Blankenship sets school scoring record

By GERRY STEELE

Baker City Herald

Baker used a record-setting scoring performance by Derek Blankenship to roll past Weiser, Idaho, 89-59 in a non-league boys basketball game Saturday at BHS.

Blankenship led Baker with 45 points. He was 11-of-14 from three-point range, and 16-of-20 overall from the field. He also dished out four assists.

Blankenship’s 45 points eclipsed Baker’s single-game record of 43 points set in 2002 by Dave Mullins at Vale.

“My shot was just going good,” Blankenship said. “I have to credit my teammates and coaches. We had some set plays for me.

“Jesse Brown got me the ball. Dekker (Smith), Trace (Richardson), B.J. (Quintana), Ty (Everson) and Taylor (McEnroe) all were playing well.”

Blankenship scored 31 points in the first half, hitting 7-of-8 from beyond the arc.

“I knew I was shooting good in the first half,” Blankenship said. “But I didn’t know how many points I had. My teammates kept asking how many I had. I thought I had about 20. Then, when we came back out at halftime and the announcer said I had 31 I thought ‘wow.’ ”

Blankenship said the entire second half his teammates and coaches on the bench provided a countdown to the record. Then, with 3:20 left in the game, following a Baker timeout, Blankenship connected on his 11th three-pointer to set the new record.

“I thought about that shot more than the others,” Blankenship said. “I think I was all smiles after it went in.”

That basket drew a loud roar from the fans, including several Weiser faithful.

Baker coach Craig Woods said all he told his senior guard was to shoot the ball in the flow of the game.

“He is such a team player,” Woods said. “Even when he was within two points of the record he was looking for his teammates, passing off for easy baskets.

“Derek is such a good shooter. And I think he was more relaxed tonight,” Woods said.

Woods also credited what he called “short-term memory” by the Bulldogs bouncing back from a tough Greater Oregon League loss to La Grande Friday.

“These kids all feed off each other,” Woods said.

Richardson added five three-pointers of his own for 15 points. Smith chipped in nine rebounds inside, including five offensive boards.

“Taylor, B.J., Jesse. They all did their part,” the Baker coach said.

The Bulldogs shot 17-of-29 from three-point range as a team.

Blankenship scored 12 points in the first quarter as Baker constructed a 24-15 lead.

Then, after Weiser scored the first six points of the second period to pull within 24-22, Blankenship’s three-pointer stemmed the tide.

Blankenship and Richardson then combined for three straight “threes” to lift Baker back up 36-25 with 3:13 left in the first half. Blankenship finished the second quarter with 19 points and Baker led 50-31 at halftime.

Five more points from Blankenship and a basket by Quintana opened the third period completing a 12-0 Baker run that increased the lead to 57-31.

Baker finished shooting 33-of-57 from the field overall with 20 assists.

Weiser    15    16    10    18    — 59

Baker    24    26    23    16    — 89

Weiser (59) — Thomas, Sappe 3 0-0 8, Loomis 2 0-0 4, Zanelli 2 0-0 4, Chandler 2 0-0 4, Winegar 7 0-1 17, J. McKie 3 2-2 8, D. McKie 5 3-4 14. Totals 24 5-7 59.

Baker (89) — Cripe, Brown 2 1-2 5, Barr, Everson 1 1-3 4, Curtis, McEnroe 3 2-2 8, Richardson 5 0-0 15, Blankenship 16 2-3 45, Quintana 3 0-0 6, Lay 1 0-0 2, Howard, Smith 2 0-0 4. Totals 33 6-10 89.

Three-point goals — Sappe 2, Winegar 2, D. McKie, Everson, Richardson 5, Blankenship 11. Fouled out — none. Total fouls — Weiser 10, Baker 9. Technicals — none.