PRAIRIE SOPHOMORE SETH HALL (10) waits to allow Columbia River’s Chad Pedigo (24) to fly on by during a game Jan. 29 at Prairie High School. Hall scored 16 points to lead the Falcons, who lost 42-40.
The Prairie Falcons know exactly what they need to do to get into the boys Class 3A regional basketball tournament.
Prairie heads into the final week of the Greater St. Helens League season needing a win in its finale to earn a spot in the postseason, a place the Falcons have grown accustomed to being this time of year under coach Kyle Brooks.
Prairie is tied with Fort Vancouver for third place in the 3A GSHL with a 1-3 record. The Falcons, who are 7-11 overall, host Kelso on Tuesday and then go to Fort Vancouver for Thursday’s season-ending showdown.
“No matter what, it comes down to our Fort game for us to go to regionals,’’ said Brooks, now in his 15th season at Prairie.
The Falcons defeated Fort Vancouver 69-51 earlier this season in a game played at Prairie High School.
Brooks’ team is coming off one of its best games of the season, a 42-40 loss to Columbia River on Jan. 29 at Prairie. The Chieftains’ Jacob Hjort hit a 3-pointer with seven seconds left in the game to give Columbia River the win.
“It was probably our best game of the year in terms of putting four quarters together,’’ Brooks said. “It came down to one possession and Jacob hit a great shot.’’
Seth Hall, a 6-foot-1 sophomore guard, had 16 points to lead Prairie in the loss to Columbia River, which is tied with Kelso atop the 3A GSHL standings.
Greg Bernash, a 6-4 sophomore forward, added 10 points for Prairie, which held Columbia River to single-digit scoring in two of the four quarters.
In addition to the sophomores Hall and Bernash, Brooks credits junior point guard Michael Stockbridge with consistent play for the Falcons.
“I think the key for us is consistency,’’ Brooks said. “We have done a good job playing phenomenal basketball for three quarters this season. We have to do that for four quarters.’’
