Home Sports Local Sports Ontario tops Baker to clinch crown

Ontario tops Baker to clinch crown

Written by Gerry Steele February 17, 2010 07:38 am

Baker needs win at Mac-Hi to take second

Baker’s last chance to finish second in the Greater Oregon League girls basketball standings will hinge on the outcome of the final two regular-season games Friday.

Ontario clinched the GOL regular-season title Tuesday by defeating the Bulldogs 49-41 at BHS. The loss dropped Baker’s league record to 4-4. However, Mac-Hi defeated La Grande 46-43, giving La Grande a 4-4 record as well.

Baker must defeat Mac-Hi Friday at Milton-Freewater and hope Ontario beats La Grande. That would give Baker second place.

If that happens, Baker would host a second round district game Feb. 25 against either La Grande or Mac-Hi. If Baker loses Friday, or La Grande upsets Ontario, Baker would host Mac-Hi in a first-round district game Feb. 23.

“We have to refocus and get back on track against Mac-Hi,” said Baker coach Tim Smith.

Baker has defeated the Pioneers in two previous meetings this season.

“The girls were excited to learn that Mac-Hi beat La Grande,” Smith said. “We just need to have an ‘us against the world’ attitude from now on.”

Against Ontario Tuesday, Baker trailed 12-8 after one period.

Then, behind five points each from Aly Ogan and Mackenzie Srack, and three from Mackenzie Warner, the Bulldogs pulled to within 25-23 at halftime.

A Warner three-pointer cut the deficit to 27-26 two minutes into the second half. Ontario then went on a 9-0 run to build its lead to 36-26 with 1:31 left in the third period.

“I thought we gave ourselves a good opportunity entering the third quarter,” Smith said. “We just didn’t hit our shots.

“I thought coming out of the break we looked good, but we didn’t finish it.

“Then our heads went down. I thought the turning point in the game was the last five minutes of the third quarter.”

A three-pointer by Warner, and a basket by Srack got Baker back to within 40-37 with 3:33 left in the game. But Ontario answered with an 8-0 run to put the game away.

Warner led Baker with 18 points.

Ontario 12 13 11 13 — 49

Baker 8 15 6 12 — 41

Ontario (49) — Hendon 1 2-4 4, Mauer 2 1-2 5, Sherrell 0 1-2 1, Gallegos 0 3-4 3, Babij 7 6-9 20, J. Yano 3 7-7 13, Lopez 0 2-2 2, A. Yano 0 1-2 1, Lang 0 0-2 0. Totals 13 23-34 49.

Baker (41) — Warner 6 2-4 18, Ward, Adams 0 1-2 1, Srack 2 2-3 7, Phillips, Trees 2 0-0 5, Smith 1 0-0 2, Ogan 1 6-8 8. Totals 12 11-17 41.

Three-point goals — Warner 4, Srack, Trees. Fouled out — Warner, Phillips, Ogan. Total fouls — Ontario 15, Baker 23. Technicals — none.