It was a clean sweep Tuesday for the Mid-Prairie boys and girls basketball teams in a pair of important River Valley Conference contests with the Wilton Beavers. In a doubleheader heard on AM and FM KCII, the Golden Hawk girls got the night started with a 43-38 victory. Wilton got the first bucket, but the Hawks put together a 9-0 run to grab an early seven point lead they would not give up the rest of the night. The Hawks were up 15-6 after the first and 19-14 at half as they navigated early foul trouble. Wilton pulled closer in the third, leaving the score at 29-25 going to the final frame where the Hawks held off the Beavers to secure the win. After the game, Golden Hawk head coach Danny Hershberger talked about the contributions and the victory. “We really wanted to focus on defense over break and the girls bought in. Every time they scored a basket or two we were able to answer and extend the lead back. Cana Rediger and Amara Jones stepped up tonight and hit some big shots for us. Girls took turns stepping up and making big plays. We’ve struggled in the past against teams that are so physical. We have been close to getting wins against these quality teams but the games just haven’t gone on our way. That’s what I’m most proud of tonight and I told the girls after the game I liked how we stuck with it and pulled it out tonight.”
The Golden Hawk defensive effort was tremendous. They forced Wilton into 20 turnovers, eight more than their top 10 in the state average. They held the Beavers 30 points below their season average that’s also top 10 in the state. Amara Jones led the Hawks with 13 points, Cana Rediger had nine on three second half threes. Mid-Prairie is now 5-3 overall and in conference.
The boys contest featured a battle for first place in the River Valley South with Mid-Prairie entering the night 7-0 and Wilton 7-1. The Golden Hawks jumped out to an early lead and withstood a late Wilton run to take it 62-51. The Hawks led 15-9 after the first and 27-21 at half. Mid-Prairie’s defensive effort held down Wilton center Caden Kirkman. Even without starting center Ethan Kos due to an ankle injury, the Mid-Prairie front line made things tough on the likely all-stater, allowing just one first half field goal.
After the break the Golden Hawk lead grew to 20 on an 11-0 run that included an Alex Bean buzzer beating three pointer. In the fourth quarter, the Beavers did not go quietly, the started the frame with a 14-0 run to pull within six, and hit that mark twice but Mid-Prairie went four of four at the line down the stretch and found enough defense to close the game. After the contest, Golden Hawk head coach Daren Lambert talked about Mid-Prairie’s defense, the team leadership through adversity and being in first place. “Defensively and leadership-wise, Ethan (Kos) not being there was going to be something that we missed. Guys stepped up tonight Shawn (Dodds), Justice (Jones), even Carter (Harmsen) went into the post. When you face adversity you just have to find a way and that’s what we did tonight. Carter (Harmsen) is always going to be a guy that can get you a bucket. He’s a physical presence and he had Kirkman on him tonight. Alex (Bean) continues to evolve because he has gotten physical, has put in time in the weight room and can play through contact. Our guys have done it in every sport they have played. They have been through a lot of situations and they are competitors. Just seeing them hold each other accountable, they expect it of themselves.”
This is the first time the Golden Hawks have started 8-0 since the 1990-91 season. The Mid-Prairie boys and girls are back on the floor Friday against West Branch.