Mid-Prairie grabbed some much needed momentum and a conference road win to close out the regular season Thursday night in West Liberty 57-52 in overtime. The Golden Hawks got out to a great start, beginning the game on a 12-3 run including eight points from Elliot Runciman in the first four minutes. Mid-Prairie led throughout the first half by as many as 13 before taking a 31-21 lead into the halftime break.

After the half West Liberty came out on a 10-2 run to get back in it. The Comets would cut the lead to one a half dozen times and tie the game twice but Mid-Prairie never gave up the lead in regulation. With under one minute to play West Liberty’s Tyler Newsom knocked down a corner three to tie the game and Mid-Prairie’s two chances to win the game fell off the rim sending the contest to overtime. In the extra frame West Liberty earned their first lead which Mid-Prairie promptly took back. Runciman was key down the stretch hitting four pressure free throws in a row and Nathan Faselt stepped up with a key defensive stop to secure the victory. After the game Head Coach Chris Kern spoke about his team’s effort

“I was just real proud of our guys tonight with the way they came back after the loss against Washington, everyone gave an extremely good effort tonight, especially coming off our bench, Nick Stimson coming off playing really well, Wyatt Cady, Christian Johnson, Nathan Faselt,” Kern said. “Nathan plays quite a bit consider him a starter, him and Stimson both, it was a good win, a lot of adversity and the kids toughed it out in the overtime.”

The Hawks were led by 12 from Runciman and 10 from Dayton Hall. Mid-Prairie ends the regular season at 9-12, 6-8 in the Cedar Valley Conference and will next be in action in the first round of district play Monday night in Iowa City against Regina. You can hear that game live on AM and FM KCII with pregame at 6:30 and tipoff at 7PM.