La Grande tips Bulldogs — again

The fourth win came Saturday, when La Grande rallied to edge the Bulldogs 51-49 to win the Greater Oregon League boys basketball playoffs in La Grande.

“They just seem to have our number in the fourth quarter,” said Baker coach Craig Woods.

Baker led 35-31 entering the final quarter Saturday, but let La Grande win the period 20-14 for the win.

Baker actually had a chance to send the game into overtime with its best free throw shooter, Derek Blankenship, at the line with six seconds left. But Blankenship missed the front end of the one-plus-one situation and La Grande salted away the win.

“You couldn’t have scripted it any better, with our best free throw shooter at the line,” Woods said.

“Down the stretch, in the second half, they took more advantage of their offensive possessions than we did. They didn’t have to work as hard for their shots.”

La Grande took its largest lead, 11-4, midway through the first period. Baker then answered with eight straight points — five by Blankenship and three by Trace Richardson — to take a 12-11 lead at the break.

The teams then traded baskets in the second period, leaving Baker on top 21-20 at halftime.

Then, six points each from Richardson and Taylor McEnroe helped the Bulldogs take a 35-31 lead after three quarters.

Another basket by Blankenship with 7:11 left in the game gave Baker its largest lead, 37-31.

La Grande answered with eight straight points to take a 39-37 lead with five minutes left.

Brad Townsend then hit eight points, including a pair of three-point baskets, down the stretch to keep La Grande on top.

Another Blankenship basket — he scored 10 points in the fourth quarter — cut the deficit to 51-49 with 16 seconds left.

Blankenship led Baker with 18 points. Richardson added 12 and Dekker Smith 10.

Baker travels to Marist Saturday in the second round of the Class 4A state playoffs. The winner of that game advances to Corvallis March 11-13 for the Class 4A tournament at Gill Coliseum.

“Marist kind of dominated their league,” Woods said. “Like La Grande they have three good players, but I don’t think they’re as good as La Grande.

“It’s not a bad idea for our football players to get another chance at those guys.”

Marist defeated Baker in the Class 4A football title game. Seven Bulldogs played in that game.

Baker    12    9    14    14    — 49

La Grande    11    9    11    20    — 51

Baker (49) — Brown 1 0-0 3, Everson, Curtis, McEnroe 3 0-0 6, Richardson 4 0-0 12, Blankenship 7 3-5 18, Quintana, Smith 5 0-0 10. Totals 20 3-5 49.

La Grande (51) — Miller, Attila 2 3-6 8, Nice 3 0-1 8, Tooke 5 0-2 10, Mills 0 1-2 1, Chandler 6 0-1 12, Aldrich, Townsend 5 0-0 12. Totals 21 4-12 51.

Three-point goals — Brown, Richardson 4, Blankenship, Attila, Nice 2, Townsend 2. Fouled out — none. Total fouls — Baker 16, La Grande 13. Technicals — none.