Extra notes: Prairie, Skyview girls head to consolation
The Prairie Falcons returned to the Tacoma Dome for the first time since they won the Class 3A state championship in 2012.
The Skyview Storm made it to the dome for the second year in a row.
Unfortunately for both Clark County girls basketball squads, they lost Thursday and will spend Friday in the consolation bracket.
Still, there were positive things note, even after the losses.
Prairie’s Asplund remembers:
Lindsay Asplund was a freshman when Prairie won the state championship in 2012. Prairie then made it to the round of 16 the past two seasons but did not win that game to advance to the dome.
This year, the Falcons made it to their home away from home. (Prairie had been to the dome every year from 1998 through 2012.)
“It was really cool stepping on the court,” Asplund said. “I remember freshman year, I wasn’t a starter. It was cool being here again and now I was going to be a key contributor.”
Asplund scored 15 points Thursday in the team’s 51-39 loss to Bellevue. Her three-point play in the second quarter cut the deficit to seven points.
Prairie will face West Seattle at 10:30 a.m. Friday in the consolation bracket.
“We’re still here. Let’s play,” Asplund said.
Daugherty has some big goals:
Cherita Daugherty, one of the top players in Southwest Washington, played in the Tacoma Dome for the first time. She struggled early with her shot but finished strong, scoring 15 points.
“It was a real fun experience. I like it,” Daugherty said of the dome.
A junior, she wants a total of five more games in the Tacoma Dome: Two this year (Friday and Saturday), then three next year. Five wins would be a big bonus, too.
Skyview’s Comastro still believes:
As noted in The Columbian throughout the season, this is the “no-name” Skyview Storm. Gone are the Division I players. Gone are those players that the basketball community knew so well. This was pretty much a brand new Skyview team.
Ashlee Comastro said she and her teammates knew not much was expected of them, but they expected to compete for what is at stake this week in Tacoma.
“It’s great to get here,” Comastro said.
Of course, the Storm wanted to win Thursday. Instead, they lost to Moses Lake 47-36. But there remains a mission to accomplish.
“To play Saturday and place with a trophy,” Comastro said. “That’s been our goal all season.”
Friday’s consolation winners will play for fourth place Saturday and will assure themselves a trophy. Skyview will take on Bellarmine Prep at 12:15 p.m. Friday.
Comastro, by the way, scored 13 points to lead the Storm against Moses Lake. That’s seven games in a row she has reached double figures in scoring.
Reserves were ready:
Skyview’s trio off the bench Thursday had an immediate impact Thursday.
Hanna Van Nortwick made her first two shots of the first half. Riley Friauf made her first shot as well as two free throws. Maddie Lord had four points and five rebounds in about four minutes of action. The three of them combined for 12 first-half points, including eight of the team’s 15 first-quarter points.
