The Mid-Prairie Golden Hawk boys and girls basketball teams are back on the floor tonight against West Branch in a River Valley Conference twin-bill. The Mid-Prairie boys are 10-2 on the year, 5-1 in the River Valley Conference after a 78-42 win at Tipton Friday where five Hawks got to double figures led by 19 points for Ace Peck. This year, Mid-Prairie scores 67 points per game and gives up 51, shooting 45% from the floor, 36% from three and 72% at the line with 32 rebounds, 13 assists, eight steals and 13 turnovers per game. Individually, Bryce Henry leads at 24 points per game, Conner Wiles has five boards and Brady Weber four assists and two steals per night.
West Branch is 5-8 overall, 4-3 in conference after a 66-36 win over Durant Friday where Jayden Harris poured in 27 points. This year, the Bears score 56 points per game and give up 57, shooting 42% from the floor, 27% from three and 56% at the line with 28 rebounds, nine assists, six steals and 12 turnovers per game. Individually, Harris is the leader with 20 points and two steals per game. Brandon Pickett has six boards per night and Brennen Dale four assists. Golden Hawk head boys basketball coach Daren Lambert joined the KCII postgame show Friday at Tipton to talk about his team’s recent play and give a look at the Bears.
Lambert said, “We defended, rebounded and ran in transition. That’s the mantra that they hear a lot, but when they execute it, we can be very effective. I really think that the defensive intensity carries over and creates easy opportunities for the offense. Tonight, when we had the ball we did a great job of getting to the rim and finishing. We have to take care of the task at hand every night and I’m proud of the response of our guys.
West Branch has won four of the last five, but the Hawks got the road win 63-46 in December.
The Mid-Prairie girls are 9-3 this year, 5-1 in the RVC after a 60-50 comeback win at Tipton Friday, led by Brylee Gearhart’s 12 points. This season, the Hawks score 61 per night and give up 47, shooting 40% from the field, 30% from three and 66% at the line with 37 rebounds, 17 steals, 16 assists and 19 turnovers per game. Individually, Callie Huber has 12 points and nine boards per night, Katelyn Harland three assists and Jeorgia Evans four steals.
The Bears are 2-11 on the year and winless in conference after dropping a 45-40 game to Durant Friday, despite 19 points from Kennedy Simpson. This season, West Branch averages 33 points per game and gives up 49, shooting 26% from the floor, 18% from three and 46% at the line. They put up 37 rebounds, eight steals, seven assists and 27 turnovers per game. Individually, Simpson leads at 11 points per game, Ava Burnett averages seven boards and two steals and Addi Schultes two assists. Golden Hawk head girls coach Danny Hershberger joined Saturday’s KCII Radio Coaches Corner to talk about his team’s win at Tipton and look ahead to the Bears.
Hershberger said, “(At Tipton late) We were able to be more patient and get the ball inside. Defensively, we were able to get some steals and forced four or five turnovers in a row. Brylee (Gearhart) and Callie (Huber) have the most experience out there. When we need a basket, that’s who we are looking to. They stepped up at Tipton. We feel like we still have an opportunity in conference if we take care of business over the next few weeks and that starts with West Branch. You know it’s going to be a physical game, they’re going to put a lot of pressure on you with their defense and try to force turnovers. Force you to speed up, and you have to be able to be strong with the ball.”
The Hawks have won five in a row against West Branch including a 55-23 road win in December. You can hear all of the action live tonight from Tim Grady Gymnasium in Wellman on AM 1380, FM 102.5, the KCII2 App and KCIIradio.com, beginning with the Golden Hawk Basketball Pregame Show at 5:30, Unc N Nephs Food & Brew tip of the girls game at six with the boys to follow.