Baker couldn’t keep up with the hot-shooting Stayton Eagles in a semifinal game at the Class 4A state tournament Friday, March 14, at Forest Grove High School.

The Eagles, one day after making 13 3-pointers in a 68-32 win over Seaside in a quarterfinal, made nine more against the Bulldogs en route to a 59-35 win. Stayton (26-1), will play Philomath for the state title Saturday at 5:45 p.m.

Baker will play Cascade for the third-place trophy Saturday at 12:30 p.m.

After a close first quarter, which ended with Stayton leading 9-5, the Eagles found their range in the second quarter, making four 3-pointers, including two in a 21-second span, to take control, leading 30-16 at halftime.

Baker, which made only one 3-pointer in the first half, got hot briefly in the third quarter, making four 3-pointers, but by then Stayton’s lead had surpassed 20 points, and the Bulldogs couldn’t sustain a rally.

“They’re just a great team,” Baker coach Jason Ramos said of Stayton. “They play really great halfcourt defense. They’re just a tough matchup for us.”

Ramos said Stayton’s height, with 6-foot-2 Korbyn Schmidt and 6-foot-1 Kathryn Samek anchoring the key, made it tough for the Bulldogs to get shots inside. The Eagles blocked 12 shots, with Samek swatting six and Schmidt four.

Despite the disappointment, Ramos said the Bulldogs have a lot to play for on Saturday.

“To be playing in the semifinals at the state tournament is a huge accomplishment, and nothing is going to diminish that,” he said. “Kudos to the girls and their hard work.”

Ashlyn Dalton led Baker with 10 points. Kathryn Gentry had seven points, Gracie Spike six and Gwen Rasmussen five.

Stayton’s Breeci Hampton led all scorers with 22 points, including five 3-pointers. Kathryn Samek had 14 points.

First quarter

Baker struggled early offensively, missing its first six shots, but the Bulldogs’ defense and rebounding kept Stayton from taking a big lead. Stayton led 6-0 midway through the quarter on Kathryn Samek’s 3-pointer. Molly Rasmussen had two blocks to thwart possible Stayton baskets inside, and Lily Logsdon had a steal.

The Bulldogs finally got on the scoreboard when Gracie Spike swished a 3-pointer with 2:25 left, a shot set up by Logsdon’s steal.

Gwen Rasmussen hit a jumper from the key to make it 7-5.

Stayton led 9-5 after the first quarter.

Second quarter

After Gwen Rasmussen’s two free throws got Baker within 11-7, Stayton’s Breeci Hampton scored six straight points, on a conventional three-point play and then a 3-pointer, to lead 17-7. Kathryn Gentry ended the scoring run with a basket off an assist from Ashlyn Dalton.

But Stayton stayed hot from outside, as Hampton and Samek made consecutive 3-pointers, in a 21-second span, to elevate the Eagles’ lead to 25-11 and prompt Baker coach Jason Ramos to call timeout with 2 minutes left in the half.

Dalton briefly interrupted Stayton’s momentum with a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 25-14.

But the Eagles finished the half with Makenzie Schacher’s 3-pointer, their fourth of the second quarter, and fifth overall, to lead 30-16 at the break.

Baker shot 20% from the field, while Stayton was at 44%, including 5 for 12 on 3-pointers. Baker was 2 for 13 from beyond the arc.

Third quarter

The intermission didn’t cool off the Eagles.

Hampton made a 3-pointer 12 seconds into the third quarter, and she added another less than 90 seconds later and Stayton’s lead swelled to 20 points at 38-18.

Baker rallied with consecutive 3-pointers by Emy Myer, from NBA range, and Dalton, but Hampton answered with her fifth long ball to get the lead back to 47-28 late in the quarter.

Logsdon made Baker’s fourth 3-pointer of the quarter, but the Eagles closed the quarter with four straight points to push the lead back to 20, at 51-31, entering the final period.

Fourth quarter

Stayton opened the period with a 6-0 run, including its ninth 3-pointer, and the Eagles led 57-31.

Check back for score updates.