Kyle Brooks held the best-kept secret all game inside Prairie High School’s gymnasium, and as it turned out, his players appreciated being kept in the dark.
Because of more wintery weather in the forecast for this weekend and into next week, Brooks learned his team’s 3A bi-district boys basketball opener Wednesday night could turn into a single-elimination game. That determination comes Thursday when district officials decide what to do moving forward for both the 4A and 3A West Central/Southwest boys and girls tournaments’ remaining games and scheduling.
“We joked if we were down 20 (points) at the half,” the coach said, “that we might.”
As luck would have it, the Falcons didn’t need their coach to spill the beans until after a 56-41 first-round home win over Gig Harbor. Prairie is scheduled to play Timberline of Lacey at 7 p.m.
Aidan Fraly and Kam Osborn shared game-high honors with 16 points in the double-elimination game, as the Falcons (14-7) held Gig Harbor to without a field goal the final 6 minutes of the game. It came after the Tides (9-13) that kept things close for three quarters behind second-chance opportunities (8 first-half offensive rebounds) and hot 3-point shooting from Kaden Garnaas (4 of 8 from 3-point range in the first half).
The Falcons clamped down in the second half on the Tides’ perimeter shooters and failed to allow a 3-point field goal the final 16 minutes. This after Gig Harbor hit five in the first half, including four from Garnaas to lead by as many as seven in the second quarter.
Prairie quickly grew its lead to double digits in part by a 9-0 scoring run midway through the fourth. Better teamwork in the second half was key in the Falcons gaining momentum for good, said senior Bronson King (8 points), one of three seniors playing their final game at Prairie.
Prairie is now winners of 11 straight and hasn’t dropped a game since its winter trip to Arizona.
That was a big turning point for the young Falcons, King added.
And it’s benefiting now.
“We bonded a lot on that trip, which is helping us now. And we’re winning games.”
PRAIRIE 56, GIG HARBOR 41
GIG HARBOR — Ben Hollenbeck 6, Asher Raquiza 5, Joe Owens 2, Jack Emery 2, Zach Toglia 2, Natan Brekke 4, Kaden Garnaas 12, Drew Parrish 8. Totals 15 (5) 6-9 41
PRAIRIE — Aidan Fraly 16, Kam Osborn 16, AJ Dixson 3, Zeke Dixson 8, Thomas Hapgood 3, Mark Frazier 2, Bronson King 8. Totals 17 (4) 16-24 56
Gig Harbor 13 11 8 9 — 41
Prairie 14 10 13 19 — 56
