in a dozen. Heelan had two players in double figures as Cole Hogue and Nick Miller scored 10 points each.
Western improves to 13-3 with the win while Heelan drops to 5-10. Up next for the Wolfpack will be a Tuesday non conference double header as they welcome Tea South Dakota to the Gym in Hull. You can hear the broadcast on KIWA FM 105.3 with pregame at 6:05. Opening tip for the girls will be at 6:15 with the boys game to follow.
