The No. 13 ranked Mid-Prairie Golden Hawk girls basketball team came up just short in their comeback attempt Friday night at Tim Grady Gymnasium in Wellman falling to the No. 4 West Branch Bears 53-49.

In a game heard on KCII, both teams came out hot offensively, leaving the game tied at 14 at the end of the first quarter. In the second frame West Branch turned up the defense, holding Mid-Prairie to one field goal in the quarter and going on a 9-2 run that lasted the entire period to take a 23-16 lead into the halftime break. In the second half the offenses returned for both sides with the Bears outscoring the Golden Hawks 19-15 in the quarter and building a lead as large as 11. Midway through the fourth Mid-Prairie began their comeback behind Ali Butters and Alex Rath, who combined for 15 points in the final quarter. Mid-Prairie would get as close as two with 20 seconds left but Allyson Simpson knocked down free throws to clinch the win for the Bears.

Ali Butters led Mid-Prairie with a game high 20 points, Alex Rath added 11, and Addison Rath had 11 points. With the loss Mid-Prairie falls to 7-4 overall and 7-3 in conference play. The Golden Hawks travel to Bellevue Saturday afternoon.