Prairie
Kelso
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelso | 17 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 66 |
| Prairie | 23 | 17 | 24 | 17 | 81 |
Prairie entered its league opener riding a scorching start to the season, and the Falcons showed no signs of slowing down Thursday night against the Hilanders of Kelso High School.
The opening quarter set the tone with nonstop action. Kelso came out aggressive, clearly intent on making a statement against what many consider the team to beat in Southwest Washington. Despite the Hilanders’ strong start, Prairie held the advantage after one, with Kelso trailing by just six, 23–17.
The second quarter featured back-and-forth basketball, as Kelso clawed its way to within one possession late in the period. Prairie responded with poise, answering every run with one of its own. By halftime, the Falcons had stretched their lead to nine, 40-31 and firmly controlled the momentum.
Coming out of the break, Prairie turned up the intensity and never looked back. The Falcons showcased their depth and dominance, refusing to take their foot off the gas. A pair of standout performances from the dynamic duo of Carson Morningstar and Malachi Patton fueled Prairie’s surge, allowing them to maintain a commanding lead throughout the second half.
When the final buzzer sounded, Prairie had secured an impressive 81–66 victory.
For Kelso, Reece White led the scoring effort with 19 points, while Alex Dieter added 16 of his own. Prairie was powered by Morningstar and Patton, who each poured in a game-high 23 points, combining for nearly 50 in a statement performance to open league play.
