Mid-Prairie boys fall in low-scoring affair

It seemed almost fitting when the padding that surrounds the bottom of the backboard fell off during the third quarter on Monday night.

The Mid-Prairie boys were hosting Clear Creek Amana in a game that, up to that point, one could only politely describe as a defensive struggle.

When the padding fell off the backboard one minute into the third quarter, the offenses for both teams had left a lot to be desired, with the Hawks leading 18-17.

That 10-minute break to refit the padding must have been exactly what the doctor ordered for the Clippers, as they went on a 20-3 run which stretched into the fourth quarter, as they avoided the upset in Mid-Prairie, defeating the Hawks 41-25.

?I thought it was great defense tonight,? Mid-Prairie head coach Chris Kern said. ?We had a great defensive effort and a great first half, but you have to hit shots too. That?s been our Achilles? heel. We get good looks, we really do. We just have to continue to try and work with that, but that defensive effort was fantastic. I was proud of the kids for the effort.?

The loss puts the Hawks at 1-20 as they ended the regular season.

Despite the disappointing record, Kern was happy with the effort his team gave this year, as they entered the season with just one returning player with varsity experience.

?It?s going to be great,? Kern said. ?We have a lot of guys who are getting a lot of experience this year, and they?ll be coming back. To be honest, in a normal year, we have a lot of guys who wouldn?t be getting this experience, so it?s kind of a double-edged sword.?

The first quarter didn?t have much to talk about, as both teams combined for three field goals and seven points, making it 4-3 in favor of Clear Creek Amana after the first eight minutes.

In the second quarter, the Clippers looked as if they were going to break the game open, going on a 13-3 run to open up a 17-6 lead, but Mid-Prairie battled back with a 10-0 run to end the first half.

?It?s not different for us, because that?s how it?s been offensively for us all year,? Kern said. ?We try different sets and give different looks, and we came a little alive in the second quarter, but we couldn?t sustain that.?

Mid-Prairie?s Colin Weber hit a bucket to open the second half, giving the Hawks an 18-17 lead, but then Clear Creek took over and distanced itself, taking a 37-21 lead to win the game.

Defensively, the Hawks held the Clippers to 20 points under their season average.

?I think we can get a lot (of confidence out of this game),? Kern said. ?The underclassmen should see what they can do next year and it?s good for these seniors because they?ve never quit.?

Weber led the Hawks with nine points, while Nolan Faselt had six points and a team-high five rebounds in the contest.

Mid-Prairie will resume play on Monday, Feb. 16, when they travel to Eddyville-Blakesburg for a first-round playoff match-up.