The Golden Hawks worked hard on both ends of the court to build a 28-13 lead over Wilton early in the third quarter on Tuesday.

Then, in a flash, it was gone. 

Sixteen straight points put the Beavers up by one, but the Golden Hawks would not panic. 

A steal by Mid-Prairie senior Amara Jones led to a 3-point play for junior Nora Pennington, which ensured that Wilton’s only lead of the game did not last for long. 

Senior Josie Greiner hit a pair of 3-pointers as the Golden Hawks scored 10 of the next 12 points on the way to a 48-39 victory over Wilton. 

“We talk about responding all the time,” Mid-Prairie coach Danny Hershberger said. “ You know things aren’t always going to go your way in a basketball game, and it’s usually whichever team that can find a way to make something positive happen after that is the team that’s going to come out on top.”

Jones stuffed the stat sheet with nine points, six rebounds, five steals, four assists and even a blocked shot. She also went 5-for-6 at the free throw line. 

“Just our veteran players stepping up and staring adversity in the face and overcoming it, was huge for us tonight,” Hershberger said. 

Mid-Prairie was locked in defensively from the opening tip, but led just 4-2 midway through the first quarter when Greiner hit back-to-back 3-pointers to put the Golden Hawks up 10-4.

She scored all of her team-high 12 points from beyond the arc. 

“Just a great job by her of hitting some early threes, and then when she wasn’t shooting it great, to stick with it and come through and hit some more at the end,” Hershberger said. 

The Beavers closed the gap to 40-37 with five straight points late in the fourth quarter, but Landry Pacha went 5-of-6 at the free throw line down the stretch as the Golden Hawks pulled away. 

She finished with 11 points, four assists, and five rebounds, including a big offensive rebound in a 43-39 game that led to free throws. 

“Landry is just that rock for us,” Hershberger said. “She’s a competitor and she’s going to do what it takes to win the game. She did a great job battling against some bigger players tonight and did an excellent job of converting at the free throw line in the fourth quarter to extend our lead there.

Pennington was 5-of-7 at the free throw line and finished with nine points and four steals. Kylie Reinier had four points, eight rebounds and four steals. Callie Huber made her only attempt of the game, finishing with three points and five rebounds. 

The Golden Hawks (5-5) have a 5-1 record against unranked teams heading into the winter break, and played well in a 47-46 loss to 2A. No. 7 Regina. Mid-Prairie also had a 31-28 halftime lead over 3A No. 13 West Liberty and a 20-18 haltime lead over 3A No. 6 Solon before losing each game by five points. 

Mid-Prairie 66, Durant 22

Leading just 10-8 after eight minutes, the Golden Hawks outscored the Wildcats 29-4 in the second quarter of a blowout victory in Durant on Friday. 

Mid-Prairie had five players with at least nine points in the win, including Jones, who finished with 12 points, eight assists and five steals. Maya Nonnenmann also scored a dozen and Jovi Evans added 11. Renier had nine points, six rebounds and four steals. Pacha finished with nine points, six rebounds and three assists.

Freshman Katelyn Harland scored five points and Brylee Gearhart added four. Callie Huber led the Golden Hawks with seven rebounds. 

Solon 48, Mid-Prairie 43

The Golden Hawks held the sixth-ranked Spartans to seven points in the first quarter and led 20-18 at halftime on Monday, but Solon exploded for 20 points in the third quarter of the 48-43 win over Mid-Prairie. 

University of Iowa commit Callie Levin finished with a game-high 15 for Solon. 

Amara Jones hit a trio of 3-pointers in the second half to led Mid-Prairie with 11. Landry Pacha scored nine points and Ashley Harmsen added seven.