Kuna edges Baker boys

In the end, Kuna stole away with a 66-60 victory at the Fruitland, Idaho, Invitational boys basketball tournament.

“We were only down by one with a minute to go, then let it slip away,” said Baker coach Craig Woods.

There were 14 lead changes in the game, seven by each team. Kuna helped its cause by outscoring Baker 41-11 off the bench.

Woods said one of Baker’s goals entering the game was to do a better job of rebounding. The Bulldogs accomplished that goal.

“We outrebounded Kuna by two, but they shot too well. The rebounding was our big focus,” Woods said.

Dekker Smith led Baker with 11 rebounds, eight on the offensive end.

“Dekker did a great job on the boards,” Woods said. “His offensive rebounding gave us some extra possessions. And, Trace (Richardson) also had a good game on the boards.”

Baker led 31-30 at halftime, then fell behind 47-46 after three quarters.

Derek Blankenship led the Bulldogs with 30 points. Jesse Brown added 16.

“It was a good overall effort, a good learning lesson for us,” Woods said.

Baker’s return home was lengthened when the heater hose on the team bus broke. The team managed to reach Weatherby before the bus broke down. Wayne Paxton had to bring a second bus from Baker City to finish the trip.

Baker returns to the court Saturday when the Bulldogs host Burns. Action begins at 1 p.m. with the frosh/soph contest.

Baker    13    18    15    14    — 60

Kuna    15    15    17    19    — 66

Baker (60) — Brown 3 8-10 16, McEnroe 1 2-4 4, Richardson 2 1-2 5, Blankenship 10 5-5 30, Quintana 1 0-0 2, Lay 1 0-0 2, Smith 0 1-2 1, Everson. Totals 18 17-23 60.

Kuna (66) — Hawthorn 1 3-5 5, Andrus 3 0-0 8, Gordon 7 6-6 20, Van Antwerp 2 0-0 4, Dubowsky 1 2-2 4, Raver 1 1-1 3, Tolbert 5 2-2 12, Dooley 1 0-0 2, Hocae, Smith, Seaman. Totals 21 14-16 66.

Three-point goals — Brown 2, Blankenship 5, Andrus 2, Gordon 4. Fouled out — none. Total fouls — Baker 17, Kuna 20. Technicals — none.