It’s mid November, it’s getting dark out earlier and our Prairie Fire womens basketball team harnessed that energy as they were lights out in Memorial Gym in their matchup with the Eureka Eagles. Some have had this game earmarked as the battle of the 309 presidents as Lincoln (famously) spoke at Knox and Reagan (famously) attended Eureka (and also went to elementary school at Silas Willard in Galesburg). But you didn’t come here for President facts, you came here for basketball.

The first quarter our Besties came out on (Prairie) Fire playing shut down defense and being led by the rebounding machine Kristin Herndon. Offensively the besties were led by the sharpshooter Sarina Dacio who ended the first quarter with 8pts. The first quarter ended with a score 18-9 in favor of the besties.

Coming into the second quarter with a lead, the besties decided that it was so much fun, they should continue to do that. True to her word, head coach Kira Mowen’s offense was spreading the ball around with speed and accuracy with what seemed like each bestie getting a touch or two before shots went up. Before you knew it our Prairie Fire went into halftime up 41-25.

What stood out in the third quarter was not only the tough shots that our besties put up, not only the heart and passion they continued to display, but came from one of the fans in the stand. Athletic Director Daniella Irle in awe of the gorgeous offensive movement *allegedly* had this to say: “in honor of how well our team is moving, I’m thinking of a food court outside of memorial gym called ‘pick a roll’. Get it? Like pick and roll….the basketball play…?” This is an allegedly developing story that is with nearly 100% certainty not happening, but we will update you as this develops. With not much scoring happening, the third quarter closes as Knox continued to lead 48-36.

As the fourth quarter began, the refs continued their laziness with their whistles with multiple jump balls called as fouls against our besties. And while they said they were sorry, the refs still gave them a foul. That was dumb on the refs part because all it did was make us play harder. With gritted teeth, and a clear smile on their faces, the besties were laser focused on closing the game out with a win. The shots were sank (sunk? I’m not sure what the tense is) and most impressive was the amount of players who were able to get involved. As she checked in to the game in the fourth quarter, the stands near this sports reporter went crazy as Madi Bunger checked into the game. As she moved across the court effortlessly, she created great opportunities for others and got off a really tough shot in the paint surrounded by Eureka players. With the final whistle, the final score was besties 70 resties 57.

This gives Head Coach Kira Mowen and her staff their first home win at Memorial gym. We have no doubt that with her coaching ability and the talent on her roster, there will be many more home wins to celebrate. As always, we’re at PFSN are extremely proud of the way that our besties played and the way they conducted themselves on the court. #FireUp

I don’t know who is hotter: me at my grandparents during the winter when they set they it thermostat to 80• or the Eureka head coach for literally no reason at all

Amateur sports reporter