The meager margin of two points could give the La Grande girls basketball team the regular season Greater Oregon League title over Baker.

But the rivals might meet for the third time this season in the league playoffs.

After splitting their two games — Baker won 56-53 at La Grande on Feb. 7, the Tigers prevailed 60-55 in overtime on Jan. 24 at Baker — both are 4-1 in league play with one game remaining.

Baker plays host to Ontario on Friday, Feb. 14. The game will start around 6:30 p.m. Ontario is 0-5 in league play and 2-21 overall. Baker won the first game 70-14 at Ontario on Feb. 1.

La Grande concludes its regular season Friday, Feb. 14, at 6 p.m. at Pendleton. La Grande won the first meeting, 60-34 in La Grande on Jan. 31.

Baker could still win the regular season title outright with a win over Ontario and a La Grande loss to Pendleton.

If Baker and La Grande both win, they will be tied at 5-1. 

The tiebreaker is the total points for each team in their two head-to-head games, said Simon Lamson, Baker athletic director.

La Grande has a two-point advantage.

The tiebreaker doesn’t have an exemption for overtime. Baker actually outscored the Tigers by three points in regulation play in the two games, but La Grande had the five-point advantage in overtime in the Jan. 24 win at Baker.

If La Grande beats Pendleton, then Pendleton, the league’s third seed, and Ontario, the fourth, would meet in a league playoff. The winner would travel to Baker, the league’s second seed, for a playoff game on Thursday, Feb. 20. The winner of that game will then go to La Grande on Monday, Feb. 24, to determine the GOL’s top seed in the Class 4A playoffs.

Lamson said on Wednesday morning, Feb. 12, that athletic directors are setting up the schedule for the league playoffs.

The top two teams in the GOL after the league playoffs will earn automatic bids in the Class 4A playoffs, a 16-team bracket.

The league playoffs are important, though, as Baker, by beating either Pendleton or Ontario, then winning the rubber match against La Grande, could ensure it has a home game in the state playoffs.

Whether home or away, Baker, if it advances to the playoffs, would play for a berth in the eight-team state tournament March 13-15 at Forest Grove High School.

Baker won the 2023 and 2019 state titles. The Bulldogs just missed a berth in the 2024 state tournament, losing 54-53 to Philomath in a playoff game at Philomath.

Friday’s game against Ontario is senior night. Emy Myer, Ashlyn Dalton, Jayden Whitford and Kathryn Gentry will be honored.

The girls JV game starts at 3 p.m.

Varsity girls

First quarter

There was emotion in Baker gym as the four Bulldog seniors were honored, but there was little drama.

Baker started the game on a 26-0 on run, including three straight 3-pointers by Gracie Spike, and the rout was on.

The Bulldogs held the Tigers scoreless in the first quarter and led 26-0 at the break.

Second quarter

Myer had back-to-back 3-pointers as the Bulldogs continued the offensive onslaught. Baker led 30-0 before Ontario scored its first basket with 6:30 left in the quarter.

Baker led 44-6 at halftime.

Third quarter

Ontario made two 3-pointers but it wasn’t enough to keep pace with Baker, which extended its lead to 57-12.

Fourth quarter

Baker closed out the game, 62-19, and finished with a 5-1 regular season league record.

Baker boys

The Bulldogs, 5-0 in league play, have already clinched the regular season title and a berth in the Class 4A playoffs.

Baker, which finishes its regular season at home against Ontario on Friday, Feb. 14, starting around 8 p.m., have won 17 straight GOL games. Baker won the first meeting 87-40 at Ontario on Feb. 1.

Baker seniors will be honored prior to the game: Grant Gambleton, Palmer Chandler, Jaxon Logsdon, Jack Heriza, Isaiah Jones and Colton Clark.

The Bulldogs will then await their opponent in the league playoff championship game. Pendleton (3-2 in league play) will play host to La Grande (2-3) on Friday to determine the league’s second and third seeds. The third seed will play host to Ontario, and the winner of that game will play at the second seed. The winner of that game will play at Baker to determine the GOL champion. 

Baker boys varsity

Unlike the Feb. 1 game at Ontario, when Baker scored the first 26 points, this one was competitive early.

The Tigers made two 3-pointers in the first quarter and led 8-5. Baker closed the quarter with an 8-0 run to lead 13-8.

Palmer Chandler had a rebound basket, Rasean Jones made two free throws, Jaxon Logsdon hit a turnaround 15-footer from the baseline, and Chandler passed to Grant Gambleton for a basket to close the quarter.

Second quarter

Baker opened the quarter in a rousing way, on Rasean Jones’ two-handed dunk, and that kickstarted a scoring run as Baker took control.

Rasean Jones had a conventional three-point play to give Baker its biggest lead at 20-10, Logsdon hit a contested 12-footer from the key, and then passed to Rasean Jones on a breakway for another dunk that enlivened the crowd and pushed the Bulldogs’ lead to 24-10.

The scoring run extended to 23-2 as Eli Long made two free throws and Isaiah Jones whipped a pass to Hayden Churchfield for an easy basket to make it 28-10 with three minutes left in the half.

Baker wasn’t done.

Isaiah Jones scored off a steal on the fullcourt press, Jack Joseph soared for a layin and Logsdon made two free throws, and Isaiah Jones and Long had consecutive baskets — Long was fouled and made the free throw — to boost Baker’s lead to 39-10, and extend the scoring run to 34-2.

Jack Heriza capped the run by swishing a 3-pointer in the final five seconds, and Baker led 42-10 at halftime.

Third quarter

Baker extended its lead to 61-17. The final score was 79-26.

JV girls against Ontario

Baker won in a rout, 69-12.

High school basketball round up

GIRLS

Powder Valley

10-9 overall, 5-2 in Old Oregon League, 3rd place

Feb. 7: Beat Elgin, 44-29

Feb. 8: Lost to Union, 46-33

Remaining regular season schedule:

Feb. 14: at Joseph, 6 p.m.

Feb. 15: at Wallowa, 4 p.m.

Pine Eagle

10-9 overall, 3-5 in Old Oregon League, 6th place

Feb. 7: Beat Joseph, 46-26

Feb. 8: Beat Wallowa, 44-43

Remaining regular season schedule:

Feb. 14: at Elgin, 6 p.m.

Huntington

7-10 overall, 3-6 in High Desert League, 7th place

Remaining regular season schedule:

Feb. 14: vs. Jordan Valley, 5 p.m.

Feb. 15: vs. Dayville/Monument, 2 p.m.

BOYS

Powder Valley

6-13 overall, 3-4 in Old Oregon League, 7th place

Feb. 6: Lost to Union, 54-34

Feb. 7: Lost to Elgin, 47-45

Remaining regular season schedule:

Feb. 14: at Joseph, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 15: at Wallowa, 5:30 p.m.

Pine Eagle

3-17 overall, 0-8 in Old Oregon League, 11th place

Feb. 7: Lost to Joseph, 57-40

Feb. 8: Lost to Wallowa, 50-35

Remaining regular season schedule:

Feb. 14: at Elgin, 7:30 p.m.

Huntington

1-16 overall, 0-9 in High Desert League, 8th place

Remaining regular season schedule:

Feb. 14: vs. Jordan Valley, 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 15: vs. Dayville/Monument, 3:30 p.m.

The Baker/Powder Valley boys and girls swim teams are slated to compete in the district meet Friday and Saturday, Feb. 14 and 15, in Madras.

The Baker/Powder Valley girls wrestling team will compete in the district meet Friday and Saturday at La Grande High School.

And the Baker cheerleaders, the defending state champions, will compete in the state competition Sunday, Feb. 16 at Oregon City. The event was originally scheduled for Friday but postponed due to inclement weather.

The boys district wrestling tournament is set for Feb. 21 and 22, also at La Grande High School.