The Baker girls and boys basketball teams traveled through the snow today to Pendleton to take on the Buckaroos in Greater Oregon League play.

The girls game is scheduled for 5 p.m., the boys tipoff around 6:30 p.m.

The Baker JV2 team is playing at Pendleton at 6 p.m. in the auxiliary gym.

Baker won both varsity games on Jan. 14 in the Baker gym. Baker won the girls game 43-31, and the Bulldog boys rolled to a 72-38 win.

The boys, 3-0 in league play, can clinch the regular season GOL title with a win tonight. 

Girls game

In a game that started an hour earlier than originally scheduled due to a snowstorm, Baker played like a team that was fresh off the bus.

But the Bulldogs overcame their worst offensive half of the season, in which they made just two field goals and trailed 21-12, to dominate Pendleton in the second half to win 37-30 at Pendleton on Tuesday night, Feb. 4.

Baker outscored the Buckaroos 25-9 in the second half, including 13-5 in the fourth quarter.

The Bulldogs retained sole possession of second place in the Greater Oregon League at 3-1, 13-8 overall. Pendleton fell to 1-3, 5-16 overall.

“No rhythm offensively in the first half,” Baker coach Jason Ramos said. “We missed some shots that we normally finish. Played uncharacteristic basketball for 16 minutes.”

Although Baker’s shooting was much better in the second half, Ramos said the Bulldogs’ defense, and effort, keyed the rally.

“Defense was solid in the second half,” he said. “Got some stuff going, some off of our defensive pressure. Energy and effort in the second half was what spurred a great comeback. I think our fullcourt pressure wore them out late.”

First quarter

Molly Rasmussen banked in a shot from the key for the game’s first points, but Baker’s offense struggled mightily after that.

The Bulldogs scored the rest of their points in the quarter from the free throw line, making four of eight shots to lead 6-5.

Josie Jenness scored all of Pendleton’s points, on a conventional three-point play and a basket inside.

Second quarter

Pendleton took its first lead as Rylee Jackson scored consecutive baskets, the second on a layin when she split the Baker defense, to lead 9-6.

Ashlyn Dalton’s two free throws with 5:46 left in the half cut the lead to 9-8, but Khimora Scott scored inside to boost the lead back to three, at 11-8.

Baker’s worst offensive half of the season continued, as the Bulldogs couldn’t get shots to fall, including at least half a dozen from close range.

Molly Rasmussen swished a 12-footer from the left side with 3:19 left to cut the lead to 13-10, but Pendleton then scored eight straight points, including Presley Greenwalt’s three-point play after a steal, and the Buckaroos led 21-10.

Dalton’s two free throws with 12.9 seconds left trimmed the lead to 21-12 at the break.

Baker had just two field goals in the half, both by Molly Rasmussen. Baker’s eight other points were all on free throws.

Third quarter

Baker’s shooting woes continued early, but the Bulldogs finally grabbed the momentum.

With Baker trailing 22-14, Dalton grabbed an offensive rebound, made the shot, was fouled and drained the free throw to cut the lead to 22-17 with 4:14 left.

After a Baker defensive stop, Emy Myer swished a 3-pointer and Baker was within 22-20 with 3:53 left.

Kathryn Gentry made two free throws and then rolled in a tough shot from the lane to get Baker to within 25-24 with 1:04 left.

Gentry blocked a Pendleton shot in the final 10 seconds to keep the lead at just one entering the final quarter.

Baker doubled its offensive output with 12 points in the quarter. The Bulldogs’ defense was also stellar, holding Pendleton to just four points.

Fourth quarter

Baker regained the lead for the first time since early in the second quarter when Molly Rasmussen stole a pass and drove the court, pulling up for a 12-footer from the right side of the key that gave Baker a 29-28 lead with 5:08 left.

Baker’s fullcourt press, which hadn’t been especially effective earlier, started to rattle the Buckaroos, forcing consecutive turnovers.

Gentry scored inside and Dalton made one of two free throws to boost Baker’s lead to 32-28 with 4:02 left.

Molly Rasmussen added a free throw with 2:34 left to make it 33-28, as Baker’s defense continued to stifled the Buckaroos.

The Bulldogs had a potentially significant advantage when Pendleton was called for its fifth foul of the quarter just two and a half minutes in, ensuring Baker would shoot free throws on all but offensive fouls the rest of the way.

Gentry had another rebound basket as Baker built its lead to as large as 37-28 before Pendleton scored the final basket with 2 seconds left.

Molly Rasmussen led Baker with 11 points. Gentry and Dalton had nine each.

BAKER (37)

Gentry 3 3-4 9, Logsdon 0 3-6 3, Schwartz 0 0-0 0, Spike 0 0-0 0, Dalton 1 7-9 9, Whitford 0 0-0 0, Myer 1 0-0 3, G. Rasmussen 0 2-4 2, M. Rasmussen 5 1-4 11, Ramos 0 0-0 0. Totals 10 16-27 37.

PENDLETON (30)

Scott 3 0-0 7, Surber 1 0-0 2, Greenwalt 1 2-3 4, Jackson 3 1-1 7, Neveau 2 0-0 4, Schmidt 0 1-2 1, Flechiuger 0 0-0 0, Jenness 2 1-1 5, Boatman 0 0-0 0. Totals 9 5-7 30.

Baker       6  6 12 13 — 37

Pendleton 5 16  4   5 — 30

Boys game

The Buckaroos nearly kept pace with Baker in the first quarter thanks to a trio of 3-pointers, but Pendleton couldn’t stop Isaiah Jones, the reigning Class 4A player of the year who scored 24 points in the first half as Baker pulled away with a 16-2 run to end the half and went on to win 66-45.

With two games left in the Greater Oregon League regular season, Baker, alone atop the standings at 4-0, can finish no worse than tied for first. And that would happen only if Baker lost at home to Ontario, a team the Bulldogs beat 87-40 on Feb. 1.

Baker has won 16 straight league games dating to 2022.

Isaiah Jones finished with a game-high 30 points. Eli Long had 11 points and Rasean Jones added nine.

First quarter

There were no offensive doldrums in this one, as the teams combined for eight 3-pointers in a fast-paced eight minutes that ended with Baker leading 22-17 after Isaiah Jones scored the final five points, including his third 3-pointer. He also was fouled on one three and made the free throw for a rare four-point play.

Jones led all scorers with 12 points in the quarter.

Second quarter

The torrid shooting continued, as Pendleton made two more 3-pointers.

But that wasn’t enough to keep up with Isaiah Jones, who scored the first 10 points for the Bulldogs to give Baker a 32-25 lead. Jones had 22 points in the first 12 minutes. He made his first eight shots. His ninth, a 15-foot jumper, made a complete tour of the rim before falling off.

Baker finished the half with a 16-2 run to lead 43-27 at halftime.

Baker had seven 3-pointers in the half, Pendleton five.

Third quarter

Baker’s offense slowed down — the Bulldogs didn’t score until Jaxon Logsdon’s three-point play with 4:17 left — but the Buckaroos couldn’t take advantage.

Pendleton got as close as 49-36 late in the quarter on Carter Cary’s 3-pointer, but Isaiah Jones scored three straight baskets, all on layins, in the final minute to boost Baker’s lead to 55-36 after three quarters.

Fourth quarter

The final eight minutes were drama-free, as Baker scored the first six points, four by Eli Long, to lead 61-36.

BAKER (66)

Gambleton 1 1-4 4, Chandler 1 0-0 2 Churchfield 0 2-4 2, R. Jones 4 0-0 9, Wellman 0 0-0 0, I. Jones 12 2-2 30, Long 3 3-4 11, Logsdon 1 3-5 5, Holden 2 0-0 4. Totals 21 8-15 66.

PENDLETON (45)

P. Hoffert 0 0-0 0, Krigbaum 0 0-0 0, Reinhart 4 0-0 9, Cary 5 0-0 12, Strong 4 2-2 12, J. Hoffert 3 0-0 8, Coiner 0 0-0 0, Elrod 0 0-0 0, Hoisington 1 0-0 2, Lehnert 1 0-0 2. Totals 16 2-2 45.

Baker       22 21 12 11 — 66

Pendleton 17 10  9   9  — 45

Up next

The Bulldogs travel to La Grande on Friday, Feb. 7. The girls are looking to avenge their only league loss, 60-55 to the Tigers on Jan. 24. The girls game is set for 6 p.m., the boys around 7:30 p.m.