The Baker girls basketball team battled the Pendleton Buckaroos — and their own struggles shooting free throws in the first half — before pulling away late in the third quarter and going on to a 62-41 win Thursday evening, Feb. 20, in the Baker gym that clinched a berth in Class 4A state playoffs.

Baker (16-8) will travel to La Grande (17-4) on Monday, Feb. 24, for the Greater Oregon League championship game at 6 p.m. The two teams split their regular season meetings, with the visiting team winning both. The winner Monday will clinch a home game in the state playoffs March 7.

Thursday against Pendleton, Baker led 36-27 early in the third quarter. But the Buckaroos rallied to get as close as three points twice.

Baker then closed the third quarter with a 9-4 run to lead 49-39, the Bulldogs scored 10 of the first 12 points in the fourth quarter and the rout was on.

Baker outscored Pendleton 30-14 in the second half, and 13-2 in the fourth quarter.

Ashlyn Dalton led all scorers with 21 points.

Baker coach Jason Ramos said he was confident that if the Bulldogs continued playing their game, they would eventually bunch points together.

“We hit some shots and we got some transition baskets,” Ramos said, referring to the scoring run in the third and fourth quarters. 

Baker also tightened down on defense, including a pair of blocks by Kathryn Gentry late in the third quarter.

After making just two of 14 free throws in the first half, Baker improved to nine of 13 in the third quarter. The Bulldogs finished just 11 of 31 from the charity stripe.

Shooting that poorly from the line will be costly in future games, starting with La Grande, Ramos said.

When Baker came out of the locker room at halftime, the Bulldogs didn’t practice layins or outside shots during warm ups. They shot free throws only.

“That was a directive,” Ramos said with a smile. “It was just one of those nights (from the line).”

Despite the free throw struggles, Ramos said he was pleased with Baker’s offensive execution.

Emy Myer had three consecutive assists in the second quarter that led to easy baskets inside.

“Emy did a nice job,” Ramos said. “The girls did a nice job of making passes and finding each other.”

Baker was without starting senior point guard Jayden Whitford, who is recovering from an ankle injury she suffered at La Grande on Feb. 7.

Baker won both regular season games against the Buckaroos — 43-31 on Jan. 14 in Baker, and 37-30 on Feb. 4 at Pendleton.

Baker tied with La Grande with 5-1 league records, but the Tigers won the tiebreaker, which is total points in the teams’ two regular season games. La Grande won that tiebreaker by just two points.

The Feb. 24 game has significant ramifications. If Baker wins, it will have a home game in the state playoffs, tentatively set for March 7. If Baker loses, it likely would have to travel for a playoff game.

Playoff winners advance to the eight-team state tournament March 13-15 at Forest Grove High School.

First quarter

The first eight minutes were fast-paced, with three lead changes.

Pendleton scored the first two points, but Baker responded with six straight on baskets by Molly Rasmussen, Lily Logsdon and Dalton.

Pendleton tied it at eight and took a brief lead at 11-10 before Dalton, who led Baker with six points in the quarter, hit a 14-footer to give Baker the lead.

Baker led 14-13 after the first quarter despite missing five free throws.

Second quarter

Logsdon stole a pass and drove for a layin to open the quarter, a play that jumpstarted Baker’s offense.

The Bulldogs opened the quarter with a 14-3 run to lead 28-16 and prompt a Pendleton timeout.

Molly Rasmussen scored seven points during the run, including a pair of inside baskets on assists by Myer.

Baker was whistled for its fifth foul with 4:20 left in the quarter, giving Pendleton two free throws with each subsequent foul.

Pendleton took advantage. Chais Surber made two free throws to end Baker’s scoring run and get the Buckaroos to within 28-18. Khimora Scott banked in a 3-pointer and the lead was down to 28-21.

Dalton’s rebound basket boosted Baker’s lead to 32-23, but Pendleton ended the half with a 4-0 run.

Surber’s 17-footer from the corner at the buzzer trimmed Baker’s halftime lead to 32-27.

Baker continued to struggle from the free throw line, missing four straight in the final 28 seconds. The Bulldogs were 2 of 14 from the line.

Third quarter

Baker started fast, including from the line, as Molly Rasmussen scored the first five points of the half, including two of three free throws, to boost Baker’s lead to 36-27.

But the Buckaroos rallied again.

Scott made a 3-pointer and Jadyn Schmidt scored five straight points as Pendleton cut Baker’s lead to 38-35 midway through the quarter.

Baker finally found the range from the free throw line late in the quarter, and that keyed the Bulldogs’ 9-4 run to end the quarter. 

Baker made seven of eight free throws, including four straight by Dalton, to lead 49-39 entering the final period. Baker was 9 for 13 from the line in the quarter.

Kathryn Gentry had two key blocks in the final two minutes to turn back Buckaroo shots inside.

Fourth quarter

Baker put the game away with a 10-2 run to start the quarter. Gentry scored six of the points, all on inside baskets, as the Bulldogs pushed the lead to 59-41.

Dalton prompted a roar from the home crowd when she hit a 3-pointer, under duress from a Pendleton player, from the corner to make it 62-41 with two minutes left. It was Baker’s only 3-pointer.

Molly Rasmussen had 17 points for Baker and her sister, Gwen, added 10.

Scott led Pendleton with 18 points.

PENDLETON (41)

Scott 5 5-6 18, Surber 2 2-2 4, Greenwalt 2 0-0 4, McLaughlin 0 0-0 0, Jackson 1 0-0 2, Neveau 1 2-6 4, Schmidt 3 1-3 7, Flercherger 0 0-0 0, Jenness 0 0-2 0, Boatman 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 10-18 41.

BAKER (62)

Gentry 3 0-2 6, Logsdon 2 0-2 4, Schwartz 1 0-0 2, Spike 0 0-0 0, Dalton 7 4-8 21, Myer 1 0-0 2, G. Rasmussen 4 2-3 10, M. Rasmussen 6 5-12 17, Ramos 0 0-2 0, Morgan 0 0-2 0. Totals 25 11-31 62.

Pendleton 13 14 12  2 —  41

Baker       14 18 17 13 — 62