Story Photos
 Kelso's Mackenzie Martin looks for help as she gets pressured by Prairie defenders, while Kelso's Danielle Birch runs ahead. Greg Ebersole / The Daily News
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Speedy Falcons shut down Lassies 
Wednesday, December 10, 2008 2:04 PM PST
By Ben Zimmerman
Printable version
E-mail this articleTo maintain and grow as a state playoff contender, said Kelso coach Lacey DeWeert, the Lassies need nights like Tuesday. They need to fight through full-court pressure that makes passing a kidney stone seem pleasant by comparison. They need to defend against slashers such as Lauren Goecke, even if slowing floodwaters with a screen door would be easier.
“There are top teams and bottom teams in Southwest Washington,” DeWeert said. “We consider ourselves a top team. I’d rather be forced to compete than blow someone out by 60. We needed tonight.”
There were lessons behind the lumps absorbed in a 70-43 nonleague loss to Prairie, juggernaut of juggernauts in girls’ state basketball history. The Falcons have won 117 consecutive games against conference opponents, and with their relentless full-court pressure, on-ball defense and half-court trapping, they force foes to play at a frenetic pace that is extremely uncomfortable.
Kelso guards spent too much time dribbling with their heads down, DeWeert said, and missed numerous opportunities for easy baskets that were one long pass away.
The Lassies (2-1) also coughed up 25 turnovers.
“We haven’t played a game that fast this season or last, and probably not since we played White River in the district tournament (in 2006),” said DeWeert. “They just don’t let you have anything easy. We need to become more comfortable with basketball played at that speed. When we did break their pressure, I thought we did a pretty good job of trying to establish our half-court offense. It’s the first game where we’ve run recognizable offense.”
The game was never close, as driving baskets by Goecke (20 points) and freshman Heather Corral (15) fueled a game-opening spurt that made it 10-2. It was 18-6 after one quarter, and stretched into blowout territory midway through the second with a trio of 3-pointers by Corral putting Kelso in the rearview mirror.
Prairie did not shoot lights-out, but the Lassies had trouble keeping the Falcons off the glass. Kelso did not secure its first rebound until 6:53 remained in the second quarter. The turnovers, and second and third opportunities, kept the Lassies from making any serious push.
When Kelso did solve the Prairie press, it tried to pound the ball down low to 6-foot-1 junior post Carly Perkins. She had team-highs in points (12) and rebounds (seven).
Madeline Zbaeren added nine points and a steal, and Caitlynn Jackson came off the bench to pump in nine points.
Cassy Teig added six points and two steals for Kelso.
Prairie had dominated the Greater St. Helens 4A League this decade prior to the 2008-10 reclassification cycle, which dropped it to 3A and bumped Kelso to 4A.
A playoff rematch is not in the cards, although DeWeert would take one.
“We’d like to play them at the end,” she said. “We’ll play teams like them, and games like this are important to prepare us for those kind of teams.”
DeWeert also hopes that the Lassies use the loss as motivation for Thursday’s opponent.
Fort Vancouver is coming to town. The Trappers beat Kelso in four of five games last season, topping the Lassies for the league title, in the district championship game and in a loser-out game at the 3A state tournament.
Will revenge be a factor on Thursday?
“Absolutely,” DeWeert said.
Falcons 70, Lassies 43
PRAIRIE (70) — Angela Gelhar 4, Kristen Munson 2, Heather Corral 15, Lauren Goecke 20, Lindsey Levanen 8, Bolliger 3, Smith 0, Payne 0, Sonners 4, Rebello 2, Prestwich 10
KELSO (43) — Danielle Birch 0, Carly Perkins 12, Cassy Teig 6, Jessica Warthen 0, Madeline Zbaeren 9, Jessica Melone 3, Mackenzie Martin 4, Natasha Marith 0, Caitlynn Jackson 9
Prairie 18 19 12 21 — 70
Kelso 6 16 7 14 — 43
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