HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL: Baker boys’ rally falls short, Bulldogs suffer first loss of season

Published 12:16 pm Saturday, December 14, 2024

The Baker boys basketball team battled back yet again, but after three late game-winning rallies in its last four games, the Bulldogs took their first loss of the season, 64-54, to Rocky Mountain High School of Meridian, Idaho, in the championship game at the Pro Image Sports Holiday Classic Saturday afternoon, Dec. 14, on the Grizzlies’ home court.

The Bulldogs, 6-1 overall, didn’t wilt after falling behind 38-23 at halftime, the biggest deficit Baker has faced this season.

The Bulldogs cut the lead to five points in the third quarter and got as close as six points in the fourth, but Rocky Mountain made enough plays, in particular breaking Baker’s fullcourt press to get easy baskets, to hold off the Bulldogs.

“The players played extremely hard all weekend long,” Baker coach Jebron Jones said. “Today we didn’t make enough stops to get over the hump. They exerted lots of energy battling back on both ends of the floor.”

First quarter

Rocky Mountain’s outside shooting was uncanny to start, as the Grizzlies made five 3-pointers en route to a 24-16 lead after one quarter.

Rocky Mountain led by as many as 14, at 22-8, but Isaiah Jones and Eli Long had consecutive 3-pointers to trim the lead.

Second quarter

The Grizzlies’ outside shooting cooled off, with only one 3-pointer in the quarter, but Rocky Mountain started looking to make entry passes into the key, which led to several baskets.

Isaiah Jones scored all seven of Baker’s points in the quarter as the Grizzlies increased their lead to 38-23 at halftime.

The Bulldogs had several shots bounce around the rim before falling out. Rocky Mountain wasn’t especially bothered by Baker’s fullcourt press, and the Grizzlies’ quick passing around the perimeter was responsible for most of their open 3-point shots.

Isaiah Jones had 16 points to lead Baker.

Third quarter

Baker extended its perimeter defense and denied Rocky Mountain open looks for 3-pointers, as the Grizzlies made just two long balls in the second half.

The Bulldogs, meanwhile, made a pair of 3-pointers, by Long and Logsdon, and Isaiah Jones had a conventional three-point play as the Bulldogs cut the lead more than in half, trailing 47-40 entering the final period. Baker twice got within five points.

Fourth quarter

Baker got to within eight points, at 53-45, on Long’s 16-foot jumper, but Rocky Mountain broke Baker’s press for two straight baskets to go up 59-47 with 2:47 left.

Long swished another jumper from the free throw line to cut the lead to 10, at 59-49, with 1:28 left. After Baker forced a turnover, Long made a difficult runner from 12 feet in the lane, and Baker coach Jebron Jones called timeout with 1:05 left and the lead down to eight.

With only one team foul in the final minutes, though, Baker had to intentionally foul four straight times to force free throws and stop the clock.

Rocky Mountain made four straight free throws to boost the lead to 63-51, and Baker didn’t have time enough to rally for another improbable win.

Isaiah Jones led all scorers with 31 points. Long added 12, but no other Bulldog scored in double figures. Rocky Mountain had three players in double figures, led by Tanner Sweaney with 15.

Baker now has nearly two weeks off before traveling to Portland to compete in the prestigious Les Schwab Invitational. Baker will play La Lumiere, Indiana, on Dec. 27 at 7:30 p.m.

“I’m real proud of the state of our team,” coach Jones said. “They are mentally tough and have a desire to work hard. We definitely need to work on all aspects of our game and will do our best to improve.” 

BAKER (54)

Gambleton 0 0-0 0, Churchfield 0 2-2 2, R. Jones 2 0-0 4, I. Jones 11 7-9 31, Long 5 0-0 12, Logsdon 1 3-3 6, Holden 0 0-0 0, Joseph 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 12-14 54.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN (64)

Hammond 3 0-0 6, Sweaney 5 2-2 15, Crane 1 1-2 3, Savedra 4 2-6 12, Swenson 0 0-0 0, Turner 0 2-2 2, Price 1 0-0 2, Stevens 2 0-0 5, Thomas 2 0-0 6, Turpin 5 3-4 13. Totals 22 10-16 64.

Baker         16   7  17  14 — 54

Rocky Mt.   24  14   9  17 — 64

Class 1A boys

Powder Valley 1-4

Next game: Thursday, Dec. 19, vs. Harper Charter at Bobcat Classic in Union, 3 p.m.

Friday and Saturday, Dec. 20-21: at Bobcat Classic

Pine Eagle 0-6

Next game: Thursday, Dec. 19, at Four Rivers, 6:30 p.m. PST

Friday and Saturday, Dec. 20-21: at Griswold tournament

Prairie City/Burnt River 3-3

Next game: Tuesday, Dec. 17, at Crook County JV, 5 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 20, vs. Wallowa, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 21, vs. Adrian, 1:30 p.m.

Huntington 1-3

Next game: Thursday, Dec. 19, vs. Treasure Valley Classical Academy, 6:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 20: at Pilot Rock/Ukiah, 5:30 p.m.

Class 1A girls

Powder Valley 1-4

Next game: Thursday, Dec. 19, vs. Enterprise at Bobcat Classic in Union, 4:30 p.m.

Friday and Saturday, Dec. 20-21: at Bobcat Classic

Pine Eagle 3-3

Next game: Thursday, Dec. 19, at Four Rivers, 5 p.m. PST

Friday and Saturday, Dec. 20-21: at Griswold tournament

Prairie City/Burnt River 3-3

Next game: Tuesday, Dec. 17, at Crook County JV, 3:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 20, vs. Wallowa, 6 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 21, vs. Adrian, noon

Huntington 2-2

Next game: Thursday, Dec. 19, vs. Treasure Valley Classical Academy, 5 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 20: at Pilot Rock, 4 p.m.

Class 4A girls

Baker 2-3

Next game: Tuesday, Dec. 17, at Fruitland, Idaho, 6:30 p.m. PST

At Seaside Holiday Classic, Dec. 19-21. Baker will play The Dalles Dec. 19 at 6:30 p.m., with opponents and times on Dec. 20-21 to be determined.

Class 4A boys

Baker 6-1

Next game: Vs. La Lumiere, Indiana, Les Schwab Invitational, Dec. 27, 7:30 p.m., Portland State University