Baker’s boys basketball team did something that made coach Jebron Jones proud, and something he hopes the Bulldogs never do again.

In what Jones called a “complete turnaround,” Baker rallied from a 15-point halftime deficit against Bend to beat the Lava Bears 57-51 in the third-place game Sunday, Dec. 4 at the Wilsonville Invitational Tournament.

Baker went 2-1 in the season-opening event, with all three games against Class 5A opponents.

“One good thing about basketball — it’s two halves,” Jones said in a phone interview after Sunday’s comeback win over Bend. “The young men trusted each other.”

The game was close through the first quarter and a half, until Bend closed the second quarter with a 14-2 run to lead 31-16 at the break.

“In the first half we missed a lot of shots,” Jones said. “We had some turnovers and did things we don’t usually do.”

Despite the daunting deficit, Jones said he told his players to be patient.

“I told them at the half, there is no such thing as a 15-point shot,” Jones said. “I said we need to take one possession at a time, and try to win every possession, and the kids bought in and listened.”

Patient or not, the Bulldogs didn’t take long to turn the game around in the third quarter.

Isaiah Jones made four straight free throws, Paul Hobson followed with a 19-foot jumper, Jaron Long made two of three free throws when he was fouled on a 3-point try, and Hobson made a layin to cut Bend’s lead to 31-26.

Hobson closed the quarter with a 3-pointer that got Baker to within 36-35, the closest the Bulldogs had been since early in the second quarter.

Jebron Jones said he reminded the team that a year ago to the day, the Bulldogs rallied from a seven-point deficit in the final minute against Banks. Isaiah Jones (Jebron’s older son) hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to force overtime, and Baker went on to win 85-81.

“They knew they could do it,” Jebron Jones said.

The Lava Bears scored the first four points of the fourth quarter to extend their lead to 40-35.

Freshman Rasean Jones (Jebron’s younger son) scored four straight points to get Baker within 40-39.

After a Bend free throw, Hobson made a 3-pointer to give Baker its first lead, 42-41, since a 13-12 edge early in the second quarter.

Bend responded with three straight points to regain the lead at 44-42, but Hobson made another 3-pointer to give Baker the lead at 45-44.

Isaiah Jones made four straight free throws — he was 8 for 8 in the game and led Baker with 20 points — to boost the Bulldogs’ lead to 49-44.

The Lava Bears rallied again, though, tying the score at 49.

But once again it was Hobson with the key basket, and his third 3-pointer of the fourth quarter gave Baker a 52-49 lead.

Isaiah Jones scored off a steal, Jaxon Logsdon made a free throw and Rasean Jones two free throws to seal the win.

Jebron Jones said it was fitting that Hobson would spark Baker’s comeback. The junior scored all 16 of his points in the second half.

Sunday was the one-year anniversary of the death of Hobson’s grandfather, Darrell Hobson. In a ceremony honoring Darrell Hobson prior to

Baker’s game on Jan. 6, 2022, Jones called Hobson “our biggest fan.”

Sunday, marking a year since his grandfather’s death, was “pretty emotional” for Paul Hobson, Jones said.

His clutch performance when his team needed his leadership the most was “a great testament to his character,” Jones said.

Although he was gratified by the Bulldogs’ resiliency — particularly given they were playing their third game in as many days — Jones said with a chuckle that “I’d rather not have to come back from 15 points the rest of the season.”

“But I know we have the wherewithal to come back. I think it’s an advantage to deal with adversity early in the season. I think the guys feel pretty good about themselves right now.”

He pointed out that the Wilsonville tournament had basically the same format as the state tournament in March — to win a state title, Baker will need to win three games in three days.

Despite the thrilling comeback against Bend, Jones said the Bulldogs were not completely satisfied, though.

After losing 64-62 to Wilsonville on Saturday, Dec. 3, a game in which Baker led late, Jones said his players felt that they should have been playing for the tournament title later on Sunday.

“I think they leave here with confidence, but also hunger,” he said. “They’re not satisfied.”

BEND (51)

Roy 0 0-0 0, Keown 10 0-0 23; Karpstein 0 0-0 0, Mose 1 0-0 2, Unruh 0 0-0 0, Dornhecker 5 4-6 16, Doke 2 2-2 8, Johnson 1 0-0 2. Totals 19 6-8 51.

BAKER (57)

Gambleton 0 0-0 0, Logsdon 1 5-6 8, Quintela 0 0-0 0, R. Jones 2 4-4 6, Rigueiro 0 0-0 0, Spike 2 1-3 5, I. Jones 6 8-8 20, Long 0 2-3 2, Hobson 6 0-0 16, Gentry 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 20-24 57.

Bend 7 24 5 15 — 51

Baker 6 10 19 22 — 57

Saturday, Dec. 3 Wilsonville 64, Baker 62

This game could hardly have been more different from the Bulldogs’ opening game romp over Crescent Valley the night before.

Wilsonville, the defending Class 5A champion, proved a much more formidable opponent in a game that was close throughout.

The Wildcats, who beat North Eugene 45-36 in a first-round game on Friday, opened the scoring with a 3-pointer by Kallen Gutridge, who led all scorers with 34 points.

But Baker answered with baskets from Isaiah Jones and Hudson Spike to take the lead at 4-3.

It was the first of nine lead changes in the first half, including six in the first quarter.

Five Bulldogs scored in the quarter, which ended with the Wildcats leading 11-9.

Long scored on a driving layin to open the second quarter to make it 11-11, the first of seven ties in the second quarter.

Long had six points in the second quarter and Jones had five. Gutridge swished a 3-pointer in the final seconds to break another tie and give Wilsonville a 27-24 lead at halftime.

The Wildcats maintained a narrow lead — never more than five points — through most of the third quarter, as Gutridge scored inside and outside, and teammate Maxim Wu hit consecutive 3-pointers.

Gutridge’s 3-pointer matched the Wildcats’ biggest lead at 39-34, but then Isaiah Jones took over.

He made four straight free throws and then scored inside to cut Wilsonville’s lead to 41-40 late in the quarter.

After two Wilsonville free throws, Long hit a 3-pointer, tying the score for the first time in the second half.

Then Jones hit a difficult turnaround jumper from 15 feet just before the buzzer to give Baker a 45-43 lead — its first since the second quarter.

Baker led 47-45 after Hobson’s two free throws early in the fourth quarter, but the Wildcats scored five straight — two by Gutridge and three from Wu — to regain the lead at 50-47.

But Hobson hit a 3-pointer to tie it again.

Gutridge swished a 15-footer to regain the lead for the Wildcats at 52-50, but Long was fouled on a 3-point shot and he made all three free throws to put Baker back on top at 53-52.

Gutridge drove for a layin to give Wilsonville a 54-53 lead.

Baker was leading 55-54 when a call by a referee changed the game.

While Baker was shooting a free throw with about 2 minutes left, Rasean Jones was called for a technical foul for allegedly pushing a Wilsonville player while trying to get position for a possible rebound.

But Jebron Jones said that after watching a video of the game, it was clear to him that the Wilsonville player’s feet got tangled with Rasean’s, and that there was no push.

Regardless, Wilsonville made both free throws after the technical foul to regain the lead.

“You’ve got to move on,” Jebron Jones said. “You can’t blame the refs.”

Baker couldn’t recover from the technical foul sequence.

But Jones was happy that the Bulldogs rallied despite the disappointing episode.

After trailing 61-56 with little more than a minute left, Baker came back to get within two points.

“I have nothing negative to say about the way we played,” Jones said. “I enjoyed being part of that game, playing a great team like Wilsonville. I was proud of the kids from the start to the finish. We never stopped competing.”

Isaiah Jones led Baker with 25 points. Long added 13.

Jones said Baker struggled to defend Gutridge, 6-foot-3 junior lefthander who made three 3-pointers but was also able to drive the lane to score inside.

“He is a very smart player,” Jones said of Gutridge. “He made some tough shots down the stretch. We did a great job against their other players.”

BAKER (62)

Gambleton 1 0-0 2, Logsdon 2 1-2 5, Quintela 0 0-0 0, R. Jones 2 0-0 4, Rigueiro 0 0-0 0, Spike 2 0-2 4, I. Jones 7 8-8 25, Long 4 4-5 13, Hobson 1 2-2 5, Jensen 2 0-0 4. Totals 19 15-19 62.

WILSONVILLE (64)

Keswick 0 0-0 0, Colyer 0 4-6 4, Fee 0 1-2 1, Wu 6 5-6 17, Gutridge 15 4-5 34, Christiansen 0 0-0 0, Carter 1 1-5 3, Soderlund 0 0-0 0, Counts 2 1-2 5. Totals 24 16-26 64.

Baker 9 15 21 17 — 62

Wilsonville 11 16 16 21 — 64

Friday, Dec. 2 Baker 69, Crescent Valley 33

The Class 5A Raiders, from Corvallis, scored the first five points of the game.

But once Baker started employing its half-court trap, it was a runaway for the Bulldogs.

Isaiah Jones swished a 3-pointer to get Baker on the scoreboard, and the Baker press forced a 10-second halfcourt violation on the next possession.

Crescent Valley’s Heath Carl matched Jones’ 3-pointer to give the Raiders an 8-3 lead, but Baker scored the next eight points, including 3-pointers by Nate Jensen and Long, to take its first lead at 11-8.

Baker never trailed again.

Jensen hit another 3-pointer and Jensen had a rebound basket to give Baker an 18-10 lead after the first quarter.

Jensen, a newcomer to the Bulldogs after moving from Alaska to Baker City, had eight points to lead Baker in the quarter.

“I didn’t know anything about Nate until the first day of tryouts,” Jebron Jones said. “He’s a great young man and he’s been working extremely hard.”

Jones said Jensen fit in quickly and easily with his teammates, most of whom have been playing together for more than a decade.

“It goes to show the depth of the team we have,” Jones said.

The Bulldogs started fast in the second quarter, as Isaiah Jones hit a 3-pointer and Spike made a free throw to extend Baker’s lead to 21-10.

Long had consecutive baskets, followed by Hobson’s 3-pointer, and Baker led 28-12.

The Bulldogs’ swarming, trapping defense stymied the Raiders, who rarely had an open shot and struggled at times even to get the ball past halfcourt against Baker’s frenetic press.

“The kids played defense all 32 minutes,” Jones said. “It was a great team defensive effort for sure.”

The Bulldogs finished the half with a 13-point run, including 3-pointers by Long and Rasean Jones, and Long had a basket at the buzzer to give Baker a 41-14 lead.

Crescent Valley never threatened in the second half.

Hobson had a pair of 3-pointers, and Long scored five points in the third quarter as Baker extended its lead to 58-28.

Jones said he was excited about the balanced scoring against Crescent Valley, with five Bulldogs in double figures, led by Long with 17, and Isaiah Jones and Jensen with 12 each. Rasean Jones scored 11 points and Hobson 10.

“That’s what we want to see on a nightly basis,” Jebron Jones said. “We have lots of players who could be starting on any given night. I told the kids, I don’t know who’s going to start. Every practice is your evaluation. That brings that competitive spirit to practices.”

BAKER (69)

Gambleton 2 0-0 4, Logsdon 0 0-0 0, Quintela 0 0-0 0, R. Jones 3 4-4 11, Regueiro 0 0-0 0, Spike 1 1-2 3, I. Jones 5 0-0 12, Long 7 0-0 17, Hobson 4 0-2 10, Jensen 5 0-1 12, Gentry 0 0-0 0. Totals 27 5-9 69.

CRESCENT VALLEY (33)

McClave 1 1-2 4, Temesgen 5 3-5 15, Carl 1 0-0 3, Deen 1 0-0 2, Emigh 2 0-0 5, Alatorre 2 0-0 4. Totals 12 4-7 33.

Baker 18 23 17 11 — 69

Crescent Valley 10 4 14 5 — 33

Baker’s JV boys basketball team won the Elgin tournament, and the Baker JV girls team placed second.

Powder Valley boys

Beat Condon, 36-20, on Friday, Dec. 2

Lost to South Wasco County, 78-49, on Saturday, Dec. 3

Powder Valley boys

Beat Condon, 66-16, on Friday, Dec. 2

Lost to South Wasco County, 54-49, on Saturday, Dec. 3

Pine Eagle boys

Beat Pilot Rock, 54-48, on Friday, Dec. 2

Lost to Cove, 56-28, on Saturday, Dec. 3

Pine Eagle girls

Lost to Pilot Rock/Ukiah, 55-31, on Friday, Dec. 2

Lost to Cove, 40-25, on Saturday, Dec. 3

Huntington boys

Beat Treasure Valley Classical School, 61-34, on Thursday, Dec. 1

Beat Long Creek, 45-19, on Saturday, Dec. 3

Huntington girls

Beat Treasure Valley Classical School, 45-12, on Thursday, Dec. 1

Prairie City/Burnt River girls

Beat Pilot Rock/Ukiah, 52-31, on Thursday, Dec. 1

Beat Cove, 42-10, on Friday, Dec. 2

Beat Pilot Rock/Ukiah, 53-34, on Saturday, Dec. 3

Baker basketball fans are invited to bring a stuffed animal to donate to the Baker Relief Nursery during the Bulldogs’ home game against Molalla on Friday, Dec. 9 starting at 8:30 p.m. At halftime of the game, fans are invited to throw a teddy bear or other stuffed animal onto the court as a donation.

“I think they leave here with confidence, but also hunger. They’re not satisfied.”

— Baker boys basketball coach Jebron Jones