Indians outlast Golden Hawks

WEST LIBERTY - A 13-3 lead wasn't enough to last for the Golden Hawks boys basketball team in a 67-55 Class 2A District 9 loss to Camanche Tuesday.

An Indians timeout stemmed the tide and seven consecutive points prompted a Mid-Prairie (15-8) timeout. The Hawks led by a single point, 15-14, by the end of the quarter.

'That start felt really good but we knew Camanche would come at us in the second quarter,” Mid-Prairie's Carter Harmsen said.

Harmsen had six rebounds, three steals and two assists. He scored 14 in the first game, but poured in 11-of-18 shots for 32 points Tuesday, the only Hawk in double figures while the Indians had four.

'Camanche played within themselves and hit some tough shots,” Mid-Prairie head coach Daren Lambert said. 'I have never seen a high school player work so hard to get his points. There are some broken hearts especially with our seniors. There's nothing I can say to make it feel better.”

Camanche (17-6) scored the last 10 points of the first half for a 38-27 lead heading to the break. It was 51-41 to start the fourth quarter.

Camanche got a steal and a dunk with 33 seconds before the half.

'We still led after that (first-quarter) run, but the one at the end of the first half really kicked us because they had the momentum going into the second half,” Harmsen said.

Mid-Prairie responded with a quick shot that missed and the Indians converted right before the buzzer.

'These guys can score, so to get that run before the half was huge,” Camanche head coach Josh Davis said. 'District games are so tough because it usually a conference opponent and we've played these guys the last few years. They are good.”

River Valley Conference foes had met Jan. 22 at Camanche which won 66-51. Camanche started a different lineup than the previous meeting but the timeout allowed an adjustment.

'We were too quick with our shots and did a poor job on the offensive end that led to some easy run-outs for them,” Mid-Prairie head coach Daren Lambert said. 'We put ourselves in some bad spots on defense and that's how they built that lead and then maintained.”

Jordan Lawrence had 24 points in the first meeting, 20 Tuesday and Indians teammate Zach Erwin had 19 after 20 points in the first game. Zayne Feller scored 15 on inside baskets and Zane Witt added 10. Camanche made nine 3-pointers, Mid-Prairie four.

Will Cavanagh contributed eight points and eight rebounds for the Hawks. Alex Bean had six points and four assists. Aidan Rath grabbed six rebounds with five points and Ethan Kos had four rebounds and two points.

'We are a young team so the lack of experience hurt us,” Harmsen said. Three seniors - Rath, Keegan Brady, Luke Boyse - graduate, but five juniors and three sophomores on the varsity roster return. 'Next year we'll be ready.” To go to state? 'For sure!”

Camanche advances to the Substate 5 title game, which will be decided Saturday at Muscatine against the Pekin (17-2) and West Burlington (15-6)

winner.