In their next-to-last home game in a season

of dominating performances, the Baker Bulldogs ensured their home fans went into the snowy night with plenty of highlights to remember.

The Bulldogs, coming

off their only loss of the season after 23 straight wins, scored the first 11 points and went on to their third rout of the season over rival La Grande, 94-28 in the Greater Oregon League championship

game Saturday night, Feb. 17.

After the 11-0 start, Baker had a 14-2 run and then closed the first half with 10 straight points to lead 46-13 at the half. Eleven Bulldogs scored in the first two quarters.

The second half, as with most of Baker’s games this season, was wholly lacking in drama.

Although the Bulldogs did set a season-high

with 94 points, eclipsing

the 93 they scored in

beating La Grande on Jan. 26.

Baker might well have reached the century mark if not for a running clock in the fourth quarter as Baker’s lead was well over 30 points.

Baker coach Jebron

Jones said he was pleased with the team’s response to the 59-51 loss at Cascade one week earlier, the only blemish on the Bulldogs’ record.

“We had a great week of practice,” Jones said. “I think the guys were motivated to get back on the winning side of things. I’m proud of their work ethic, and it showed on the scoreboard.”

Baker had 12 3-pointers, half by senior Paul Hobson, who led all scorers with 22 points.

Hobson had three of those 3-pointers in the first quarter, and Isaiah Jones had 11 points in the first half as Baker rolled to a big lead.

The Bulldogs’ full-court press stymied the Tigers and led to multiple steals and easy baskets.

“Any time you play

La Grande, especially

for the conference championship, that’s motivation

in itself,” Jebron Jones

said.

Baker now waits to find out who it will play host to in the Class 4A playoffs March 1, with a berth in the 8-team state tournament on the line.

Jones said Baker will be prepared as it looks to return to the tournament for the third straight year and, after losing both games during the 2023 and 2022 events, advance and potentially play for the school’s third boys state title.

“I like where we’re at,” he said. “We just need to work on the little things that make a big difference, have more game-like scenarios in practice.”

Nate Jensen scored 14 points for Baker and Isaiah Jones and Hudson Spike had 13 each.

Caeden Barrett led La Grande with 15 points.

BAKER 94, LA GRANDE 28

LA GRANDE (28)

Hood 3 1-2 7, Tucker 0 0-0 0, Hildebrandt 0 0-0 0, Fields 0 0-0 0, Hayden 0 0-0 0, Theiler 0 0-0 0, Barrett 6 0-0 15, Chab 0 0-0 0, Weaver 2 0-0 4, Hutchins 0 0-0 0, Kimball 1 0-0 2, McIlmoil 0 0-0 0. Totals 12 1-2 28.

BAKER (94)

Gambleton 2 0-0 4, Chandler 2 0-0 4, Hobson 7 2-22 22, E. Long 2 0-0 5, R. Jones 2 0-0 4, Rigueiro 2 0-0 4, Spike 5 2-2 13, I. Jones 6 0-0 13, J. Long 2 0-0 4, Logsdon 3 0-0 7, Jensen 6 0-1 14, McCullough 0 0-0 0. Totals 39 4-7 94.

La Grande 6 7 2 13 — 28

Baker 20 26 28 20 — 94

“I think the guys were motivated to get back on the winning side of things. I’m proud of their work ethic, and it showed on the scoreboard.”

— Baker boys basketball coach Jebron Jones