Baldwin ? With five of Baldwin High’s six king and prince candidates for Friday’s King and Queen Court dance being basketball players, it seemed almost certain that the newly crowned king of the court would be just that Friday.

Then senior wrestler Seth Halford won and stole the show. But if the rest of the Bulldogs were left merely as jesters, at least they had the last laugh against Prairie View.

Seniors king candidates Brian Lauridsen and Anthony Myrick and junior Micah Mason, who was named prince over junior Andy Hannon, proved their worth as Baldwin royalty when they went on a 19-9 run in the final 41¼2 minutes to dethrone Prairie View, 59-49.

“It’s really a popularity contest,” Myrick said with a smile. “And unfortunately the basketball players usually get all the glory, so it was kind of nice for the other guys to get recognition.

“But that (winning king) didn’t mean anything to us. This win meant a whole heck of a lot.”

Baldwin (5-12) has won three out of its last four games, a feat coach Jeff Haas attributed to his team’s growing confidence.

“These guys are just getting more and more confident and tonight they just never panicked,” Haas said.

It showed.

When Prairie View tied the game at 40 — the only time the Buffaloes didn’t trail — Baldwin responded with an 11-0 spurt.

First it was Myrick, who hit both ends of a one-and-one for the lead and then snagged a defensive rebound at the other end of the court. Then came a high-flying Mason with a tip-in to put the Bulldogs up by four.

After that Hannon, who scored a game-high 21 points, beat his defender off the dribble on a drive to the basket.

Baldwin's Micah Mason drives past Prairie View's Kurt McGee during the Bulldogs' 59-49 victory. Mason scored seven points Friday at Baldwin.

Myrick’s layup and free throws by Hannon and Lauridsen closed things out.

“That was just the epitome of what’s taking place with this team that last few weeks,” said Hannon, who along with senior Joe Gipp each scored nine points in the first half to help Baldwin build a 25-19 lead.

“We’re really starting to put things together.”

Baldwin 59, Prairie View 49

Prairie View (9-6) 7 12 13 17 — 49

Baldwin (5-12) 14 11 11 23 — 59

Prairie View: Bronson Eldridge 14, Zach Scrivner 6, Scott Watson 2, Kurt McGee 11, Brody Eldridge 4, Dale Owings 10, Tommy Capp 2.

Baldwin: Joe Gipp 13, Andy Hannon 21, Brian Lauridsen 7, Micah Mason 7, Anthony Myrick 8, Ryan Jorgensen 1, Jeremy Wright 2.

Baldwin girls 72,

Prairie View 49

The good thing for Baldwin coach Eric Toot was that his girls basketball players didn’t really need the help of the buzzer-beating shots they made at the end of both the first and second quarters.

Still, the last-second shots were the most fun thing for the Bulldogs in an easy victory against the Buffaloes.

“Those are the things we practice all the time, so it’s nice when they pay off,” Toot said of the buzzer-beaters after his team improved to 14-1.

First, Katelyn Miles ended the first quarter with a layup off a pass from Anna Skaggs. Later, junior guard Kari Garrison, who chipped in with 15 points, nailed a three-pointer at the end of the second quarter that put the Bulldogs ahead 39-22.

Junior Emily Brown had 23 points for Baldwin on 9-of-13 shooting, nine rebounds, six blocks, three assists and two steals.

Baldwin girls 72,

Prairie View 49

Prairie View (10-5) 8 14 9 18 — 49

Baldwin (14-1) 21 18 13 20 — 72

Prairie View: Christine Watson 12, Ashleigh Ravnikar 4, Kristina Sommer 4, Sarah Wilson 4, Sheena Wendt 14, Marci Stainbrook 2, Regan Boyer 7, Blair Burke 2.

Baldwin: Emily Brown 23, Kari Garrison 15, Anna Skaggs 6, Katelyn Miles 8, Kalie Harris 6, Jamie Lawrenz 2, Kayla Pringle 4, Anna Gillispie 4, Cheri Rowland 1, Katie Martin 3.