BRUSH PRAIRIE — Kameron Osborn was smiling during warmups, and even flashed a few grins during play on Wednesday night.
Admittedly, it was a new look the often poker-faced guard was trying out for the first game of the season.
Calm, cool, collected — and cheesing through it all — Osborn scored 37 points to lead Prairie past King’s Way Christian 70-43 in a nonleague season opener at Prairie High School.
First-game jitters? Those are a thing of the past, according to the senior.
“I used to be so nervous,” Osborn said. “I’d be sitting in the locker room not talking to anyone. I learned it’s important, but at the end of the day it’s just a basketball game. Go out there, have fun.”
Osborn had 21 points in the first half, and 33 at the end of the third. His 12-point third quarter helped the Falcons build on their halftime lead and enter the fourth up 20.
That cushion indicated Osborn was headed for a light fourth quarter. But inside, a part of him was eyeing former NBA player and Prairie grad (1997) Dan Dickau’s single game school-record 47 points — a mark he’s been itching to break since his freshman year.
“I’m not going to say I could have went out there and did it,” he said, “but near the end of the game I want to get the other guys involved.”
Junior guard Aidan Fraly added 14 points for the Falcons, and twins A.J. and Zeke Dixson provided the spark on defense and on the boards that coach Kyle Brooks has called upon, due to the Falcons’ size. Senior
Bronson King is Prairie’s tallest starter at 6-foot-2 — a similar roster makeup as King’s Way which, outside of 6-foot-9 freshman Sam Kelly, doesn’t have a player taller than 6-foot-2.
King’s Way is best when shooting well, and on Wednesday, it struggled.
The Knights finished with 3-pointers not he night. Khalfani Cason led the team with 13 points and Kobi Cason pitched in 11. They return most of their roster — and add a couple welcome additions — from a team that made it to the quarterfinals in the 1A state tournament last winter.
Freshman Bryson Metz, a 5-foot-7 guard, started at the point and showed flashes of speed and handles. He finished with six points, and by many accounts, will run the point for the guard-heavy Knights this season.
“Bryson did great,” Khalfani Cason said. “As a freshman, he was not scared. He went at them.”
King’s Way coach Daven Harmeling vied to line up a tough nonleague schedule for his team, confident they could give every team in Clark County a good shot. The Knights’ message? No matter who you are, bring it on.
Prairie, who lost in the first round of the 3A state tournament last season, was as good a test as any.
“We know we can compete with any team in our area and any team we go against,” Khalfani Cason said. “That’s why our coach schedules good teams for us.”
But Osborn proved too tough on Wednesday night. Ask him, his calm approach to the season played a big part.
“Past few years you wouldn’t see a smile on my face,” Osborn said. “But this is my senior year, so I’m embracing it. Lots of smiles, having fun.”
PRAIRIE 70, KING’S WAY CHRISTIAN 43
KING’S WAY CHRISTIAN (0-1) — Khalfani Cason 13, Kobi Cason 11, Bryce Dodge 6, Brady Metz 4, Bryson Metz 6, Justin Frahm 1, Sam Kelly 2. Totals 14 (3) 9-12 43.
PRAIRIE (1-0) — Aidan Fraly 14, Kam Osborn 37, AJ Dixson 3, Zeke Dixson 7, Bronson King 2, Thomas Hapgood 2, Reece Walling 5. Totals 27 (4) 12-17 70.
King’s Way 12 8 11 12—43
Prairie 17 16 18 19—70
