All-region girls basketball: Brooke Walling, Prairie

Every once in a great while, Brooke Walling’s mind wanders back to her soccer-playing days and how at one time, she dreamt of starring for the famed University of Portland women’s soccer program and eventually, the United States Women’s National Team.

Then reality sets back in.

“I can’t picture it,” Walling said.

Not anymore, anyway.

Basketball is her thing and has been since the day her father, David, sent his daughter back into a gymnasium — despite tears streaming down his daughter’s face as an elementary school youngster for no other reason than disliking this sport called basketball.

Times certainly have changed for Walling, now a 6-foot-3 junior basketball standout for Prairie High School.

And daughter gives a lot of thanks to Dad.

“He made me go back,” Walling said, “and I thank him to this day he did.”

Years later, Walling, a repeat pick as All-Region girls basketball player of the year, honed her craft to become equally known for her outside shooting as she is for her interior scoring, aggressive rebounding and lockdown defense.

This year, Walling averaged 17.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game in a winter highlighted by surpassing 1,000 career points and 500 career rebounds on the same late January night. She led Prairie to its 21st consecutive league title and clinching a spot in the Tacoma Dome for the Class 3A state tournament.

While Walling is proud of she and her teammates’ season, she knows they fell short of their ultimate goal. Prairie’s 49-45 loss to Stanwood in the state round of 12 ended the team’s season at 21-5, despite a season-high 27 points from Walling, also the 3A Greater St. Helens League MVP.

Even harder for Walling, she said, came when Gig Harbor won the 3A state title three days after Prairie’s season-ending defeat. Walling watched the title game on television at home, as a team the Falcons defeated at bi-districts, but lost to at regionals won it all.

That sting fuels Walling’s motivation for next season.

“It’s only going to continue to get better from here,” she said.

But she hasn’t picked up a basketball since the state tournament defeat.

And that’s just fine with Walling; she’s in no rush.

Her basketball season might be over, but at the same time, it’s continuing in other ways. She turned out for a spring sport — track and field — for the first time, and is learning to throw the javelin.

Walling has taken a liking to the event, and what she hopes to gain not only will benefit Prairie’s track program, but her basketball skill set, too.

“In many ways,” she said, “I’m still doing basketball — just not with a basketball.”

For the record, she’ll pick up a basketball again Monday.

That’s when her AAU season with Sixers Elite, a local team comprised of Southwest Washington-area players, tips off in what she plans to be a fun-filled and stress-free summer of basketball after she makes her verbal commitment on a college program soon.

FIRST TEAM

Beyonce Bea, jr., Washougal — Averaged a near double-double (18.2 points, 9.9 rebounds) to repeat as 2A GSHL MVP and helped Panthers reach state for a third straight year.

Mason Oberg, soph., Union — Titans’ leading scorer a big reason why Union made a deep postseason run to reach the Tacoma Dome for the first time.

Courtney Clemmer, sr., Camas — Papermakers reached the Tacoma Dome in consecutive seasons behind play of the team-oriented 4A GSHL MVP.

Cassidy Gardner, jr., Prairie — Flash shooting guard is a threat to score inside and out. Helped Prairie secure a 21st consecutive league title and a trip to state.

Taylor Stephens, jr., La Center — A matchup problem for most with her size (6-1) at point guard. Led Clark County in scoring (19 ppg) on the Wildcats’ way to a district title.

SECOND TEAM

Courtney Cranston, sr., Union — Senior leader did a little bit of everything to get Union to its most successful season in program history, including most victories (19) and trip to Tacoma Dome.

Molly Edwards, sr., La Center — Co-1A Trico MVP as steady as they come at the guard spot. Tied 1A tourney record for made 3s in a game (7).

Taylor Mills, sr., La Center — Frequent double-double machine the first of five Clark County girls players to surpass 1,000 career points.

Katie Peneueta, fr., Heritage — Debuted with a triple-double and proved to be a tough player to shut down from there. Averaged 16 points per game.

Marianna Payne, soph., Camas — No problem playing multiple positions; jumps center, but also scores from the outside and defends down low.

Jaydia Martin, fr., Hudson’s Bay — Part of a talented freshmen class that led Eagles to the bi-district tournament. Scored a career-high 32 in December non-league game.