The Mid-Prairie Golden Hawks dropped a pair of non-conference basketball contests Monday at Tim Grady Gymnasium in Wellman to the Solon Spartans from the WAMAC Conference. The Golden Hawk girls gave the No. 6 in Class 3A Spartans all they wanted in a 48-43 loss. The Hawks led 9-7 after the first period and maintained their advantage at 20-18 at half. The Spartans came out of the locker room and took the lead with a 20-11 third quarter. Mid-Prairie countered down the stretch to climb back within three, but the Spartans salted the game away late at the line. Mid-Prairie shot 35% as a team and pulled down 40 rebounds, but couldn’t overcome 22 turnovers. Amara Jones had a game high 11 points, Landry Pacha just missed a double double with nine points and nine boards. With the loss, the Hawks go into break at 5-5 on the year.

The Mid-Prairie boys couldn’t overcome the Spartan’s firepower in the nightcap, falling 75-66. Both teams started hot, with Solon leading 20-18 after one. The Spartans stretched things out in the second frame, capitalizing on Mid-Prairie giveaways to pour in 11 straight at one point and take a 43-31 lead into half. Out of the locker room, Mid-Prairie counterpunched with their own double digit run to pull within 57-53 going to the fourth. That was as close as the Hawks would get down the stretch as Solon answered each Mid-Prairie run with a key basket. The Hawks shot 52% as a team and knocked down a dozen threes, but were bested by the Spartan’s 55% clip from the floor. Mid-Prairie outrebounded Solon by seven, but had 21 turnovers to just 11 for the Spartans. Jake Benzing had 28 for Solon on 11 of 15 shooting and a perfect five of five from behind the arch. Camron Pickard led the Mid-Prairie attack with 18 points, including four threes and seven assists. Alex Bean added 12 points. The Mid-Prairie boys head into the holidays at 5-3 on the year.