Baker dug itself a deep first-quarter hole then rallied to break a four-game losing streak, defeating Pendleton 79-75 in double overtime Tuesday in the Baker gym.

Dillon Blankenship’s short baseline jumper with 37 seconds left in the second extra period gave Baker the lead for good in the non-league boys basketball game.

Jordan Curtis added a pair of insurance free throws with 12.6 seconds left.

Baker fell behind 18-7 after one quarter, then rallied to take a 31-25 halftime edge.

Jordan Curtis scored 10 second-quarter points to help lead the Bulldogs back to a 26-25 lead with 1:18 left in the first half.

Pendleton then was called for back-to-back technical fouls and the resulting free throws lifted Baker on top 31-25 at the break.

“We came out and didn’t take care of things early,” said Baker coach Joel Richardson.

“But the kids responded well. We had really good second and third quarters.”

Baker outscored the Bucks 24-7 in the second period, and 22-17 in the third.

Blankenship scored eight of his game-high 33 points, and Phillips added five in the third quarter where Baker took a 49-42 edge. Another Pendleton technical added four free throws in the final second to boost Baker up 53-42 entering the final period.

The Bulldogs led 57-47 with 6:02 left in regulation. Pendleton then went on a 12-0 run to take a 59-57 edge with 2:14 left.

“When we lost that 10-point lead I don’t know if we were tired or what,” Richardson said.

“We were short on numbers, but we fought through that phase.”

Baker played just six players.

“These kids are tough,” Richardson said. “Thomas Hamilton gave us a nice rebounding stretch. Braden Phillips and Jordan Curtis really complimented us well. Trent Taylor was just solid off the bench. Dillon shot the ball well, and Colten does things that don’t always get noticed in the newspaper.”

The teams then traded leads until Pendleton tied the game at 63-63 with 11.2 seconds left in the fourth period.

Blankenship’s three-point try at the buzzer fell off the rim.

Each team scored seven points in the first overtime. Blankenship hit one of two free throws with 25.8 seconds left to send the game into the second extra period.

Pendleton opened the second overtime by hitting three free throws for a 73-70 lead.

Colten Richards then hit two free throws with 2:41 left to cut the deficit to 73-72.

Then, after Pendleton was whistled for an offensive foul, Phillips connected on a three-point play to give Baker a 75-73 lead with 1:16 left.

Pendleton tied the game again at 75-75 before Blankenship’s winning basket.

Phillips and Curtis each added 15 points.

Baker opens Greater Oregon League play Friday when the Bulldogs host Ontario.

Baker split Tuesday’s preliminary games.

Baker won the frosh/soph game 62-56. Kyle Srack led the Bulldogs with 12 points.

Baker lost the junior varsity game 57-48. Ben Baxter led Baker with 15 points.

Pendleton 18 7 17 21 7 5 andndash; 75

Baker 7 24 22 10 7 9 andndash; 79

Pendleton (75) – Boozer 2 4-5 8, Alger 2 2-2 7, Robinson, George 1 0-0 3, Davis 5 2-2 13, Futter, Polhamus 3 1-1 7, Madson 4 7-7 15, Anderson 2 4-6 8, Beard 4 0-1 8, Moses 3 0-0 6. Totals 26 20-24 75.

Baker (79) – Richards 2 3-4 7, Hamilton 0 4-6 4, Phillips 6 2-3 15, Blankenship 6 19-21 33, Taylor 2 1-2 5, Curtis 5 2-2 15. Totals 21 31-38 79.

Three-point goals – Alger, George, Davis, Phillips, Blankenship 2, Curtis 3. Fouled out – Davis, Polhamus, Beard, Hamilton. Total fouls – Pendleton 33, Baker 21. Technicals – Pendleton bench, Davis, Polhamus, Moses.