WELLMAN

Bryce Henry hit the first 3-pointer of his high school varsity career in the first quarter last Saturday against Northeast.

Then he hit another.

And another.

By the time the sophomore was done in this River Valley Conference cross-over game, he’d scored 21 points and hit five 3-pointers in the Golden Hawks’ 61-43 victory. And he’s not a starter for the Golden Hawks. Not yet, anyway.

Henry’s second 3-pointer, which came late in the opening quarter, gave the Golden Hawks their first lead of the game, 14-13. Another trey on the next possession put Mid-Prairie up by four points. Those shots were part of a 17-point run that turned a six-point deficit into an 11-point lead for the Golden Hawks.

The victory was the first of the season for Mid-Prairie, following a 54-42 loss to Benton.

“A big jump from Tuesday to today, all aspects,” Mid-Prairie head coach Daren Lambert said.

After Northeast took a 13-7 lead, the Golden Hawks dialed up a pressure defense that led to turnovers, rebounds and open shots for Mid-Prairie. Beau Flynn, a senior, had a game-high 8 rebounds.

“We defended really well tonight,” Lambert said. “Defense leads to easy offense.”

Henry hit 8-of-12 shots, including 5-of-7 from 3-point range, and had 6 rebounds.

Landon Sullivan added 12 points and two 3-pointers, and Dylan Henry, Bryce’s older brother, scored 10.

Junior guard Brady Weber had 7 assists, 2 steals and hit a pair of 3-pointers.

Once the Golden Hawks took control with their 17-point run, they retained a large lead for the remainder of the game.

Chase Christensen led Northeast (1-2) with 11 points.

Benton 54, Mid-Prairie 42

Benton’s Carson Nolan scored a game-high 18 points, leading the Bobcats to a 12-point win over Mid-Prairie in the season-opening game for both teams Nov. 28 in Wellman.

Landon Sullivan, a senior, led Mid-Prairie with 16 points.

After trailing 30-22 at halftime, Benton went ahead by outscoring the Golden Hawks 15-2 in the third quarter.

Mid-Prairie junior Conner Wiles scored 7 points, and junior guard Brady Weber and Dylan Henry each had 8 rebounds.

Sullivan had a team-high two 3-pointers.

GAME STATS

MID-PRAIRIE 61, NORTHEAST 43

Northeast     13   13   9    8  -- 43

Mid-Prairie   17   22  13   9  -- 61

Northeast scoring: Chase Christensen 11, Clayton Meyermann 10, Gavin Kramer 7, Emerson Kreinbrink 5, Jacob Tegeler 4, Colby Gray 3, Chase Lee 2, Calvin Fowler 1.

Mid-Prairie scoring: Bryce Henry 21, Landon Sullivan 12, Dylan Henry 10, Ace Peck 7, Brady Weber 6, Beau Flynn 2, Conner Wiles 2, Landon Kos 1.

Mid-Prairie leading rebounders: Flynn 8, Peck 6, Bryce Henry 2.

BENTON 54, MID-PRAIRIE 42

Benton          18     4   15   17  -- 54

Mid-Prairie   12   18     2   10  -- 42

Benton scoring: Carson Nolan 18, Quincy Gilbert 13, Wyatt Rinderknecht 8, Gavin Brooks 7, Owen Tjelmeland 6, Kolby Wenger 2.

Mid-Prairie scoring: Landon Sullivan 16, Conner Wiles 7, Brady Weber 5, Ace Peck 4, Beau Flynn 4, Dylan Henry 4, Landon Kos 2.

Mid-Prairie leading rebounders: Weber 8, Henry 8, Flynn 7.