The Mid-Prairie Golden Hawk boys and girls basketball teams traveled to West Branch Friday for a River Valley doubleheader with the Bears. The girls snapped a 10-game losing streak to West Branch with a 37-29 victory. The Bears scored the first basket on the night, but the Hawks ran in 10-in-a-row to lead by eight after the first eight minutes. West Branch would take the second quarter 12-7, leaving the Hawks with a three point lead at intermission, 17-14. Mid-Prairie won the third quarter by six and that was enough of a cushion to hold off the Bears run down the stretch. After the game, Golden Hawk head coach Danny Hershberger talked about his team’s standouts. “Our teams composure was excellent tonight. Being poised, staying strong with the basketball. It was a great defensive effort from our team tonight. Amara Jones was all over the court. She’s so smart in what the other team is trying to do. It sets the tone for us. Landry Pacha was excellent in the post. She did a great job of driving, getting layups, tough baskets and rebounding. Nora Pennington was really good defensively as well getting steals. I’m really proud of our effort tonight.”
In the physical game, Amara Jones ahd a rare and impressive double double with 10 points and 10 steals. Mid-Prairie had 21 team steals and 27 total rebounds and managed the road win despite shooting just 28% overall and one of 15 from three. The win snaps a three game losing streak overall and helps the Hawks to 3-4, the Bears remain winless at 0-3.
West Branch got a measure of revenge in the boys contest with a 64-56 win over the Hawks. The game was tied at 18 after one and 29 at half. The second half featured more hot shooting from the Bears as they won the third quarter 16-13 and put up 19 more in the final period as they put Mid-Prairie away at the line. After the game, head coach Daren Lambert talked about what he saw as the difference and his individual difference-makers. “We have to be a little tougher at both ends of the floor, both physically and mentally. You learn a lot more through adversity than when things are easy so, tonight was one of those nights where you took one on the chin, but it’s early and we know we get to see them again so we just have to go back to work and prepare. We know it’s not going to be easy in this conference. (Camron Pickard) really controlled the game. He hit some big shots when we needed them. He’s our leader. We have a few of them. They put in a lot of time. It’s expected of him and he expects it of himself.”
Camron Pickard led the Hawks with a career high 23 points and Alex Bean just missed a double double with 14 points and nine boards. The Golden Hawks shot 41% and won the glass by nine, but shot just two of 11 from deep and couldn’t overcome the Bears 51% clip with six threes and 15 turnovers of their own. The loss is the first of the year for Mid-Prairie and drops them to 3-1, the win is the first for the Bears, they are 1-3.