Baker girls top Ontario in GOL opener

Mackenzie Warner leads Bulldogs to first win at Ontario since 2000

Baker made history Friday during its Greater Oregon League girls basketball game at Ontario.

The Bulldogs earned a 53-31 victory over the Tigers to open the GOL season. The win was Baker’s first at Ontario in nine years.

“This was my first win here as coach,” said Baker coach Tim Smith. “And, it was our first win at Ontario since 2000 when Courtney Warner, Mackenzie’s older sister, was point guard for the Bulldogs.

“This is only the second time — the other was in 2003 — that a team I’ve coached has defeated Ontario,” Smith said.

Friday, Baker left little doubt as to the outcome.

“The girls came out and executed our game plan perfectly,” Smith said. “Since the first day of practice we’ve had Jan. 9 circled on the calendar. We’ve been keying for this game all season.”

Baker forced 31 Ontario turnovers while committing a season-low 18 of their own.

“Our pressure defense was too much for their guards,” Smith said. “It was nice to get the win.”

Savannah Daly scored five of her nine points in the first quarter to help the Bulldogs take a 16-9 advantage.

Mackenzie Warner added six points in the second period to help Baker take a 26-19 halftime lead.

Tara Talbott then scored seven points, and Warner four, as the Bulldogs increased their lead to 39-25 in the third period.

Warner led the Bulldogs with 18 points. Talbott added 11, Daly nine and Whitney Phillips eight.

Phillips added 10 rebounds as Baker outrebounded Ontario by 13. Dallas Defrees led the Baker defense with nine steals.

Baker returns to league play Friday when the Bulldogs host La Grande.

Baker    16    10    13               14 — 53

Ontario    9    10    6                 6 — 31

Baker (53) — Warner 7 4-6 18, Defrees 1 0-0 2, Ward 1 0-0 3, Adams, Shively 1 0-0 2, Phillips 4 0-0 8, Daly 4 1-1 9, Harlow, Talbott 5 1-4 11, Ogan. Totals 23 6-11 53.

Ontario (31) — Boyd 2 1-2 5, Schram 1 0-0 2, Yano 2 1-2 5, C. Babij 4 2-2 10, Lopez 2 1-2 7, Contreras 1 0-0 2, Kameshige 0 0-1 0, A. Babij, Wistler, Babcock, Gallegos, Smith. Totals 12 5-9 31.

Three-point goals — Ward, Lopez 2. Fouled out — none. Total fouls — Baker 11, Ontario 14. Technicals — Boyd.