It’s somewhat difficult for Kam Osborn to pick out one defining moment from Prairie boys basketball team’s season-defining 14-game winning streak.
That’s because there’s so many, and the senior point guard played a big role in all of them.
Seven weeks went by before the Falcons dropped a game. They won a 3A bi-district championship — a first for longtime coach Kyle Brooks — and in turn, clinched a consecutive Class 3A state tournament berth to the Tacoma Dome.
So what does Osborn, The Columbian’s All-Region boys basketball player of the year, take away most from that memorable stretch run that turned their season around? How the Falcons grew together as one from starting 2-6 through their first eight games. Osborn noted Brooks’ metaphor to the team how five fingers make a fist.
“As soon as you bring it in, you’re strong like that,” Osborn said, demonstrating with his hand. “We really took that in, and started playing as a team instead of individuals. As soon as we did that we went on that streak, and did some special things.
“We surprised ourselves.”
That included home wins over 4A Skyview, handing 3A GSHL champion Kelso its only league loss, and a run in the bi-district tournament that included an Osborn game-winner against Timberline of Lacey and a notable team defensive performance against another state-bound team, Capital of Olympia.
By the time Prairie beat Kelso 66-62 in the bi-district title game, the Falcons had their winning recipe working. Far in the rear-view mirror was that 2-6 start, and Osborn revitalized his role. A point guard all his life — a position he’ll play at NAIA Oregon Tech beginning next season — and 3-year starter for Prairie, he valued his leadership duties this year more than ever on a young team featuring a number of first-year varsity players.
That meant pushing his teammates at practice, and also shifting to a more balanced scoring load in games. After two games of 37 and 30 points, Osborn finished the regular-season averaging 18.8 per game.
“Everybody was doing their job to a T,” he said, “and that’s why we were getting the wins we were.”
And his favorite highlight, he said, came beating Kelso in the teams’ third meeting in Puyallup for the bi-district title. The two teams split during the regular-season. Prairie hadn’t won a bi-district championship in Brooks’ tenure.
“I knew it was going to be a good game,” Osborn said. “The history between us … I consider them a rival.”
With it came with a personal milestone for the point guard, surpassing Dan Dickau as the school’s career scoring leader in that game. Dickau capped 1,267 career points at Prairie in 1997, the same player Osborn calls a legend in Clark County and the same player associated with where he got his start before AAU basketball, Dan Dickau Basketball Academy.
Now Osborn’s left his mark at Prairie from helping the program to three league titles, two state tournament appearances, and one elusive record.
“Getting that record is not only huge for me personally,” Osborn said, “but huge for the high school and huge for the people around me. I had great teammates who put me in a great positions to score.”
Rest of All-Region team
FIRST TEAM
Alex Schumacher, Skyview
4A GSHL co-MVP (19.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3 assists per game) leaves with 5 career records, including points and assists.
Evan Dirksen, Columbia River
2A GSHL co-MVP averaged 18 points per game, broke district scoring mark leading Chieftains back to state.
Hunter Ecklund, La Center
1A Trico MVP led Clark County in scoring (20 points per game) helping Wildcats repeat as league champs, place fourth at 1A state tournament.
Kaden Perry, Battle Ground
Six-foot-9 interior threat averaged double-double (16 points, 10 rebounds per game) leading Tigers to first state tournament berth since 2002.
Ethan Smith, Union
4A GSHL co-MVP (19 ppg) broke his own school record with 103 3-pointers, making 50 percent of 3s on the season.
SECOND TEAM
Khalfani Cason, King’s Way Christian
Senior guard (13.1 ppg) led Knights to 1A state title game behind monster tournament in Yakima.
Houston Combs, Union
Titans’ point guard had a 4A GSHL-best 6 assists per game, getting Union to state a fifth straight year.
Kyle Gruhler, Skyview
Junior led Storm in rebounding (9 per game) and added 12.3 points, 2.5 assists.
Isaiah Sampson, Camas
Humboldt State commit powered the Papermakers all season (14.7 ppg).
Nate Snook, Columbia River
Junior point guard was 2A GSHL co-MVP, scoring 13.9 points per game.
Tanner Toolson, Union
Breakout first varsity season (13.5 ppg) included shooting 49 percent from the field.
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