PRAIRIE 46, CAMAS 44 

The Prairie Falcons just call it The Streak.

All involved in the girls basketball program know about it. They all know it's been more than 10 years since the team last lost to a Clark County opponent.

Through the years, there have been a handful of close calls. 

Add Camas to that list now. Yes, the Papermakers.

Camas coach Kent Thomas recalled earlier in Prairie's dominant stretch, the Falcons were always expected to win by 40 or more. Also, years ago, everyone — not just Prairie — assumed a win when playing Camas.

Well, the streak might be alive still, but the notion that Camas is an easy win is long gone. 

"I'm happy and disappointed at the same time," Thomas said after his Papermakers lost by two points Monday against powerful Prairie. "The overriding emotion ... is I'm just really proud of our kids."

THE NUMBERS: Here is an update of the streak: Prairie improved to 9-0 in the Class 3A Greater St. Helens League with Monday's win, meaning the Falcons have now won 121 consecutive league games. That turns into 135 when including district tournament games. Prairie also just clinched its 13th consecutive league title. Prairie's last loss to a Clark County opponent was Jan. 31, 2000, against Battle Ground.

SWISH: Angela Gelhar made 13 free throws Monday night. Out of 13 attempts. I asked Prairie coach Al Aldridge if he could recall any of his former players making that many in a game without a miss.

"Maybe her sister?" he said.

He said he will look it up, but for now, let's assume Jamey Gelhar never went to the line that many times in a high school game. If she did, chances are she made all of them, too.

Jamey Gelhar set an NCAA record last year by making 78 consecutive free throws for St. Martins University in Lacey. Just so happens Jamey, a senior at St. Martin's, was in Camas to watch Angela play on Monday.

So of course Angela had to maintain the family name. But 13 free throws? For a guard known for shooting 3-pointers?

"I've never driven (to the basket) that much in a game," she said.

Oh, and her freebies were under pressure, too. Remember, this was one of those rare close games for Prairie. The Falcons ended up only scoring four points in the fourth quarter — all on Gelhar free throws. The last two gave Prairie a five-point cushion with 25 seconds remaining.

FRESHMEN POWER: Because of their long winning streak, no one is going to feel sorry for the Falcons for any tough news. But Prairie is now without two starters. Heather Corral is out for the season with a knee injury, and senior Michelle Bolliger is out this week after suffering a concussion. 

The Falcons are just relying more on their younger players now.

Three freshmen — Meghan Lindsely, Jackie Lanz, and Emily Rowe — were in the starting lineup Monday. 

Lanz scored seven of her 10 points in the first quarter. She also finished with seven rebounds. Rowe, meanwhile, had five points and 10 rebounds. 

"Rebounds were the key for this game," Rowe said. "Just work hard. I gotta get in there and rebound."

It was a strange game, with the rebounding. By the end of the night, the numbers were close. But Camas owned much of the third quarter, especially with offensive rebounding. The Papermakers scored eight second-chance points in the period. 

But toward the end of the period, Prairie got five offensive rebounds on one possession, leading to two free throws by Lanz.

In the fourth-quarter, it was Prairie tracking down a lot of their misses. (The Falcons went 0 for 14 from the floor in the period. Yikes!) Rowe got more aggressive as the game progressed, doing her part on the backboards.

She said she was not worried when Camas took a two-point lead in the third quarter.

"I just had all the confidence in my teammates that were going to get through it," Rowe said.

And after the game, she was reminded that she is now officially part of a league championship team.

"It's awesome," she said. "Just keeping up that winning tradition at Prairie is an honor."

THE PROBLEM WITH BEING SO GOOD: There is no doubt about it. Melissa Williams, a junior for Camas, is a special talent. Of course, that means a team that specializes in defense, i.e, Prairie, is able to throw all kinds of looks at her.

Williams came real close to leading Camas to the upset. She scored 12 points in the first half. However, the Prairie defense suffocated her in the second half. She played in control, only taking three shots, and was held to one point in the second half.

"I thought Lauren (Goecke) did a real nice job on her in the fourth quarter," Prairie coach Al Aldridge said. "I think Melissa got tired in the second half. She was so effective in the first half."

"They played awesome," Gelhar said of the Papermakers. "We tried to shut down Melissa Williams because she's so good."

By the way, gotta give credit to Camas' Kayla Roche, too. She scored 13 points off the bench. She grabbed eight rebounds, including four on the offensive end. It was her rebound off a missed free throw and putback that gave Camas a 36-34 lead midway through the third quarter.

Haley Smith ended up with eight points and 11 rebounds for the Papermakers. 

UGLY NUMBERS: Besides Gelhar's free throw shooting, nobody really wants to look at this boxscore. But here are a few numbers:

• Camas shot 34 percent from the floor ... and dominated field goal percentage. Prairie was 12 of 60, for 20 percent.
• Camas was 1 of 6 from 3-point range. Still better than Prairie. The Falcons were 3 of 25.
• Prairie did grab 21 offensive rebounds, including five in that one possession late in the third quarter.