The Baker basketball teams had mixed results against rival La Grande on an important night early in Greater Oregon League play Friday, Jan. 24, in the Baker gym.

The Bulldog boys shook off a sluggish start to roll past the Tigers 71-43 and take sole possession of first place at 2-0. La Grande dropped to 1-1.

The Baker girls, meanwhile, battled back from a six-point deficit in the fourth quarter to force overtime, but the Tigers rallied in the extra period to win 60-55 and improve to 2-0 in GOL play and 12-3 overall. Baker is 1-1, 10-7.

The Baker boys, 10-8 overall and the defending state champions, are ranked fourth in Class 4A.

In the boys JV game, the Bulldogs rallied from a nine-point deficit in the final two minutes to get as close as one point, at 35-34, but the Tigers made two free throws and held on for a 37-35 win.

Baker won the JV girls game in a rout, 49-19.

Varsity girls

The Baker-La Grande rivalry fulfilled its reputation.

That was little consolation to the Bulldogs, though, with a 60-55 loss in overtime after Baker rallied from a six-point deficit with three minutes left in regulation to force the extra period.

After La Grande matched its biggest lead of the fourth quarter, at 47-41, Gwen Rasmussen scored off a rebound to trim the lead to 47-43 with 2:45 left.

Baker got the ball back when La Grande didn’t realize the shot clock hadn’t reset after a tipped ball, and the Tigers’ basket just after the whistle didn’t count.

Baker was called for an offensive foul, but a Bulldog steal lead to Molly Rasmussen’s rebound basket with 1:08 left to get Baker to within 47-45.

La Grande called timeout with 51.5 seconds left and possession of the ball.

Baker appeared to have forced a five-second call on a La Grande inbound play with 33.3 seconds left, but the Tigers had called a timeout with 17 seconds left on the shot clock.

Baker then forced another shot clock violation, regaining possession with 15.8 seconds left.

Molly Rasmussen drove the lane and bounced a pass to a wide open Ashlyn Dalton for an easy basket and the score was tied at 47 with 9.8 seconds left. La Grande called timeout with 7 seconds left.

Baker, with only two team fouls (five fouls results in two free throws), fouled with 4 seconds left, and again with 2.3 seconds left, after which the Tigers again called timeout, this time inbounding the ball on their side of the court.

Molly Rasmussen blocked a 3-point attempt, and it was on to a four-minute overtime.

Overtime

Baker started at a slight disadvantage, with four team fouls to La Grande’s one.

But it didn’t hurt the Bulldogs, as Dalton twice got behind the La Grande defense for baskets on assists, the second giving Baker the lead at 51-50.

But it was the Bulldogs’ last edge.

La Grande scored two straight baskets to go up 54-51. Molly Rasmussen bounced in a shot from the key to get Baker to within 54-53 with 47.8 seconds left.

But La Grande’s Rowan Evans scored on a runner in the key, and Baker was forced to foul to stop the clock. The Tigers made four straight free throws in the final 14 seconds, two each by Peyton Daggett and Kayle Collman.

First quarter

As might be expected given the team’s records, the first period was close and competitive, with four lead changes and two ties.

Baker took advantage of its size advantage early, with rebound baskets by Gwen Rasmussen and Kathryn Gentry as the Bulldogs led 7-2.

The Tigers answered from deep, as Olivia Pennington swished consecutive 3-pointers to give the Tigers an 8-7 lead.

Baker then scored five in a row, including a 3-pointer by Ashlyn Dalton, to go up 12-8.

The Tigers responded immediately with an 8-0 run. Molly Rasmussen scored late to end the run and cut La Grande’s lead to 16-14.

Second quarter

Baker tied it at 16 on Gracie Spike’s driving layin, and after Collman nailed a 3-pointer to regain the lead at 19-16 for the Tigers, Lily Logsdon drove the lane and scored.

But La Grande dominated the next four minutes, scoring eight straight points to take their biggest lead, 27-18, and prompt Baker coach Jason Ramos to call timeout with 3:44 left in the half.

Baker took advantage of the brief break. Dalton scored five straight points, including a 3-pointer, to trim the Tiger lead to 27-23. Molly Rasmussen added a free throw to get Baker within 27-24.

Logsdon then extended Baker’s scoring run to eight points, matching La Grande’s earlier spree, with a steal and layin, and Baker was within one, at 27-26.

La Grande made a free throw after a foul was called at the buzzer, and the Tigers led 28-26 at the break.

Both teams deployed a fullcourt press for much of the first half, but neither team was able to generate enough turnovers to grab even temporary momentum.

Logsdon led Baker with nine points, and Dalton added eight.

Third quarter

Both teams struggled mightily on offense for the first two minutes of the second half, with multiple turnovers and missed shots.

But then La Grande found its range from outside, and consecutive 3-pointers over 40 seconds, by Collman and Evans, boosted the Tigers’ lead to 34-26.

Ramos called timeout with 3:49 left. He called the right play, as Baker got the ball in the post to Gentry, who rolled in an 8-footer for Baker’s first points of the second half.

La Grande answered with a breakaway layin to keep the lead at eight, 36-28.

After the teams exchanged baskets, Emy Myer stepped back for a deep 3-pointer from the top of the key with 47.4 seconds left to cut the lead to 38-33 entering the final period.

Fourth quarter

Dalton scored inside to open the quarter and cut the lead to 38-35.

After a La Grande 3-pointer, Baker again utilized its height advantage with consecutive inside baskets, by Gentry and Molly Rasmussen, to get within 41-39 with 5:16 left.

Spike answered a La Grande bucket with a 15-foot jumper, but La Grande scored two straight baskets to push its lead back to six, at 47-41, with 3:02 left.

Dalton led Baker with 16 points. Molly Rasmussen had 11.

Evans led all scorers with 22 points.

The Tigers had the edge in 3-pointers, making six to Baker’s four, and at the free throw line, making six of eight shots while Baker made just one of six.

LA GRANDE (60)

Collman 2 2-2 8, Hutchins 0 0-0 0, Strand 1 1-4 3, McIlmoil 5 0-0 10, Daggett 3 2-2 9, Evans 10 1-4 22, Pennington 3 0-0 8. Totals 24 6-8 60.

BAKER (55)

Gentry 4 0-2 8, Logsdon 4 0-0 9, Spike 2 0-0 4, Dalton 7 0-2 16, Whitford 0 0-0 0, Myer 1 0-0 3, G. Rasmussen 2 0-0 4, M. Rasmussen 5 1-2 11. Totals 25 1-6 55.

La Grande   16   12 10  9 13 — 60

Baker          14  12  7  14  8 — 55

 

Varsity boys

First quarter

Baker scored the first six points, but the Tigers, taking advantage of the great equalizer that is the 3-pointer, made four long balls to keep pace.

The Tigers led twice, at 12-10 and 14-12, but Jaxon Logsdon muscled in a rebound basket to tie it at 14 after the first quarter.

Second quarter

The Tigers started fast, scoring five straight, including their fifth 3-pointer, to take their biggest lead at 19-14.

But the Bulldogs responded just as rapidly, scoring 11 straight points, and 19 of the last 21 points of the half, to take a 33-21 lead at the break. Five Bulldogs scored during the run.

Third quarter

The boys game was wholly lacking in the second-half drama that enlivened the girls contest.

After Baker scored the first three points to go up 36-21, La Grande scored five straight, including another 3-pointer, to get within 10 points.

But Baker scored the next 11 points, four by Isaiah Jones, to take control.

Baker led 50-31 after three quarters.

Fourth quarter

Baker’s lead was over 20 points almost the entire final eight minutes.

Eleven Bulldogs scored. Isaiah Jones led Baker with 14 points. Rasean Jones and Eli Long had 11 each.

Friday, Jan. 24

Girls

Powder Valley 42, Joseph 36

Elgin 46, Pine Eagle 43

Boys

Powder Valley 43, Joseph 36