WELLMAN

Mid-Prairie girls basketball team emptied its bench in the Golden Hawks’ season opener at Fairfield.

The Golden Hawks still won by 47 points, posting its most one-sided win in four seasons.

“We’re comfortable putting anyone in there,” head coach Danny Hershberger said. “We know they’re going to go out and compete. If we can play a deep bench and keep the game going fast, kind of outwork the team and make other teams tired … that can work to our advantage this year.”

Sophomore guard Brooklyn Schneider scored a game-high 14 points. Jeorgia Evans, a freshman, came off the bench to score 13, hitting all five shots. Senior center Callie Huber grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds, leading a dominant 52-16 advantage on the boards.

It was a big start to a season on a night when Jovi Evans, a starting guard last year, was not playing. After a strong volleyball season in which Evans was named River Valley South Player of the Year, Evans said she is taking the basketball season off to concentrate on club volleyball.

The season kicks into high gear this week with a game at 3A power Benton Community on Tuesday and the Golden Hawks’ home opener Friday at 6 against Camanche.

The Golden Hawks charged ahead early at Fairfield, outscoring the Trojans 23-5 in the opening quarter. Mid-Prairie shut out Fairfield in the fourth quarter. The Golden Hawks topped 70 points for the first time since last December against Wilton.

“It’s always a great thing when you have girls that can score,” Hershberger said. “We feel really good about a lot of girls on our team that are able to step up in scoring. All 11 girls were able to score tonight.”

Jeorgia Evans and Schneider each had 5 steals.

Huber is the only senior in a starting lineup that includes two sophomores and freshman Tessa Bombei. Another three sophomores and a freshman were among those coming off the bench. Huber, the River Valley South’s leading rebounder last year, and Brylee Gearhart are the only seniors on the team.

“Really happy with the way the younger players are kind of getting more and more comfortable playing at the beat of a varsity game and what it takes to be successful at this level,” Hershberger said.

MID-PRAIRIE 73, FAIRFIELD 26

Mid-Prairie   23   18   20   12   --  73

Fairfield          5     6    15     0  --   26

Mid-Prairie scoring: Brooklyn Schneider 14, Jeorgia Evans 13, Izzy Kite 9, Tessa Bombei 8, Morgyn Bender 8, Brylee Gearhart 6, Callie Huber 5, Katelyn Harland 4, Myli Hershberger 2, Olivia Swartzendruber 2, Kadence Grout 2.

Fairfield scoring: Emma Metcalf 11, Natalie Steele 8, Maddy Martin 2, Grace Lyon 2, Faith Jones 2, Lauren Martin 1.

Mid-Prairie leading rebounders: Huber 11, Hershberger 9, Bombei 7.

Fairfield leading rebounders: Metcalf 6, Maddy Martin 5.