Baker’s superior stamina proved to be the difference Friday when the Bulldogs defeated La Grande 67-57 in a Greater Oregon League girls basketball game at La Grande.

The teams traded leads almost all evening before Baker pulled away in the second half of the fourth quarter.

Trailing 50-48, No. 11 Baker went on a 19-7 run to finish the game and improve its GOL record to 4-0.

“The girls gutted it out,” said a hoarse Mat Sand, Baker’s coach Saturday morning. “I’m so proud of the girls.

“We set a goal at the beginning of the season to be in better shape than the other teams. We just ran them into the ground in the fourth quarter.”

Kaeli Flanagan, who finished with 11 points, gave Baker the lead for good at 51-50 on a three-point play with 3:05 left in the game.

On the play Flanagan missed her first shot but teammate Desi Davis got the rebound. Davis then missed a shot and Flanagan gained the rebound.

When Flanagan put up another shot she was fouled as the ball went into the basket. She then made the free throw for the lead.

Gracie Huggins and Sydney Younger then took over the offense.

Huggins, who led Baker with 18 points, hit a pair of three-point baskets, and Younger, who added 16 points, scored points in the final two minutes.

Jayme Ramos added four of her 12 points during that stretch as well.

“I’m really proud of Sydney Younger,” Sand said. “She had a breakthrough game.

“And Gracie Huggins provided great senior leadership down the stretch.”

Early on La Grande gave Baker everything it wanted.

The teams battled through six ties and six lead changes in the first half. They added seven ties and 10 lead changes in the second half before Baker pulled away.

“We were a little tight in the first half,” Sand said. “But we kept our offense going.”

Baker trailed 11-10 after one quarter, but battled back to take a 26-24 halftime lead.

La Grande trailed by just two points despite making just three field goals in the first half, none in the second period.

The Tigers stayed close by going 19-of-21 from the free throw line in the first half.

Baker hosts Mac-Hi Friday in GOL play. A Baker win would clinch the GOL regular-season title for the Bulldogs.

BAKER (67)

Bruce 0 1-2 1, Huggins 7 2-4 18, Ward 1 1-2 3, Davis 0 2-4 2, Younger 6 4-6 16, Nemec, Ramos 2 7-8 12, Carter 1 1-2 4, Flanagan 3 5-6 11. Totals 20 23-34 67.

LA GRANDE (57) –

Givens 2 0-0 5, Miles 3 18-19 24, Jensen 2 0-2 4, Conrad 0 0-3 0, Lester 4 7-9 16, Orton, Tussey 0 0-2 0, Hatley, Hutchins 0 1-2 1, Howton 1 4-7 7. Totals 12 30-44 57.

Baker -10 16 11 30 — 67

La Grande – 11 13 12 21 — 57

Three-point baskets — Huggins 2, Ramos, Carter, Givens, Lester, Howton. Fouled out — Jensen, Letser. Total fouls — Baker 27, La Grande 28. Technicals — La Grande Coach MacKay, Baker Coach Sand.