Baker girls lose to Nyssa

It's a story that rings too much the same for the Baker girls — not enough offense.

The Bulldogs managed just two points in the first quarter against Nyssa Tuesday and ended up on the short end of a 57-41 defeat in the nonleague girls basketball game at BHS.

Baker trailed 12-2 after one period. The Bulldogs then played Nyssa to just a 6-point difference in the other three quarters.

"This game was lost in the first quarter," said Baker coach Tim Smith. After the first quarter it was a 6-point game.

"We came out not ready to go," Smith said. "After the first quarter I was real pleased with our effort from the second quarter on."

Smith said Baker also played timidly in the first half.

"We talked at halftime about how we had to come out and be more physical," he said.

"I thought the girls came out and made a statement in the second half."

Baker's lone points in the first quarter came on a layin by Stacy Duman with 2:38 left in the quarter.

Trailing 14-2, Marley Robb got Baker's second basket, a free-throw line jumper, with 6:44 left in the first half.

Baker made a brief run midway through the quarter when Michelle Birkmaier hit back-to-back three-point baskets, and Allison Kercheski added a two-point basket to pull the Bulldogs within 21-12 with about three minutes left in the half.

Nyssa went on to take a 28-15 halftime advantage.

The visiting Bulldogs then outscored Baker 14-9 in the third period to lead by as many as 20 points, ending the period with a 42-24 cushion.

Then Baker got hot. 

Michelle Freese scored 10 of her 12 points in the fourth quarter, and Birkmaier added five points, to help Baker pull back within 11, 52-41, with 2:55 left in the game.

But Baker never scored again.

Freese led Baker with 12 points. Birkmaier finished with 11.

"Both Michelles played well," Smith said.

"We still didn't shoot free throws well, though."

Baker shot just 12-of-27 from the line.

Baker returns to Greater Oregon League action Friday at La Grande. The Bulldogs need a win, or a Mac-Hi loss, this weekend to clinch a Class 4A state berth.

"We've got to get after them," Smith said of La Grande. "We have to play this kind of game at La Grande."

NYSSA (57)

   Groves 0 2-2 2, Contreras 2 0-0 4, Ramirez 4 2-4 11, D. Martinez, Wilson 1 1-2 3, Gonzalez 6 2-7 15, S. Martinez 2 0-2 5, Rodriguez 2 0-2 4, Hashagen 5 3-6 13, Justice 0 0-2 0. Totals 22 10-27 57.

BAKER (41) ­ 

   Robb 1 0-0 2, E. Smith 1 2-7 4, A. Smith, Freese 4 4-5 12, Trees 1 1-1 3, Birkmaier 4 0-0 11, Kercheski 1 0-2 2, Bachman 0 2-3 2, Chaves 0 0-4 0, Duman 1 3-5 5. Totals 13 12-27 41.

Nyssa         ­12

 16
 14
 15 — 57
 13
   9
 17 — 41

Baker          ­  2

  Three-point baskets — Ramirez, Gonzalez, S. Martinez, Birkmaier 3. Fouled out —Robb. Total fouls —Nyssa 24, Baker 23. Techincals —Rodriguez.