Pine-Eagle girls stop Cove

The Spartans dominated Cove 48-20 at Cove to improve their OOL record to 4-1, a game behind league-leading and top-ranked Imbler.

“I challenged the kids before the game,” said Pine-Eagle coach Roger Gulick.

Gulick’s son was going to play in a scrimmage during halftime of the game and Gulick said he would like to watch. So, he challenged to the Spartans to be in control of the game to allow him to stay out and watch the scrimmage while his assistant coaches handled halftime chores.

“I told the girls I’d like them to be up by 20 so I could watch my boy,” Gulick said. “They said ‘OK’.”

The Spartans didn’t quite reach that level, leading by just 18, 24-6 at halftime.

“These kids are starting to learn how to win,” Gulick said.

Chelsie Gulick led the Spartans with 16 points. Alicia Marlow added 11.

Pine-Eagle travels to Joseph Friday then hosts Wallowa Saturday. The Spartans have already defeated both teams this season.

“If we can take care of business this weekend we’re right where we want to be,” Gulick said.

The Spartans traveled to Cambridge, Idaho, Friday to play the Tri-Valley Titans. Tri-Valley had defeated Pine-Eagle by 30 points in December. Friday, Pine-Eagle played a much stronger game before falling 37-32.

“We changed the scope of things from the first time we played,” Gulick said.

Pine-Eagle led 8-6 after one period, but couldn’t find the basket in the second quarter. Tri-Valley outscored the Spartans 14-2 to take a 20-10 halftime lead.

“We just couldn’t get the ball to stay in the basket in the second quarter,” Gulick said.

Despite the lull Pine-Eagle managed to pull within one point with 56 seconds left in the game. But, forced to foul, the Spartans sent the Titans to the free throw line where they made their free throws.

“We played much better, and I was tickled with what we did,” Gulick said.

Chelsie Gulick led Pine-Eagle again with 13 points.

Friday game

Pine-Eagle    8    2    9    13    — 32

Tri-Valley    6    14    4    13    — 37

Pine-Eagle (32) — C. Gulick 13, Bloom, K. Gulick, Bell, Terjeson, Koski 2, Pallan, Butler, Thatcher 2, Holmstead 5, Coombes, Marks 8, Marlow 2.

Tri-Valley (37) — Doggett 8, Jensen, Elkerton, Woodman 10, Bankhead 15, McGee 2, Craig, Baledoz 2.

Three-point goals — C. Gulick 2. Fouled out — none. Total fouls — Pine-Eagle 14, Tri-Valley 16. Technicals — none.

Saturday game

Cove    5    1    2    12    — 20

Pine-Eagle    14    10    17    7    — 48

Cove (20) — Bars 1, W. Murchison 2, Hardenbrook, J. Murchison 2, Prince 5, Mills 7, Colvin, Nostrant 3, Buse, Doren, Leithner.

Pine-Eagle (48) — C. Gulick 16, Bloom, K. Gulick, Bell 2, Terjeson 3, Koski 2, Pallan, Butler, Thatcher 4, Holmstead 3, Coombes, Marks 7, Marlow 11.

Three-point goals — Nostrant, C. Gulick 2. Fouled out — none. Total fouls — Cove 23, Pine-Eagle 15. Technicals — none.