The Mid-Prairie Golden Hawk boys and girls basketball teams travel north to start the River Valley Conference slate Friday when they meet the Camanche Storm. The No. 13 in Class 3A Golden Hawk girls opened the season Monday by blasting the Benton Bobcats in Wellman 57-33. Mid-Prairie led 15-12 after one and outscored Benton 30-10 in the second and third quarters combined to pull away for the win. The Hawks shot 48% from the floor with 43 rebounds, 15 assists, 11 steals and 16 turnovers. They were led individually by a 10 point and 10 rebound double double from Jovi Evans with 11 points from Tessa Bombei and 10 each for Morgyn Bender and Jeorgia Evans.

The Camanche girls are 0-2 with a 45-38 loss to Tipton and 69-27 setback against Clinton. The Storm score 33 points per game and give up 57 with a 35% shooting percentage, 26% from deep and 37% at the line with 31 rebounds, seven assists, seven steals and 30 turnovers per game. Individually, Evalyn Vogel leads with 11 points and four steals per night. Calie Waltz averages 10 rebounds and Braylee Hermann four assists per game. Mid-Prairie has won the last four in the series including a 60-58 victory a year ago.

The Golden Hawk boys are also 1-0 after a win in Wellman over Benton Monday night 69-40. The Hawks shot 61% from the floor and 50% from three, knocking down eight long balls. Mid-Prairie won the glass 27-22, had 11 assists, 11 steals and forced 15 Bobcat turnovers. Twelve Hawks scored with four in double figures, led by 13 points for Hudson Ehrenfelt, Bryce Henry went double double with 11 points and 10 boards, Brooks Weber added 11 points and Carson Humphrey 10.

This is the season-opener for the Storm boys who were 3-19 overall a year ago, 2-13, last in the River Valley North. Camanche scored 54 points per game, giving up 70 on 37% shooting, 29% from three and 60% at the line with 33 rebounds, 13 assists, six steals and 15 turnovers per night. They’ll have to replace their top four players by the numbers Cameron Dorsey, Tyson Seeser, Ian Witt and Tyler Hoerschelmann who combined a year ago for 42 points, 17 rebounds, nine assists, and five steals per game. Top returner is Jackson Lynch at five points, five rebounds, a steal and an assist per game. The Golden Hawk boys have won three straight in this series including a 90-54 victory in Wellman a year ago. Action gets underway tonight with the varsity girls game at 6:15p.m. And the boys to follow from Camanche High School.