Powder Valley wins 1A boys crown

Now, Powder can add more hardware to the trophy case after defeating former champion Mohawk 73-59 in front of a packed Baker High School gym Saturday.

Mohawk (25-4) entered the game as the two-time defending state champion. Powder Valley (21-2) entered the contest as the top-ranked 1A boys team in Oregon.

Saturday, Cord Wilkins scored seven first-quarter points to lead Mohawk to a 14-11 advantage.

Then, trailing 18-15 in the second period, Powder Valley turned its offense up a notch.

During a 3-minute span in the middle of the quarter the Badgers ran off 10 straight points for a 25-18 edge. Casey Wendt and Joey Brown each hit a three-pointer in the run. Trenton Dixon added a basket, and Jordan Pratt a pair of free throws.

Then leading 26-22 the Badgers finished the half on an 8-2 spurt. Anthony Massingale came off the bench to spark the run with a pair of baskets. Pratt added a two-handed dunk, and Dixon another basket.

Powder Valley led 34-24 at halftime.

Mohawk made a brief run at the Badgers to start the second half, scoring the first six points to pull withimn 34-31.

But Powder answered with a pair of Dixon baskets, and one by Justin Allen to build the lead back to 40-31 with 4:37 left in the quarter.

The teams then traded baskets the rest of the period with Powder maintaining a 52-45 lead at the break.

Mohawk used a three-pointer from Aaron Mason, and two Dillon Tuyls free throws to pull within 52-50 with 6:06 left in the game.

Powder Valley then went on another rush.

Two baskets by Wendt, a three-pointer by Allen and another basket by Dixon keyed a 9-1 Badger run to boost their lead to 61-51 with 3:52 left.

Mohawk could get no closer than five points after that.

Dixon finished the game with 22 points, 19 rebounds and five assists. Pratt added 12 points, 19 rebounds (13 offensive) and seven blocked shots. Wendt added 15 points.

C.J. Vian led Mohawk with 16 points. Wilkins added 15, and Mason 13.

Powder Valley    11    23    18    21    — 73

Mohawk    14    10    21    14    — 59

Powder Valley (73) — Dixon 10 2-6 22, J. Allen 3 2-4 9, Wendt 6 2-3 15, Brown 2 3-4 8, Pratt 4 4-6 12, G. Kandle, B. Kandle, Reed, Massingale 2 3-3 7, Weems, L. Allen, Colton. Totals 27 16-26 73.

Mohawk (59) — Wallace 3 2-7 8, Vian 7 1-2 16, Wilkins 6 3-3 15, Osburn, Mason 5 0-0 13, Jordan, Lance, Tuyls 1 4-5 7, Johnson, Hanes, Berry, Chaney. Totals 22 10-17 59.

Three-point goals — J. Allen, Brown, Wendt, Vian, Mason 3, Tuyls. Fouled out — none. Total fouls — Powder Valley 18, Mohawk 22. Technicals — none.