Prairie girls hit stride, top Kelso

KELSO — It’s been almost three weeks since the Prairie girls basketball team’s trip to the Bay Area for the West Coast Jamboree,

The Falcons admit they didn’t play their best. They went 1-2 against three California teams over the winter break.

But they learned valuable lessons, too, that’s helped them go unbeaten since then, including a 5-0 start in 3A Greater St. Helens play, including a 62-39 victory at Kelso on Tuesday night to conclude the first half of the league season.

“Ever since then,” said Prairie guard Allie Corral, who finished with six points Tuesday,” we’ve just come our hungry in every game.”

And that hunger was seen Tuesday, too, in a battle of the 3A GSHL’s lone unbeatens.

With 5:30 to go in the fourth quarter, Prairie’s lead was just 47-34, after Kelso guard Alexi Kleven’s had 12 of her game-high 22 points in the third to cut into Prairie’s lead. The Falcons led 28-8 at halftime.

Once that fourth quarter started,” Corral said, “we came on.”

It started with Sydney Weber’s 3-pointer that kickstarted a 10-2 Prairie run over a 4-minute span. Four 3s by Prairie came in the quarter, and the team finished with 10 for the game.

Cassidy Gardner finished with 18 to lead the Falcons, and Brooke Walling added 17.

PRAIRIE 62, KELSO 39

PRAIRIE — Meri Dunford 7, Allison Corral 6, Sydney Weber 6, Brooke Walling 17, Mallory Williams 0, Cassidy Gardner 18, Haley Reed 8, Lauren Vreeken 0. Totals 19 20 (10) 12-14 62.
KELSO — Tally Connors 0, Alexi Kleven 22, Jordyn Dole 2, Turner Joy 6, Cooper Joy 5, Madison Harkins 2, Skeels 2. Totals 12 (4) 8-9 39.

Prairie 18 10 13 21 – 62
Kelso 2 6 16 15 – 39