Prairie’s Corral to have MRI on knee

Prairie senior basketball standout Heather Corral sat out Friday’s game against Kelso because of swelling in her left knee and is expected to have an MRI on Monday.

“It was suggested that we hold her out just to make sure,” Prairie coach Al Aldridge said. “We wanted to error on the side of caution and make sure we do everything we can to get her ready for the postseason.”

Corral, who has signed with the University of Washington, tore the ACL in her left knee last season at the Class 3A bi-district tournament semifinals and missed the state tournament.

Art Corral, Heather’s father, confirmed Saturday that X-rays have been taken and there is no structural damage. The hope is the MRI comes back with good news for Heather, and she can rehabilitate the knee in time for all, or most, of the postseason.

Prairie plays Friday in the Class 3A GSHL district tournament championship game, then will have another week off before opening the bi-district tournament.

Corral reported that she felt her knee give out a little in Prairie’s win over Camas on Jan. 27. And in Tuesday’s win over Mountain View, she felt pain in her knee when she made a couple of cuts.

There was some slight swelling in her knee after Tuesday’s game, and Prairie did not use Corral in Friday’s 64-30 win over Kelso.