DUBUQUE – The Prairie boys basketball team let a seven-point halftime lead slip away and lost to Dubuque Hempstead, 53-47, in a Mississippi Valley Conference game Tuesday at Hempstead.

The Mustangs (7-7) took a 31-27 lead by the end of the third quarter and held on down the stretch.

Jalen Rima scored 13 points for the Prairie Hawks (6-8). Cal Clark had 11 points and Max Smith-Drahos added 10.

PRAIRIE (47): Copeland 1 0-0 3, C.Clark 4 0-0 11, G.Clark 0 0-0 0, Smith-Drahos 4 2-3 10, Eilers 1 1-2 4, Rima 4 4-4 13, Hook 0 0-0 0, Kilpatrick 0 0-0 0, Serbousek 0 0-0 0, Oxley 3 0-0 6. Totals 17 7-10 47.

DUBUQUE HEMPSTEAD (53): Williams 0 0-0 0, L.Duax 3 4-4 12, C.Duax 2 2-2 6, McDonough 4 2-4 12, Crowder 6 1-5 13, Johnson 1 1-2 3, Sandberg 1 0-0 2, Cooksley 1 2-2 4. Totals 18 12-19 53.

Halftime – Prairie 23, Dubuque Hempstead 16. 3-point goals – Prairie 6 (C.Clark 3, Copeland, Eilers, Rima), Dubuque Hempstead 4 (L.Duax 2, McDonough 2).