BRUSH PRAIRIE — There are certain numbers players on Prairie’s girls basketball team take pride in hearing.
Individual points, for example, not at all. They don’t stack up to double-digit numbers of steals and blocks, as the Falcons had in their 3A bi-district quarterfinal game hosting Lincoln of Tacoma.
But 24 assists on 27 field goals like Prairie had in its 67-36 home victory Wednesday is a number they’re happy to brag anytime.
“It’s awesome; I love hearing that,” said senior Brooke Walling, who had 16 points, five blocks and five rebounds. “That means we’re sharing the ball and looking for the best shot. Sometimes we give up the best shot to give our teammates the ball.”
And more than likely as it did Thursday, it led to an even better shot.
Senior Cassidy Gardner had team highs in both points (19) and assists (seven) and two other Falcons scored in double figures to help Prairie clinch a spot in the 3A state tournament.
Prairie (20-1 overall) faces Bethel of Spanaway Lake at 6 p.m. Friday in the bi-district semifinals at Puyallup High School.
After their regular-season finale Jan. 30, the Falcons had two weeks to prepare for Lincoln after wintery weather caused multiple postponements.
It might not be far fetched to say Prairie and Lincoln have created a long-distance rivalry since the two teams are accustomed to playing each other this time of the year.
Wednesday marked the fourth consecutive year they met in the bi-district playoffs and comes on the heels of Prairie’s 44-42 district semifinal loss last year to the Abes on the road.
Prairie is the same team from last year’s defeat to the Abes, senior Mallory Williams said, but “just a different mindset.”
It showed early Wednesday by reaching a double-digit lead late in the first quarter and blooming to 22 midway through the second.
The number that impressed players and coaches most — albeit not too surprising given the ball movement — is the assist total.
Prairie had five players with three or more assists, and that 24 assist total highlights their selfless play, the Falcons say.
“This year,” junior guard Meri Dunford said, “we’ve really come together and play well with each other. Everyone know they’ll give up a good shot for a great shot.”
And there were plenty of wealth-spreading against the Abes, who were limited to two five-point quarters by the Falcons’ defense.
Prairie led by as many as 22 points late in the second quarter and ended the third on five consecutive assisted field goals for a 50-25 advantage entering the final 8 minutes.
Walling had 11 of her 16 points in the first quarter and half of the team’s 10 blocks, going toe-to-toe with 6-foot-4 sophomore post Sharayah Johnson.
The Falcons’ limited Johnson (16.8 ppg) to eight points Wednesday. Zaniya Banks led the Abes with 18 points, including four 3-pointers.
Williams finished with 12 rebounds and eight points for Prairie.
