Photo Courtesy of Mid-Prairie CSD Social Media

The Mid-Prairie Golden Hawk boys basketball team went blow for blow with one of the 10 best in 2A Tuesday, but came up short against No. 10 West Burlington 71-63 in overtime, in the Class 2A District 9 Championship game at Mount Pleasant. The pace was frantic all night, with the Falcons up 16-14 after one. Mid-Prairie counter punched with an 11-0 sprint in the second, highlighted by a Hudson Ehrenfelt three to beat the halftime horn, and put the Golden Hawks on top 34-25 at intermission. The Hawk’s lead would grow to 11 on a Kaden Kos basket to start the third, then the West Burlington charge began. Falcon guard Mason Watkins, the state’s leading scorer at 31 points per game, had been held to four in the first half, and put up 25 in the second stanza keying the Falcon comeback. Mid-Prairie’s lead was trimmed to 46-42 going to the fourth and another burst from West Burlington had them on top by five with less than two minutes left. The Hawks didn’t say die, led by guts and guile from senior Brady Weber, who scored 10 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, the Golden Hawks clawed back, tied the game, and got a stop to send things to OT. In the extra session, Mid-Prairie took a brief two point lead on a Bryce Henry three, but the Falcons closed on an 11-1 run after to capture the win. Following the game, Golden Hawk head coach Daren Lambert highlighted his team’s fight, character and seniors.

Lambert said, “It was a slow first quarter and then we really dug in. We wanted to be physical. Kaden (Kos) and Hudson (Ehrenfelt) had a tough matchup defensively tonight. They did a tremendous job. Their teammates helped them out too. (In the second quarter) we saw some shots go through. We didn’t turn it over as much. When you’re getting stops and limiting them to one shot per possession, then creating offense on the other end, you’re putting yourself in a good situation. (West Burlington) is a very athletic, very long team. Against them you have to rebound. There’s a couple of offensive rebounds they got tonight that were tough on us, but we battled. Just proud of the effort. I thought we weathered their success and found out way in the fourth quarter to force overtime. I’m just so proud of them. That’s the first thing I said in the locker room after the game. The toughness that they showed, not just tonight, but throughout the whole season!”

West Burlington won turnovers 20-13, and the boards by five. They were led the by All-Stater Watkins with 29 total points, one of four Falcons in double figures. Henry led the Hawks with an 18 point, 11 rebound double double. Brady Weber had 12 points. As District 9 Champs, West Burlington improves to 21-2, and will face No. 3 Grandview Christian at substate Saturday, the Thunder beat Pella Christian 55-39 Tuesday, in the District 10 title game. Mid-Prairie finishes their season 18-5 and says goodbye to six seniors, Brady Weber, Ace Peck, Conner Wiles, Landon Kos, Keegan Bauwens and Traevin Gugel.