North Scott junior Cortez Seales has developed a "motor" on the basketball court this year, and that's more bad news for anyone who has to play the Lancers.

The Prairie Hawks found out Thursday night.

Seales poured in 22 points with unstoppable moves around the basket as North Scott spanked Prairie, 80-65, in the Prairie gym.

Seales, a 6-foot-5 junior, was North Scott's point guard last year when the Lancers finished 20-4, but Coach Shamus Budde has moved him to center to utilize his versatility and help the ballclub.

"The nice thing about him, he's doing everything for the betterment of his team and he's playing within himself," said Prairie Coach James Moses. "It just reminds me of those players that are Division I prospects, looking to play multiple positions on the floor and being the best.

"It makes you appreciate the things these type of players bring to the team. I was impressed."

Seales has an offer from the University of Northern Iowa, but has not made a decision about college yet. The lefthander is smooth, quick, strong and clever around the basket.

The Hawks (1-1) could not stop him as North Scott (2-0) raced to a 51-33 lead at halftime and a 71-43 bulge after three quarters.

Seales averaged 14.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists last season as a point guard, and he's averaging 20.5 points and more than 10 rebounds this year as a center. He's just happy to help his team, which features five juniors in the starting lineup.

"We just play to our strengths," said Seales. "I think we can go as far as we want if we put our minds to it. If we play together, I think we have a good chance."

Budde thinks his team will be harder to stop with Seales near the basket instead of on the perimeter.

"We feel we'll be better in the long run if teams won't be able to focus on him and get him off the ball," the coach said. "I think that will make him better at the next level as well."

All five starters scored in double figures for the Lancers with Grant Graham netting 17, Marlon Stewart 14, Trey Kliburg 12 and Ricky Grimes 12.

Budde said Seales is a better player this season than he was in the past.

"He's a different person this year. And I'm not just saying it to say it," Budde remarked. "He's never played with a motor before. He has skills to go play at a very high level, but he hasn't always had that motor.

"He's got a motor now, he's got a killer instinct in him now. He's so versatile, and I think that's what UNI likes about him."

Prairie scored the first 11 points of the fourth quarter against North Scott's second unit to chop a 28-point deficit to 17 points at 71-54, but Seales and his buddies returned to the floor and quickly restored order.

"We didn't give up and we fought back," said Moses. "What was almost a 30-point deficit we were able to cut to 15."

Prairie senior Kentrel Smith suffered a broken bone in his right foot against Davenport West Tuesday night and will be sidelined indefinitely.

Mitch Lorenz led the Hawks with 14 points. Austin Fisher, Jalen Rima and JoJo Simpson scored 10 points apiece. The Hawks made 13 3-pointers in the ballgame.

NORTH SCOTT (80): Reichenberg 0 0-0 0, Sibert 0 0-0 0, Stewart 5 2-2 14, O'Neill 0 0-0 0, Alberts 0 0-0 0, Seales 9 4-6 22, Kilburg 5 0-0 12, Graham 5 5-5 17, Sacia 0 0-0 0, Greve 1 1-2 3, Grimes 5 0-1 12, Slowick 0 0-0 0, Burrage 0 0-0 0. Totals 31 12-16 80.

PRAIRIE (65): Brown 2 0-0 5, Mims 3 0-0 7, Clark 1 0-0 3, Fisher 3 1-2 10, Alberts 1 0-0 3, Rima 4 1-2 10, Kuchemann 1 0-0 3, Meeker 0 0-0 0, Lorenz 5 1-1 14, Schrader 0 0-0 0, Simpson 4 1-3 10. Totals 24 4-8 65.

Halftime - North Scott 51, Prairie 33. 3-point goals - North Scott 8 (Stewart 2, Kilburg 2, Graham 2, Grimes 2), Prairie 13 (Fisher 3, Lorenz 3, Brown 1, Mims 1, Clark 1, Alberts 1, Rima 1, Kuchemann 1, Simpson 1). Fouled out - none.