The Mid-Prairie Golden Hawk boys and girls basketball teams take the floor Tuesday for Senior Night at Tim Grady Gymnasium in Wellman when they entertain new River Valley Conference member Alburnett. The Golden Hawk boys are 13-5 this year, 9-3 in the River Valley, after a win over Fairfield on Monday 75-28. This season, the Hawks score 61 points per game and give up 55 on 42% shooting, 32% from three and 61% at the line with 30 rebounds, 12 assists, 10 steals and 12 turnovers per game. Individually, Bryce Henry is the leader with 17 points and six rebounds per night. Brooks Weber leads at four assists and three steals per game.
Alburnett is 14-7 this year and 9-4 in the RVC after a 65-36 win over Tipton. This season the Pirates score 63 points per game and give up 50 on 44% from the floor, 36% from three and 61% at the line with 31 rebounds, 15 assists, 10 steals and 12 turnovers per game. Individually, Caiden Bueckers leads at 17 points, four assists and three steals per game. Hayden Gustafson averages five rebounds a night. This week, Golden Hawk head coach Daren Lambert talked about his team’s keys down the stretch. “Our guys want to compete. They do it in practice. When they touch the floor in the game they want to get their moment then also. It’s about effort. Playing defense, rebounding, doing the little things. You can really see how much our guys like each other and that’s great to see. Their teammates all know how hard they each work.”
Alburnett has won both previous meetings against the Golden Hawks including 60-49 in January of this year.
The Golden Hawk girls come into tonight’s contest with a 14-5 record this year and 10-2 mark in the River Valley Conference. They have been off since last week’s 52-42 win over Tipton. The Hawks are ranked No. 12 in the latest Class 3A poll from the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union. Mid-Prairie scores 58 points and gives up 40 per game, shooting 40% from the floor, 31% from three and 56% at the line with 35 rebounds, 17 assists, 16 steals and 17 turnovers per night. Individually, Morgyn Bender leads at 14 points and three steals per night. Jovi Evans has five rebounds and Katelyn Harland three assists.
The Alburnett girls are 13-7 this year, 8-5 in conference play. They lost to Tipton 50-38 last time out. This year, the Pirates score 48 per game and give up 43 on 34% shooting, 28% from three and 53% at the line with 26 rebounds, 12 steals, 10 assists and 17 turnovers per game. Kylie Cushman scores 12 points per night with three steals to lead those categories. Haylee Flannery has six boards and Miranda Neighbor three assists. This week, Golden Hawk head coach Jenny Hobbs talked about what she has seen in her team’s play recently. “We’ve started to relax on offense. Take our time. The more you pass and are patient. The more you’re going to get an open look. Trust the process. If we play defense, if we do these things we are going to win ballgames, or at least be in ballgames. I’m really proud of how we have progressed this season.”
The Hawks won at Alburnett earlier this year 69-54. It is Senior Night at Mid-Prairie. The Golden Hawks will have ceremonies honoring Katelyn Harland, Jovi Evans, Harper Pacha, Clayton Davidson, Kaden Kos, Bryce Henry, Jordan Traetow, Hudson Ehrenfelt and Cyris Christner. You can hear all of the action between the Hawks and Pirates live tonight on AM 1380, FM 102.5, the KCII2 App and KCIIradio.com, beginning with the Golden Hawk Basketball Pregame Show at 5:30p.m., Unc N Nephs Food & Brew tip of the girls game at six with the boys to follow, from Tim Grady Gynasium in Wellman.