A furious late rush gave the Prairie boys basketball team a shot to extend its season on Tuesday.
But that shot rolled off the rim and Kelso escaped with a 37-35 win that advances the Hilanders to the Class 3A Greater St. Helens League quarterfinal game on Thursday.
Kelso will face Mountain View at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday at Hudson’s Bay High School. Prairie finished the season with 11 wins and 10 losses.
Tough man-to-man defense through the middle two quarters lifted the Hilanders to a lead that turned out to be just enough in Tuesday’s game played at Hudson’s Bay. Kelso (12-9) led by as many as 13 points late in the third quarter.
Prairie rallied as Macauley Brown hit consecutive 3-pointers and Grant Sisson added a trey. The Falcons got the ball with 12 seconds on the clock down by two and set up a play. Brown’s contested look from near the top of the key rolled out as time ran out.
“I’m proud of my guys. We made a great a run to come back and just came up a little bit short,” Prairie coach Kyle Brooks said.
Seven players scored for Prairie, with Brown’s 10 points topping the list. The Falcons led 13-7 at the end of one quarter, but managed only 10 points over the next 16 minutes and trailed by eight at the end of the third quarter.
“A lot of credit to Kelso,” Brooks said. “They did a good job. They played good defense on that last possession and forced us into a tough shot.”
Boys basketball
At Battle Ground 70, Skyview 45 — The Tigers took out some frustration on the visiting Storm. One night after Union rallied in the fourth quarter to knock Battle Ground out of contention for a share of the 4A Greater St. Helens League title, the Tigers dominated the first half en route to the 25-point victory.
“It was a good team win,” Battle Ground coach Andy Schoonover said. “The kids played with a lot of emotion.”
Ten players scored for the Tigers (15-5). Jake Belford had 15 points, four steals and two assists. Willie Bratcher had 13 points, six rebounds and five assists.
For Skyview (4-16) Austin Bonds had 13 points and Levi Thompson scored 11.
Battle Ground will play host to Union at 8 p.m. Friday with the winner joining league champion Evergreen in the bi-district playoffs.
Union 59, at Heritage 49 — Tanner Nelson scored 21 points and the Titans rode a 10-point advantage in the third quarter to beat the Timberwolves.
Tyler Copp and Caleb Whalen each scored 12 points for Union (14-6, 8-4 Class 4A GSHL). Tim Hergert had a game-high 25 points for Heritage (1-19, 1-11), with no other teammates reaching double figures in scoring. Cherno Sowe had seven rebounds and six points.
Union led 27-20 at halftime before pushing the lead to 46-29 going into the final period, keeping Heritage at bay from there.
“We put up a lot of shots, but they weren’t falling for us,” Heritage assistant coach Bret Young said. “Everything Union put up in the air was falling, and they were just consistent the whole game.”
Mark Morris 56, at Washougal 50 — A 21-9 third-quarter surge — fueled by transition points off turnovers — carried the Monarchs to the win. Three players scored in double figures as Mark Morris finished 10-2 in the 2A Greater St. Helens League. Zach Rackwell scored 16 to lead the Monarchs.
Washougal, which finished 9-11 overall, had eight players score. Kevin Monsrud led the way with 12 pints and TC White added 11.
Hockinson is the league champion at 10-2 because the Hawks won two of three games against the Monarchs.
At Columbia Adventist 65, Washington School for the Deaf 25 — Tevita Palaki scored 14 points, and Patt Collins added 12 as the Kodiaks had a balanced scoring attack against WSD.
Keysi Severino and Isaac Cook scored 11 points each for WSD.
Girls basketball
Kelso 49, Fort Vancouver 31 — The Trappers’ season ended in the 3A GSHL elimination game at Hudson’s Bay.
Kelso post Taylor Pritchett was effective early in the game, helping the Hilanders to a 17-4 first-quarter lead. Fort Vancouver was never closer than 12 points in the second half.
A couple of late-season wins followed by success in a three-team tie-breaker on Monday carried Fort into Tuesday’s contest.
Mar’shay Moore scored 14 points and Ibette Valle 10 for the Trappers, who had only two seniors this season.
Kelso advances to face Camas at 6 p.m. on Thursday at Hudson’s Bay in the district quarterfinal game.
Skyview 61, at Battle Ground 30 — The Storm outscored Battle Ground 27-2 in the third quarter to take control. Skyview led 21-17 at halftime before pulling away in the third quarter.
Brooke Bowen scored 17 points, and Delaney Keser added 11 points for Skyview, which will play next on Feb. 15 at home in the first round of the West Central bi-district tournament.
Battle Ground, which was led by Nikki Bond’s 10 points, will play at Evergreen at 6 p.m. Friday for the district second berth to the bi-district.
Union 33, at Heritage 32 — Angelique Williams scored 18 points as Union (5-15, 2-10) capped its season with its second league win. Emily Myers scored 13 points to pace Heritage (5-15, 2-10).
Hoquiam 40, at Ridgefield 36 — Brandi Creviston scored 21 points, and hit a late 3-pointer that helped the Grizzlies earn a spot in the Class 1A District 4 tournament.
The loser-out contest was close throughout, but Creviston’s shot from the corner put Hoquiam up four points inside the last two minutes. Two foul shots by Amanda Coulimore briefly pulled the Spudders within two points.
Creviston had three 3-pointers in the game, and seven of her team’s 16 points in the fourth quarter.
Penny Hughes led Ridgefield with 14 points and four steals. The Spudders finished 9-12 on the season.
Washington School for the Deaf 40, at Columbia Adventist 37 — Olivia Mackey scored 16 points as WSD used a 16-6 advantage to the final quarter to rally past the Kodiaks. Columbia Adventist was led by Carly Waymire (13 points) and Jaci Allison (11).
