For the first time in Kyle Brooks’ long tenure as Prairie’s boys basketball coach, the Falcons will play for a bi-district title.
And for the third time this year, they’ll face league-rival Kelso after dispatching Capital of Olympia, 47-45, in the teams’ 3A bi-district semifinal Thursday night.
One night after senior Kam Osborn’s game winner clinched Prairie’s state berth, the Falcons did it on the defensive end in the final possession, as Capital attempted for a possible game-winner with 4 seconds to go.
Osborn led the Falcons with 14 points and Aidan Fraly added 10.
Brooks commended the defensive play of Bronson King (nine points) in the paint against two of Capital’s starters at 6-8 and 6-6.
Prairie faces Kelso, the defending bi-district champion and a semifinal winner Thursday over Lincoln of Tacoma, at 2 p.m. Saturday at Puyallup High School for the bi-district title.
Brooks praised his team’s grit, preserverance and detemrination over the past 24 hours winning two games in the final possession on the road.
Now, they’ll face a Kelso team for a third time after splitting the regular-season series with the Hilanders (20-2).
“It’s going to be an exciting atmosphere,” Brooks said of the all-GSHL bidistrict title game. “Win or lose, both teams, I think, can walk away feeling great.”
PRAIRIE 47, CAPITAL 45
CAPITAL — Gabe Landers 14, Spencer Halstead, Chris Penner 4, Lucas Bowser 13, Mason Bertelli, Brandin Riedel 4, Duncan McDermott 4, Grant Erickson 6. Totals 18 (5) 4-5 45.
PRAIRIE — AJ Dixson 5, Zeke Dixson 4, Aidan Fraly 10, Thomas Hapgood 3, Bronson King 9, Gabe Lilly, Kameron Osborn 14, Reece Walling 2. Totals 17 (7) 6-9 47
Capital 10 17 16 8–45
Prairie 10 14 16 7–47
