The Mid-Prairie Golden Hawk boys and girls basketball teams get the second half of their season started with a measuring stick Saturday Showcase doubleheader at Solon on KCII.
The Golden Hawk girls come into play with a 5-1 overall record and perfect 3-0 mark in the River Valley Conference after a 63-25 win over Durant before Christmas. The Hawks are ranked No. 12 in the latest Class 3A poll from the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union. This season, Mid-Prairie scores 60 points per game, shooting 43% from the floor, 29% from three and 56% at the line with 36 rebounds, 20 steals, 16 assists and 18 turnovers per game. Individually, Morgyn Bender leads at 13 points per game, Jovi Evans has six boards and four steals per night, and Katelyn Harland four assists per game.
Solon is 4-2 this year and 3-2 in the WAMAC after a 53-43 win over #14 Center Point Urbana. The Lady Spartans are ranked No. 10 in the latest Class 4A poll from the IGHSAU. Solon scores 49 points per game, shooting 34% from the floor, 26% from three and 59% at the line with 32 rebounds, 12 steals, 10 assists and 17 turnovers per game. Individually, Tenley Levin averages 15 points, eight rebounds and two assists per game. Delainey Durr has three steals per night. Solon has won 50 of the last 59 over Mid-Prairie, including the last five and a 79-58 win a year ago. Mid-Prairie head coach Jenny Hobbs talked with KCII Sports about the keys for the Hawks. “Most of our kids can score from anywhere. They can get to the rim, they can shoot a three, they can pull up and hit a jumper. I just love how balanced and uniquely skilled our team is on both ends of the floor. I think that’s going to serve us well in the second half of the season.”
The Golden Hawk boys are unbeaten at 5-0 on the year, and 3-0 in the RVC after a 58-53 win over Durant. The Hawks score 62 points per game, shooting 44% from the floor, 32% from three and 65% at the line with 33 rebounds, 11 assists, nine steals and 15 turnovers per game. Individually, Bryce Henry leads at 15 points and nine boards per night. Brooks Weber puts up four assists and three steals per game.
Solon is also unbeaten at 7-0 overall, 5-0 in the WAMAC after escaping Center Point-Urbana with a 59-56 win. This season, Solon scores 67 points per game, shooting 48% from the floor, 29% at the three and 72% from the line with 29 rebounds, 14 assists, 12 steals and 14 turnovers per game. Individually it’s Tate McCollum with 21 points per night, Kaden Hoeper averages four rebounds per game and Maddox Kelley with four assists and four steals per night. Golden Hawk head coach Daren Lambert talked about his what his team needs to beat the Spartans. “Going into break undefeated is good, but we have work to do. Our guys have higher expectations for themselves. We can’t let the offensive end dictate how the other aspects of the game go. We’re setting ourselves up for the second half of the year with a tough road ahead.”
The Hawks were a 61-57 winner in this matchup a year ago. You can hear all of the action live today on AM 1380, FM 102.5, the KCII2 App and KCIIradio.com, beginning with the Golden Hawk Basketball Pregame Show at 2:30p.m., Unc N Nephs Food & Brew opening tip of the girls game at 3p.m. With the boys to follow, live from Spartan Gym.