The Mid-Prairie Golden Hawk girls basketball team opens the 2015-16 season tonight at home with non-conference tilt against Fairfield.

The Golden Hawks are coming off of a 15-8 campaign a year ago. Mid-Prairie finished the season in the regional semifinals of the class 3A tournament, falling to Benton Community 49-48. The Golden Hawks return three of their top five leading scorers from a year ago, led by Alex Rath at eight points per game, which was third on last year’s squad. The Golden Hawks were on the floor for the first time this year last Thursday when they battled Highland in the Mid-Prairie jamboree. The Golden Hawks took the scrimmage by a 28-20 final score.

The Fairfield Lady Trojans enter tonight’s contest ranked No. 5 in class 4A. Fairfield was 17-6 a season ago, ending their year in the Class 4A regional semifinal, falling to Carlisle 69-50. The Lady Trojans were champions of the Southeast Conference with their 7-1 mark in league play. Fairfield is primed for a big season this year, they did not graduate any of the members from the conference championship team a season ago.  The Lady Trojans return three players who averaged double figures a year ago, led by junior Sami Fritz at 14 points per game. Sophomore Amber Nicole Buch posted 13 points per game a year ago and Senior Mackenzie Flattery was at 10 per game last year. Last year the Lady Trojans beat the Golden Hawks in Fairfield by a 58-45 final score.

You can hear all of the action tonight, live from Tim Grady Gymnasium in Wellman with pregame scheduled for 7PM and tipoff between the Golden Hawks and Lady Trojans set for 7:30. The one to count on for today’s local sports coverage is AM and FM KCII.