Team preview – GSHL 3A – Prairie Falcons

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prairie lost Maddie Clouse (1st team GSHL 3A) and Joely Rank (2nd team) to graduation. The good news is 1st team post Claire Smith (2024) is back, along with guard [player_tooltip player_id='665068' first='Emma' last='Smith'] (2026). There are only four other players listed on the roster who weren't seniors. They also have coach of the year Mike Smith from last season. Is this a family affair at Prairie? I don't know but all three will have a lot to do with how they perform this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><em>2022-23 season -11-10 (6-2) 2nd in league</em></strong> -<strong><em> Eliminated in round 2 of District 4 by Gig Harbor </em></strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Head coach - Mike Smith </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline">Key Returning players</span></em></strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Claire Smith ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12122","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Prairie ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cemu003eClaire is a classic post player. Secures the ball really well on rebounds. She has a nice little jump hook over the right shoulder. She uses a drop step, or a few dribbles to get to the basket with good footwork. She has the length at 6'0, plus she runs very well. Good athlete. I was most impressed with the way she secured rebounds, although she is tough to stop on the block. Claire is a player that should be in the next 2024 rankings update. u003c/emu003eu003cbru003eu003cbru003eu0026nbsp;","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='665068' first='Emma' last='Smith'] ","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"12125","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Prairie ","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"u003cemu003eAlthough I don't know if they are sisters or even related, Emma makes for the second part of a nice inside out combo. She is a shooter and a three point threat, hitting multiple of them in several games, including 5 vs Heritage. She also provides some length on the perimeter. The Smith's could be drawing up plays at the dinner table and the three of them should be as the biggest pieces back in 2024.u003c/emu003ernrnu003cemu003e u003c/emu003e","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64f4f14505e9b"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><em>Other returners</em></strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Janae Taison</strong> - 5'5 - G - 2024<br><strong>Lili Samwel</strong> - 5'9 - F - 2024<br><strong>Natalie Coughran</strong> - 5'10 - F - 2024<br><strong>Chasity Murphy</strong> - 5'11 - F - 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Predicted 2024 GSHL 3A finish - 3rd</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->