Marist ends Baker boys season

Marist of Eugene defeated the Bulldogs for the Class 4A state football championship in December. Then, Saturday, the Spartans ended Baker’s hopes of advancing to the 4A state boys basketball tournament with a come-from-behind 58-54 victory in the second round of the playoffs.

Saturday, the teams battled through six lead changes and eight ties before Jeff Bedbury’s three-pointer gave Marist the lead for good at 51-48 with about three minutes left in the game.

Baker trailed 12-7 in the first quarter before Trace Richardson scored and Derek Blankenship added a three-pointer to knot the game at 12-12.

Then, after Marist regained a 14-12 lead, Baker scored the final eight points of the period to take a 20-14 lead at the break. Blankenship had four of those points. Dekker Smith and B.J. Quintana added a basket each.

Baker increased its lead to 29-20 late in the second quarter before Marist rallied to within 29-24 at halftime.

Marist continued to chip away at the deficit until Bedbury hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 34-34 with about two minutes left in the third quarter.

Blankenship scored to give Baker a two-point lead, but Marist again rallied, taking a 38-36 lead at the buzzer on another three-pointer by Steve Bustrin.

The teams then traded leads in the fourth quarter, and tied at 44, 46 and 48 before Bedbury’s three-pointer gave Marist the lead for good.

A Blankenship basket and two free throws by Smith pulled Baker to within 53-52 with 1:06 left. But, four Marist free throws put the game out of reach.

Blankenship finished the game with 25 points. Smith added 10.

Mitchell Wilson led Marist with 19 points. Bustrin added 17 and Bedbury 16.

Baker finished its season 15-8.

Baker    20    9    7    18    — 54

Marist    14    10    14    20    — 58

Baker (54) — Blankenship 25, Brown 2, Everson, McEnroe 4, Richardson 8, Quintana 5, Smith 10, Curtis. Totals 22 7-16 54.

Marist (58) — Wilson 19, Bustrin 17, Malos, Bedbury 16, Owen 3, Hardin 2, Swindling 1, Payment. Totals 18 18-27 58.

Three-point goals — Blankenship 2, Quintana, Bedbury 3, Bustrin. Fouled out — Quintana. Total fouls — Baker 18, Marist 14. Technicals — none.