KALONA

The Hillcrest girls basketball rebuild showed the fruits of its labor last season when they went 6-15, the most wins for the program since 2018, and this year they hope to go beyond that mark with the return of all their starters.  

While the starters return, the Ravens will have someone new at the helm with Chris Nachtigall taking over as head coach, replacing Mitchell Drey. 

“We’re going to look at two things. How are we taking care of the ball, and are we creating some turnovers on the defensive side of things?” Hillcrest girls basketball head coach Chris Nachtigall told KCII about what he wants to see out of his team as the season begins. 

This season the Hillcrest varsity roster consists of four seniors, six juniors, four sophomores, and two freshmen.

  Entering their senior season and their junior season respectively, Malia Yoder and Claire Withrow were the leading force behind Hillcrest’s offense a year ago. 

Withrow served as the Raven’s three-point threat, scoring in bunches to lead the team last year with 14.3 points per game, being named first-team all-conference. Yoder was right behind her, averaging 12.5 ppg, but also leading in steals (3.4 spg) and assists (2.6 apg). Her efforts awarded her second-team all-conference honors. 

Another newly minted senior and junior duo making their return to the Hillcrest roster is Delaney Shaw and Niva Helmuth. These two had a knack for grabbing rebounds with Shaw leading the team last season with 9.0 rpg and Niva averaging 8.3 rpg. Shaw earned a honorable mention all-conference selection

Also earning an honorable mention all-conference selection and the fifth returner starter is senior Lydia Beachy. Beachy, solid defender and an all-around player for the Ravens, averaged 3.5 rpg, 1.7 apg, and 2.9 ppg. 

Hillcrest will begin their season on the road when they take on the Moravia Mohawks on Nov. 22. Then they play their first home game of the season against the Cedar Valley Christian Huskies on Nov. 26.