A season for the ages comes to an end.

Here’s the frustrating thing about experience – especially late postseason basketball experience – you can’t learn from it until you get it.

The Hawks, starting two freshmen, two sophomores, and a junior in their WIAA Sectional Seminfinal against Racine Lutheran, had their whirlwind season come to an end Thursday night with a 56-51 loss that was equal parts thrilling, inspiring, and gut-wrenching.

Freshman guard JJ Barnes led Prairie with 19 points. Junior guard Sophia Lawler added 18.

One year after finishing 4-22, the Hawks soared to a 24-3 record in 2021-22 and finished the regular season ranked 10th in the Division 4 AP Poll. Prior to their loss against Lutheran, they had won 16 consecutive games.

“I told them that it’s not what they want to hear right now, but we’re a very young team,” Head Coach Abby Jaramillo told the Racine Journal Times following the game. “I just hope that everyone learns from this experience. Just being in this environment is going to help them when we get to do it again.”

Congratulations, girls, on one of the finest seasons in program history. The future is very bright.

Photo courtesy of the Racine Journal Times. Click here to see the paper’s complete photo gallery from the game.