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Prairie girls locked into 4A state regionals

Daugherty helps Falcons beat Bonney Lake 71-31

By Paul Valencia, Columbian High School Sports Reporter
Published: February 13, 2016, 5:23pm

TACOMA — The reigning All-Region girls basketball player of the year took her time getting out of the locker after she helped the Prairie Falcons to another milestone victory Saturday afternoon at Franklin Pierce High School.

By design, it has taken Cherita Daugherty some time this season to show the real Cherita Daugherty.

It’s playoff time now, though, so the wait is over.

Daugherty scored 16 points, leading three Falcons in double figures, and Prairie cruised to a 71-31 victory over Bonney Lake in the quarterfinals of the Class 3A bi-district girls basketball tournament. Prairie will play two more games in this tournament but Saturday’s win clinched its 19th consecutive appearance in the state round of 16.

Prairie coach Brett Johnson was cautious with Daugherty’s playing time early in the season as she struggled through a shoulder injury.

“I am fresh for the postseason, and I think that has a lot to do with him limiting my minutes,” Daugherty said. “I didn’t take offense. I didn’t mind sitting. I like watching the girls play. I have a lot of energy when I go out on the court now.”

“She looks great,” Johnson said. “She’s doing everything right now.”

“I feel fine,” Daugherty said. “I feel like I can do what I normally do.”

That would be scoring, rebounding, defending, passing. She is an all-around threat.

Plus she has a lot of help.

Grace Prom had six first-half steals Saturday and ended up with 14 points. Prom made three of Prairie’s nine 3-pointers. Jozie Tangeman added 12 points. Macey Hsu had two 3-pointers and finished with eight points.

All 12 Falcons played in the first half, too, after Prairie scored 25 first-quarter points. The game got to a running clock scenario when Prairie took a 40-point lead on Mallory Williams’ 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter.

The Falcons made their presence known right away in this one. Prairie took 14 of the first 15 shots of the game, with the defense suffocating the Panthers.

“Four weeks ago is when we started working on our (playoff) defense,” Johnson said. “Every day, 30, 40 minutes, all defense, non-stop.”

“We’ve been a different team in the postseason,” senior Natalie Whitesel said.

Prairie (19-3) will face Lincoln (21-1) in the bi-district semifinals at 6 p.m. Thursday at Franklin Pierce High School.

Prairie’s performance already in this tournament means the Falcons are among the best 16 teams in the state in its classification — for the 19th year in a row.

“It’s expected on one level, but on another level it’s an honor every year because you know you have to work for it,” Whitesel said.

“We’ don’t take anything for granted,” Daugherty said.

Instead, the Falcons prepare for this time of the year. Every year.

PRAIRIE 71, BONNEY LAKE 31

BONNEY LAKE — Emily Stonerock 7, Payton Mitchell 4, Shayna McQueen 6, Brooklyn Gratzer 1, Samantha Boudreau 1, Danielle Lisk 0, Emily White 3, Olivia Grob 6, Taryn Schelin 0, Raelyn Kimmel 3. Totals 9 (3) 10-23 31.

PRAIRIE — Sarina Martinez 0, Dejah Gobert 3, Cassidy Gardner 2, Kris Rocci 2, Jozie Tangeman 12, Mallory Williams 7, Grace Prom 14, Macey Hsu 8, Cherita Daugherty 16, Natalie Whitesel 4, Lauren Vreeken 3, Malaika Quigley 0. Totals 24 (9) 14-25 71.

Bonney Lake 7 10 6 8–31

Prairie 25 18 17 11–71

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Columbian High School Sports Reporter