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Ben Nkansah hits go-ahead 3-pointer to send Prairie boys to 60-55 win over Mountain View

Falcons capture 3A Greater St. Helens League title with the win

By Tim Martinez, Columbian Assistant Sports Editor
Published: February 4, 2025, 10:17pm
5 Photos
Prairie head coach Jimmy Tuominen celebrates the Falcons' 3A Greater St. Helens League boys basketball championship along with Ben Nkansah (5), Carson Morningstar (back) and Griffin Smith (24) at Prairie High School on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025.
Prairie head coach Jimmy Tuominen celebrates the Falcons' 3A Greater St. Helens League boys basketball championship along with Ben Nkansah (5), Carson Morningstar (back) and Griffin Smith (24) at Prairie High School on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. (Tim Martinez/The Columbian) Photo Gallery

Last summer after the new gym floor was installed at Prairie High School, boys basketball coach Jimmy Tuominen texted a picture of the floor to his players.

Junior Ben Nkansah sent a reply.

“He said ‘Coach, I can’t wait to be in that gym and win a league title on that floor,’ ” Tuominen said. “And how cool was it that he hit the shot that put us over the top. It’s kind of like it was meant to be.”

Nkansah hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 20 seconds to play to propel the Prairie boys basketball team to a 60-55 win over Mountain View on Tuesday night, clinching the 3A Greater St. Helens League title for the Falcons.

“We’ve been working all offseason for this,” Nkansah said of the league title. “We ran miles. We’ve had the goal. And to execute it, it’s a big accomplishment for us.”

A tight game the whole way, Mountain View tied the game 55-55 on a free throw by Tre’von Hughes-Farmer with 52 seconds left.

Prairie brought the ball down the floor, looking for junior post Carson Morningstar, who led the Falcons with 29 points.

Morningstar got the ball at the free-throw line before passing to Malachi Patton, looking for the pick-and-roll.

Instead, with the shot clock winding down, Patton drove into the key, then kicked the ball out to Nkansah on the left wing. The junior knocked down the 3-pointer for 58-55 lead.

“That last play, they were clogging it up,” Nkansah said. “They were on Malachi the whole game, double-teaming Carson. When the ball came to me, I knew I just had to go up. So I shot it with all my confidence and made it.”

On Mountain View’s next possession, Nkansah drew a charge in the lane to thwart the Thunder’s comeback hopes. Morningstar later hit two free throws to seal it.

Morningstar said Nkansah’s defense has been pivotal to Prairie’s success this season.

“He locked up every best player in our entire league,” Morningstar said. “He probably averaged like four or five steals a game. That was big for us.”

Nkansah said: “Defense is something that on any given night, you can always play your heart out. If you’re having an off-night shooting, defense is really the key to success. Everybody, it gives the whole team energy.”

14 Photos
Carson Morningstar (20) of Prairie takes a shot over Jack Fournier (left) of Mountain View during a 3A Greater St. Helens League boys basketball game at Prairie High School on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025.
Prairie Mountain View boys basketball Photo Gallery

Prairie was 4-5 coming out of the winter break, but the Falcons have won nine of their last 10 to capture the 3A GSHL title.

“We just kind of went from hero ball to playing as a team together,” Morningstar said. “Definitely the biggest part of our game switchup is getting rebounds, offensive rebounds, and basically Ben just playing great defense.”

Tuominen said the Falcons became tighter as a team down the stretch.

“You kind of saw it tonight,” Tuominen said. “Big guys hitting big shots. Riley Burke, a senior. Ben, being like third scorer for us, fourth scorer for us. He hit some big 3s early, hit the 3 that put us ahead, then took that big charge at the end of the game.”

Nkansah finished with 13 points for Prairie (13-6, 6-1 3A GSHL) and found himself atop the ladder after Tuesday’s win, cutting down the net.

“There’s not many chances ever to be able to be your home, win a league championship and cut down a net when it’s a winner-take-all,” Tuominen said. “And for these guys to experience that, to dream about it and be able to do it, it’s so cool.”

Morningstar described it as pure joy.

“Just getting to this moment, especially at home going 8-0, which is pretty impressive,” Morningstar said. “Just with the fans, it’s like family here. As soon as Ben hit that shot, the crowd was amazing. … When that happened, just pure joy for me.”

PRAIRIE 60, MOUNTAIN VIEW 55

MOUNTAIN VIEW — Theo Sheron 2, Tre’von Hughes-Farmer 15, Malcolm Weatherspoon 12, Luke Swerdlik 11, Auzzi Ashdown 2, Jack Fournier 21, Trey Johnson 7. Totals 22 (5) 6-10 55.

PRAIRIE — Jamir Jones 3, Malachi Patton 6, Ben Nkansah 13, Carson Morningstar 29, Tavin Timperley  0, Daniel Carbajal-Vargas 2, Riley Burke 7. Totals 24 (4) 8-10 60.

Mt. View           17          19          10          9—55

Prairie                16          15          12          17—60

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