The Prairie Falcons finished their first stretch of the season before winter break 4-1, with all four wins coming against the 4A Greater St. Helens League (GSHL) opponents to sweep the group after a 60-58 win over the Camas Papermakers on Thursday, Dec. 18.
Throughout the all-time classic matchup between Prairie and Camas, the atmosphere felt like a playoff game. One of the major reasons: Camas High School is led by Iowa-signee Ethan Harris. Harris towers at 6-foot-8, but so does Prairie’s Carson Morningstar. Harris led the game with 30 points while Morningstar had 16 points.
Prairie senior guard Payton Poppe, adding some clutch moments, added 15 points off the bench for the Falcons.
Despite Harris’ point total, the Falcon defense kept his impact much lower than it could have been, especially when senior Falcon guard Ben Nkansah lined up against Harris.
“He is the best defender I’ve ever played with,” Morningstar said of Nkansah, adding that Nkansah is also a great finisher at the rim on offense. “And you know, Ethan, he’s way taller. His wingspan, way bigger. He can shoot over us, and (Nkansah) really closed out and just gave it his all out there, and that’s the best thing a teammate could ask for really. Everybody played great defense against him.”
The Falcons held the lead at the end of each quarter, but the fourth quarter was a back and forth affair with less than four minutes to play. Camas found themselves in the lead for the first time at 55-54 with just over three minutes to play after a Harris three-pointer. Camas then tied it up at 58-58, thanks to another Harris three-pointer.
But just like he did in the previous game against Skyview High School, junior guard Malachi Patton put the game on ice with two free throws to give the final 60-58 score.
“That felt great,” Patton said. “Last week, the two free throws against Skyview to seal the game. Tied game, one second left, I knew what I had to do. I had to win it for our team. We haven’t beat Camas in a really long time, so I know I had to make history tonight. It feels great.”
For Morningstar, offense can come easy for him at his towering size, and the same with high scoring guards the Falcons have. But defense is where offense builds momentum from, Morningstar said.
“I think it really just takes a great defense to have a good offense,” he said, adding that completing the sweep of the league above the Falcons feels good. “But honestly, the road’s going to become way bumpier. And, you know, there’s some big names in 3A.”
After Prairie’s win against Skyview High School the week prior, Patton highlighted the chance to sweep the 4A GSHL opponents if they were to win against Camas.
“It feels great to go through a competitive 4A,” he said after sealing the sweep. “We went through every 4A out here. So, it’s just getting us ready for our 3A league and of course state next.”
Patton added that the experience gained in four wins over 4A teams has built a glowing chemistry heading closer to league play after some out-of-area winter break opponents.
The Falcons will play Auburn-Mountainview High School at home on Saturday, Dec. 27, at 6 p.m.
Prairie will begin league play in the 3A GSHL after winter break on Jan. 7 against Kelso High School at home at 7 p.m.
