Abbreviated roster leads to Baker loss

 Bulldogs feel the absence of players preparing for state football championship in loss to Pendleton

“The kids played hard,” said Baker coach Craig Woods. “We just ran out of gas. Playing with just six or seven guys, we just got tired.”

Woods said that with the bulk of his varsity roster still playing football through Saturday’s 4A state championship game, he played a handful of junior varsity players Tuesday.

But those players had already finished a full JV game.

“Pendleton is a real good, fast, athletic team, Woods said. “We learned a lot about ourselves. We’re going to be so much deeper because of this.”

Derek Blankenship had his second 30-plus-point scoring game, tallying 31. Jordan Curtis added 12 points.

Baker is now idle until hosting Fruitland, Idaho, Dec. 18. The Bulldogs’ home game against Burns scheduled for Saturday has been postponed until Jan. 2 due to the lack of players.

Baker    17    17    18    12    — 64

Pendleton    22    16    26    19    — 83

Baker (64) — McEnroe 3 1-3 7, Curtis 3 5-6 12, Di. Blankenship 1 0-0 2, De. Blankenship 9 9-9 31, Quintana 2 0-0 4, Lay 3 1-1 8, Broughton, Cripe. Totals 21 16-19 64.

Pendleton (83) — Fox 1 0-0 2, Jones 1 0-0 2, Whitten 2 0-2 6, Davis 4 1-3 11, Hartley 4 2-3 10, Ernst 3 0-1 6, Carter 1 0-0 2, Polhamus 3 1-2 7, Clem 6 3-3 15, Remington 1 0-0 2, Simpson 2 0-1 4, Fairley 5 5-5 16, Barry. Totals 33 12-20 83.

Three-point goals — Curtis, De. Blankenship 4, Lay, Whitten 2, Davis 2, Fairly. Fouled out — Quintana. Total fouls — Baker 16, Pendleton 18. Technicals — none.