Both Mid-Prairie boys and girls basketball teams finished the season with winning records, we’ll take a deep dive into the numbers to find out how they found success this year.
The Golden Hawk girls split their first 10 games of the season, playing one of the toughest schedules in the state and falling in many close contests to ranked teams. Coming out of Christmas 5-5, Mid-Prairie heated up, winning 10 straight, including a victory at No. 13 West Liberty to vault themselves back into the River Valley Conference chase. The Golden Hawks scored a first round playoff win over Prairie City Monroe before being eliminated by state qualifier Vinton-Shellsburg.
The Golden Hawks shot 38% from the floor, 28% from long range and 62% at the line. They were ninth in Class 3A with 12.7 steals per game and 10th with 35.3 boards per night. They scored 1252 points, and finished with 282 assists.
Four Hawks were named all-River Valley Conference. Senior Amara Jones was a unanimous first team All-RVC selection. Jones led the Hawks with 101 assists, 10th most in Class 3A and 96 steals, fifth most in the state. Her 240 points were best on the team and ninth in the River Valley. She also added 92 rebounds, shot 37% from the floor, 32% from three and 81% at the line, seventh in 3A.
Mid-Prairie had a pair of second teamers including senior Landry Pacha and junior Nora Pennington. Pacha led the Golden Hawks with 167 rebounds, third most in the RVC. Senior Kylie Reinier was honorable mention.
The Golden Hawks ended their season 9-3 in conference, third place in the RVC south, with a 16-7 overall record.
The Mid-Prairie boys started the year with momentum, winning their first three and five of their first seven, entering Christmas 5-3. After a rough stretch late in the season that saw them drop four straight, they rebounded with an overtime win against Fairfield in the regular season finale, before a first round playoff win against West Liberty and were ousted in the district semifinals by River Valley south division champion Wilton.
The Golden Hawks shot 39% from the floor, 31% from three and 72% at their line. Their mark at the stripe, led the RVC, was third in Class 2A and set a new school record. They scored 1407 total points with 702 rebounds, 285 assists and 201 steals.
Three Hawks were named All-River Valley. Senior guard Camron Pickard was a first team All-RVC selection. He led the Golden Hawks with 364 points this season, fifth most in the River Valley. Pickard shot 40% from the floor, 35% from downtown, hitting 52 threes, fourth in the RVC. His 82 assists were also best on the team and fourth in the league. He added 44 steals, sixth in conference, and 58 rebounds.
Senior forward Alex Bean was a second team River Valley pick. Bean led the Hawks with 124 rebounds, seventh most in the conference and 45 steals, fifth most. His 85% average at the line was ninth best in Class 2A with his 80 made free throws ranking fourth in the RVC. He ended with 66 assists, eighth in the league.
Junior forward Dylan Henry was an honorable mention River Valley selection.
Mid-Prairie went 12-11 overall, 6-6 in the River Valley, finishing in fourth place.