PRAIRIE SENIOR CHERITA DAUGHERTY (32) drives past a Battle Ground defender during the Falcons’ win over the Tigers Friday at Prairie High School. Photo by Mike Schultz
PRAIRIE JUNIOR GUARD Grace Prom (14) goes up for a shot while Battle Ground’s Kelly Poteet (32) provides the defense during Friday’s game at Prairie High School. Prom led the Falcons to a 71-21 victory by scoring 24 points.
BRUSH PRAIRIE – The Prairie Falcons poured in 14 3-pointers and combined that hot shooting with a smothering defense to defeat Battle Ground 71-21 Friday night in a non-league girls basketball game at Prairie High School.
Prairie improved its season record to 3-1 with the lopsided win. The Falcons were led by junior guard Grace Prom, who had a game-high 24 points. Senior guard Cherita Daugherty added 13 points.
“Our shots are clicking right now, that’s for sure,’’ said Prairie coach Brett Johnson. “I think we still need to work on our defense, we’re not getting to the right spots so that is a work in progress just like last year when we started our slow and worked our way up. But, they’ve definitely learned out how to move the ball and find better shots.’’
Johnson praised his players for their unselfish and willingness to pass the basketball, which he said led to the made shots from behind the 3-point line.
“Especially against the zone, we were just too impatient in the past,’’ Johnson said. “We need to just be patient and make the defense work. We know we can shoot; we’ve been shooting it for the three years that I’ve been here. We know we can shoot, it’s about getting the right shot.’’
Prairie’s ability to get the right shot usually depends largely on the leadership and steadying influence of Daugherty, who plays point guard and serves as the proverbial coach on the floor for the Falcons.
“She’s had a bit of slow start because she’s dealing with some injury stuff,’’ Johnson said of his senior, who recently committed to play next season at the University of Idaho. “She runs the whole offense. She’s the one who keeps it calm out there.
“She just plays good basketball,’’ Johnson continued, referring to Daugherty. “She’s got good peripheral vision so she can see the court really well and she’s very athletic. She’s always around seven or eight rebounds a game and she blocks shots left and and right.’’
Prom’s marksmanship in the win over Battle Ground was a welcomed sight for her coach.
“She was in a little bit of a slump last year but this year right out of the blocks she’s been on fire,’’ Johnson said of Prom. “I told her that this is the year she would have a coming out party and she is being more aggressive. You can tell she is feeling a lot more comfortable.’’
Joining Daugherty and Prom in the Falcons’ starting lineup is junior guard Jozie Tangeman, who served as Prairie’s sixth man much of last season. Tangeman had six points in the win over the Tigers.
“She can shoot,’’ Johnson said of Tangeman.
Senior Macey Hsu and senior Natalie Whitesel fill out Prairie’s starting lineup at this point in the season. Hsu had eight points in Friday’s win over Battle Ground.
“Macey has picked her game up so much,’’ Johnson said. “Every time she shoots I think the ball is going in. She has a very quick release.’’
Whitesel is a returning starter from last season who provides solid defense, rebounding and scoring when needed.
“In the game before, she was 3-for-4 on 3-pointers,’’ Johnson said of Whitesel after the Battle Ground victory.
Freshman Mallory Williams, a 5-foot-11 forward, had nine rebounds in the win over the Tigers. Along with the 5-10 Whitesel, Williams helps control the boards and the inside game for Prairie.
Cassidy Gardner, a 5-6 guard, is another freshman getting significant playing time for this year’s Falcons’ team. Gardner chipped in five points against the Tigers Friday. Johnson said she is chipping in about seven points a game so far this season.
Senior guard Dejah Gobert had seven points in the win over Battle Ground. She adds depth to Prairie’s talented backcourt. Senior Kris Rocci, a 5-7 forward, is one of the key reserves for the Falcons’ frontline.
“Dejah comes off the bench and she brings shooting,’’ Johnson said. “Kris is energetic. She just flies around. When I need somebody to be physical, I bring her in.’’
Junior guard Sarina Martinez added eight points in Friday’s win.
Johnson said his team has enough talent and potential to earn a return trip to the state tournament.
“I think we have a chance to be really good,’’ he said. “I told the girls, it’s up to them. The way we played against Camas (in a loss earlier this season), won’t work. We’ve got to be consistent.’’
