It was a big season of firsts in a while for the Mid-Prairie boys basketball team this winter. The Golden Hawks started River Valley Conference play 5-0, posting just their second five game winning streak since 2010. During that run to open the year they beat Tipton, who they had knocked off just once in their last eight tries, got their first win in program history over Northeast Goose Lake and halted a 22 game, 11 year losing streak to rival Iowa City Regina.

The Golden Hawks would go on to sweep the season series from Regina, Tipton, Durant, West Liberty and Wilton, beat Cascade for the first time ever and post 15 wins, their first winning season and highest total since 2010.

The Golden Hawks finished second in the RVC south standings but led the division with 1,302 points scored, 698 rebounds, 311 assists and a 65% team free throw percentage. They shot 42% from the floor, third in the RVC south, and 30% from beyond the arc second in the south.

Offensively, Carter Harmsen led the way for the Golden Hawks, the elite all-conference, all-substate and all-state selection led the RVC south and finished in the top 15 in 2A with 421 points scored. He was best on the team and second in the RVC with 159 boards. Jack Pennington and Will Cavanagh went 1-2 in the assist column for the Hawks and the River Valley with Pennington at 102 and Cavanagh 65. Pennington’s 45 steals were second in the south. Pennington was an all-RVC south division selection with Cavanagh an honorable mention pick. Senior Aidan Rath was also an-south division pick and was named all-substate.

The Golden Hawks finished 15-8 and advanced to the district championship game before being eliminated by eventual state qualifier Camanche. The Golden Hawks say goodbye to seniors Rath, Luke Boyse and Keagan Brady.