Baker hosts all-night tourney

Sponsored by the Baker Truck Corral, the boys hoop tourney began Friday at 6 p.m. and finished at 10 a.m. Saturday. Games were played every hour throughout the evening in the BHS main gym.

“I guess what doesn’t kill you will make you stronger,” said a weary Craig Woods, BHS boys coach Saturday morning.

“Well I am as strong as I can be, because that came as close to killing me as just about anything I’ve ever done. I don’t think I have ever been so physically and mentally drained as I was by the end of this tourney.

“Good news is no one was hurt during the 24-hour tourney and all the teams walked out of the gym with smiles and a reassurance that they would definitely return for next year.”

Each team played five games throughout the evening. Baker finished with a 4-1 record dropping its 3 a.m. game to a very energetic Umatilla squad by four points.

Umatilla finished the tourney with the same 4-1 record the final game of the tourney to North Powder by two points. North Powder finished with a 1-4 record. Baker had to come from behind in its 7 a.m. game to defeat North Powder by five. 

Woods voiced a special thanks to all the Baker parents that made it to most of the games.

“Parent support and student support was great. I had Baker kids showing up for the games all night long,” Woods said.

Hallie Borgen and Kelsey Cole kept the clock for all the games, freshman coach Anders Sorestad officiated 12 of the 18 games and deserves the iron legs award, Woods said. 

Eric Nichols, Burns coach and formerBaker graduate, also helped with the officiating, as well as former Bulldog Jordan Harlow. 

“This tournament would not have happened without their help,” Woods said.