KENT — The Prairie girls basketball team ran into an athletic powerhouse Friday night in the championship game of the Class 3A bi-district tournament.
Fortunately for the Falcons, the loss did not end their season.
And it could be beneficial to Prairie, as well.
“I can tell them about the athleticism of the best teams in the state, but until they actually experience it, they really don’t know,” Prairie coach Al Aldridge said. “Now they know.”
Aminah Williams dominated both ends of the court with 23 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, and two blocked shots, leading Kennedy of Burien to a 65-56 victory over the Falcons. The Lancers got to cut down the nets and grab the trophy, but both teams will earn top seeds to next week’s state tournament.
In the end, getting to state was Prairie’s top priority in this tournament after losing its district title game. The Falcons clinched a berth to state with a first-round win, then got a confidence-building victory over Bonney Lake in the semifinals on Wednesday.
“It was a good accomplishment for a young team,” Aldridge said. “We’ve moved on, like we needed to after our adversity.”
“It really meant a lot. We worked so hard,” said Prairie sophomore Kelsey Asplund, who had nine points and six rebounds off the bench against Kennedy. “We had so many people doubting our ability. We started to get down, too. Then we started believing in ourselves after we worked through this.”
Asplund said the Falcons still believe they can win next week in Tacoma. But Friday’s loss did take away some of their momentum.
Kennedy scored 25 points in the second quarter, closing the half on an 11-1 run for a 12-point lead.
“Deer in the headlights tonight,” Aldridge said. “We played a little intimidated.”
The advantage grew to as many as 21 midway through the fourth quarter before the Falcons made the final score respectable. Allie Madison added 17 points for Kennedy. Yaz Fuller added 11.
“They’re a good team, and they deserved it tonight,” Asplund said. “They knocked down their shots, and they played really good defense. We couldn’t do a whole lot.”
Angela Gelhar led Prairie with 18 points. She was 10 for 10 from the free throw line and also had five steals. Lauren Goecke added 10 points and three assists, and Jackie Lanz had six points and a team-high seven rebounds.
All of the Falcons will have to improve their play for state, particularly the younger athletes, Aldridge said.
“Our youth just shows up to much right now,” the coach said. “For us to be successful at state, our young kids are going to have to grow up in a hurry and play better than they are right now.”
Asplund was one who showed her potential against Kennedy.
She made back-to-back baskets in the second quarter to keep the Falcons within two points before Kennedy went on its run. She converted a three-point play in the third quarter, part of an 8-0 spurt for Prairie that made it a 10-point game.
“I gained a lot of confidence in myself,” Asplund said. “My teammates are helping me. They know I can do it.”
Next for the Falcons is state. The first round is Wednesday, and Asplund said they have a goal.
“Play our hearts out,” she said. “We can do it.”
