Baker boys defeat Burns

Derek Blankenship led Baker with 23 points. Dekker Smith added 16, Jesse Brown 11 and Ty Everson 11.

“It’s much better to see even scoring like that,” said Baker coach Craig Woods. “We’ve said all along we had to have more balanced scoring.”

Baker roared out of the gate behind five points from Blankenship and baskets by Smith and Brown to take a 9-2 lead three minutes into the game.

Blankenship finished the first quarter with eight points, Smith six and Everson six as the Bulldogs stormed to a 22-12 lead.

Then, just as quickly, Burns battled back.

The Hilanders outscored Baker 23-16 in the second quarter to pull within 38-35 at halftime. Caleb Feist and Carraig Colahan combined to score 17 Hilander points in the period.

“We just could never put them away,” Woods said. “We had some mental lapses.

“But, Burns is tough. They showed us some things we still need to work on.”

Feist opened the second half with a three-point basket to tie the game at 38-38 six seconds into the third period.

Baker then went on a 7-0 run, five by Blankenship and two by Smith, to regain a 45-38 edge.

Burns stayed close, finally getting back within two points, 50-48, on a three-point play by Colahan with 1:19 left in the quarter.

Two baskets from Smith, and another by B.J. Quintana, helped Baker pull ahead 56-48 at the break.

A Brown three-point play completed a 9-0 Baker run before Burns made one last rally.

The Hilanders outscored Baker 11-1 during the next three minutes to get within 60-59 with 5:21 left in the game.

Then a three-pointer by Everson, and two Blankenship free throws gave Baker a 65-59 advantage.

Burns got to within three points twice more down the stretch, but Baker converted on 6-of-9 free throws in the final three minutes to seal  the win.

Baker (4-3) travels to Hermiston Tuesday to play Heppner in its final non-league game before hosting Ontario in its Greater Oregon League opener Friday.

Burns    12    23    13    18    — 66

Baker    22    16    18    17    — 73

Burns (66) — McConnel, Dobson 3 4-4 10, Heinz 0 0-2 0, K. Colahan, Feist 7 1-1 19, Adams 1 0-0 3, Potter 3 0-0 9, Thompson 4 1-2 9, C. Colahan 6 1-2 16. Totals 25 7-11 66.

Baker (73) — Brown 4 3-4 11, Everson 4 2-2 11, McEnroe 2 0-0 4, Richardson 1 0-0 3, Blankenship 6 7-8 23, Quintana 2 1-2 5, Lay, Smith 6 4-9 16. Totals 25 17-25 73.

Three-point goals — Feist 4, Adams, Potter 3, K. Colahan, Everson, Richardson, Blankenship 4. Fouled out — none. Total fouls — Burns 16, Baker 15. Technicals — none.