The Mid-Prairie Golden Hawk boys and girls basketball teams traveled to Wilton Tuesday for a River Valley Conference doubleheader and returned with a split. The Golden Hawk girls fell in the opener 43-38. Mid-Prairie got off to a tremendous start, opening the game on a 10-0 run, only to see Wilton answer with a 14-3 run, to take a 14-13 lead in the second quarter. The second frame belonged to the defenses, with each team scoring four to leave Mid-Prairie on top 17-15 at half. While the Golden Hawk defense kept them in the game, the offense struggled, going scoreless for more than five minutes and more than 12 minutes with just one field goal in a stretch of the second and third periods as Wilton took a 27-20 lead. Late in the third, Mid-Prairie got on track as Myah Lugar knocked down the first of four consecutive three point goals to get the Hawks within 27-23. After Lugar’s barrage from downtown, Mid-Prairie had scored 15 straight to take a 35-27 lead with five minutes left. Wilton had the last run of the night, erasing the Golden Hawk lead as they closed the game on a 16-3 sprint to secure the win. Ella Caffrey led Wilton with 17 points and 15 rebounds. Maddie Nonnenmann led the Hawks with 16 points, Myah Lugar added 13. With the loss, Mid-Prairie is now 9-9 on the year, Wilton climbs to 10-8.
In the boys game, Mid-Prairie completed a season sweep of the Beavers 61-50. The Hawks had a 9-0 run in the first quarter to build a small cushion and methodically pulled away from there, leading 16-12 after the first eight minutes and 29-22 at half. Mid-Prairie put more distance between themselves and the Beavers winning the third quarter 19-12 and building an 18 point lead at it’s largest of the night. After the game, Mid-Prairie head coach Daren Lambert talked about the bounce back win. “We have had success against them in the past with pressure defense and getting out to a quick start, so we came out with that focus tonight. We also had great patience in getting the ball inside and getting to the rim. Alex Bean had a great night, along with his points we had him for five assists and he’s added that to his game. When teams have to close out on him for the three ball he’s doing a great job of finding teammates. Ethan Kos, Aidan Rath and Carter Harmsen had a great night defensively on Kirkman. He averages a double double and that group played well against him overall. I’m proud of their effort on that end of the floor.”
The Golden Hawks forced 10 Wilton turnovers and outrebounded the Beavers by seven. Carter Harmsen had 19 points. Ethan Kos added 16. Mid-Prairie is now 10-6 as Wilton falls to 7-11.