Kelso gets team-wide effort in 63-55 win over Prairie to open 3A GSHL girls basketball slate

In a wide open 3A Greater St. Helens League girls basketball race, the Kelso Hilanders made a convincing case for why they’ll be right in the thick of it.

Kelso’s 63-55 win over Prairie on Tuesday to open 3A GSHL play showcased the Hilanders’ depth and how dangerous they can be when everyone contributes.

Bregan Ruhland and Madalynn Moe paced Kelso with 15 points apiece and Hayden Johnson added 14 points to lead eight Hilanders who made at least one basket.

“It was a big team victory,” Kelso coach Andrew Johnson said. “We talked about it the last couple weeks … playing together, playing as a team, playing tough defense, and that’s what we did tonight.”

During Johnson’s first season as Kelso’s head coach, following previous stints at the helm of Castle Rock and Woodland’s boys programs, the Hilanders’ top priority has been defense.

That’s how the Hilanders (5-5, 1-0) settled in after falling behind in the opening minutes and trailing 15-14 after one quarter.

Kelso held Prairie to seven points in the second quarter and took a 28-22 lead to halftime, which they didn’t relinquish for the remainder of the game.

“It’s the number one thing,” Johnson said of Kelso’s defense. “We talk about offense sells tickets, but defense wins games.”

After Prairie (5-6, 0-1) opened the third quarter with a Mackenzie Moore 3-pointer and Harmony Fallin layup, Kelso had an answer for each Falcons run to follow.

Moe, who scored 11 of her 15 points off the bench in the second half, hit a 3-pointer inside the final minute of the third. Three more baskets from Moe, along with two Ruhland free throws and a Peyton Champagne 3-pointer, gave Kelso its largest lead, 51-40, three minutes in the final quarter.

“I want to shout out Madelynn Moe, coming off the bench scoring 15 points,” Johnson said. “She’s taken that sixth man position and running with it. I thought Bregan Ruhland had her best game of the season so far, and Hayden Johnson down low was fantastic tonight. She played the last three, four minutes with four fouls and didn’t foul out. Those three were fantastic tonight.”

Fallin scored a game-high 21 points for the Falcons despite picking up three fouls in the opening quarter. The Falcons battled foul trouble throughout with Gabriella Kay-Corrales fouling out and Olivia Brown picking up four fouls. Emma Smith added 14 points.

“It’s not easy to come into Prairie and win games, I mean, there’s a reason why they’re one of the best teams in Southwest Washington,” Johnson said. “We came in here, we did what we had to do, we took care of business and our girls played hard from the beginning to the end. It was just a great, great team victory.”

Kelso continues its 3A GSHL schedule with a road game Friday at Mountain View, last year’s co-league champion along with Evergreen. Prairie resumes 3A GSHL play Jan. 14 against Heritage.

KELSO 63, PRAIRIE 55

KELSO — Madalynn Moe 15, Peyton Champagne 8, Karsyn Hall 0, Kinsey Palmer 2, Maali Amrine 4, Eleanor Treadway 2, Mallory Scruggs 0, Emberlin Homer 0, Bregan Ruhland 15, Tru Bettineski 3, Hayden Johnson 14, Aubree Freeman  0. Totals 23 (5) 10-18 63.

PRAIRIE — Aaliah Yoeunyuthy 6, Olivia Brown 3, Andrea Garrett 0, Emma Smith 14, Mackenzie Moore 3, Gabriella Kay-Corrales 5, Chastity Murphy 0, Talitha Faalevao 3, Emilia Arango-Fraly 0, Harmony Fallin 21.  Totals 20 (2) 13-19 55.

Kelso       14          14          12          23—63

Prairie    15          7             11          22—55