The Mid-Prairie boys and girls basketball teams stepped outside of conference play Monday for a road trip to Mount Pleasant. The Golden Hawk girls rolled to a 61-32 win. Mid-Prairie was on top 19-12 after one and used a 13-3 second quarter run to take a 32-21 lead to half. The Hawks gave up just four made baskets after break, going on a 15-3 run during the entire third quarter and winning the second 16 minutes by a 29-11 total to take the win. Following the contest, Golden Hawk of the Game Tessa Bombei joined the KCII Postgame Show to talk about the win. “We knew that we were lacking a little bit on defense. We knew we really needed to lock it down and do what we know how to do to shut their players down. Tonight it was about boxing out and going after rebounds, especially on the offensive end, and putting it back up. We always talk about hustling and going after every loose ball…they’re all ours. So we just hustle and go after everything. (On offense) my teammates were finding me in the paint and I was trying to go up strong and finish everything.”

The Hawks won turnovers 22-12 and rebounding by 15. Mid-Prairie nine threes to just two for the Panthers. Morgyn Bender led the way with a game high 26 points, including five threes. Bombei and Brooklyn Schneider each added 10. Mount Pleasant got 14 points from Abby Shelangoski. Mid-Prairie is 10-5 after the win, while the Panthers drop to 3-11.

The boys game saw Mid-Prairie lead early, but the Panthers come back in the second half for a 49-42 win. Mount Pleasant was on top 13-12 after one, but the Golden Hawk defense dug in during the second period, allowing just five total points, giving the Hawks a 20-18 lead at the break. Mount Pleasant used a 13-0 third quarter burst to build a nine point lead, but Mid-Prairie battled back to tie the contest at 38 late. The Panthers closed strong, using an 11-4 run, including scoring the last seven and going nine of 10 at the line in the fourth quarter to salt away the win. Mount Pleasant won rebounding by 11 and Mid-Prairie took turnovers 12-9. The Panthers were led by 13 points from Isaiah Lange and 10 for Aiden Humble. Mid-Prairie got a game high 17 from Bryce Henry. The Hawks are 9-5 with the loss while Mount Pleasant improves to 6-7.