For the second game in a row the #4 Mid-Prairie girls basketball team got out to a slow start, this time against Clear Creek Amana Thursday night in Wellman. Unlike Tuesday night against Wilton, Mid-Prairie could not rally in time, falling to the Clippers 51-44. Offense was a struggle all night for both teams as they couldn’t handle the opposing pressure and traps. Mid-Prairie trailed 8-5 after the first quarter and 20-16 at the break despite the offensive struggles. Coach Marc Pennington talked after the game about his team’s search for an offensive flow and half time adjustments.

“Very minimal did we run an offense, we were very pass chuck, take the first shot we get and like I told the kids at halftime, just because we’re open doesn’t mean it’s a good shot,” Pennington said. “All that being said we were only down four felt pretty fortunate with that, but in the second half the first three or four possessions we came out and like I told the kids they didn’t listen to me in half time and weren’t in the lockerroom because there wasn’t a whole lot to talk about after the second half. You know we’ll flush it and move on, we’re not going to dwell on it.”

In the second half it was more of the same for Mid-Prairie, the Golden Hawks posted just eight points in the 3rd while the Clippers got on track behind all conference center Maliah Fligg who would end the night with a game high 20 points. In the final frame Mid-Prairie trailed by as many as 16 before posting a frantic comeback that cut the lead to seven with possession and 90 seconds remaining. After a missed jumper Fligg went to the other end and hit a pair of free throws that iced the game. Mid-Prairie was led by Mallory McArtor’s 17 points, Mariah Swartzentruber had 12. With the loss Mid-Prairie falls to 7-3 on the year and is back in action tonight on KCIIradio.com with pregame at 5:30 and tipoff at 6 as they host the West Branch Bears.