Wallowa, Joseph girls win district openers

Wallowa topped Powder Valley 57-49, and Joseph defeated Cove 42-36. Wallowa plays Pine-Eagle at 12:30 p.m. today in the semifinals. Joseph meets top-ranked Imbler at 6:30 p.m. in the other semi.

Cougars rally past Powder

Wallowa used a 13-1 five-minute run midway through the fourth quarter to break away from Powder Valley.

With the score knotted at 42-42 with 7:10 left in the game, Wallowa scored 13 of the next 14 points to build a 55-43 advantage with 1:15 left.

Bekah Jamerson led the run with five points. Skylar Waters and Megan Gollar each added three, and McKenzie Shelton two.

The teams battled evenly in the first quarter until Wallowa tallied the final seven points of the period to take a 19-11 lead. Meagan McKenzie scored four of the seven points, and Jamerson three.

Powder Valley’s Kate Jones then scored seven points, and Kaitlyn Martin five, to help pull the Badgers back to within 30-29 with 30 seconds left in the first half.

Wallowa led 33-30 at halftime.

Powder battled back to tie the game at 36-36 with 3:03 left in the third period on a basket by Ali Abrego.

But, again Wallowa answered, scoring five of the next seven points to take a 41-38 lead entering the fourth quarter.

Jamerson led Wallowa with 18 points and 17 rebounds. McKenzie and Waters each added 12 points.

Jessi Stephens led Powder Valley with 12 points. Jones and Katie Hamann each added 10.

Powder Valley    11    19    8    10    — 48

Wallowa    19    14    8    16    — 57

Powder Valley (48) — Jones 4 2-4 10, Hamann 4 2-4 10, Martin 2 2-3 6, Stephens 5 1-3 12, White 1 0-0 2, Pedro 1 0- 02, Abrego 2 0-0 4, Feik 1 0-1 2, McClaughry, Shankle, Sibernagel. Totals 20 7-15 48.

Wallowa (57) — Miller, McKenzie 4 3-6 12, Waters 2 8-10 12, Gollar 1 1-3 3, M. Shelton 2 0-2 4, Wallace 2 1-2 5, Chrisman, B. Shelton 1 0-1 2, Zollman 0 0-1 0, Jamerson 6 6-14 18. Totals 18 20-41 57.

Three-point goals — Stephens, McKenzie. Fouled out — Hamann, Stephens, Abrego, McKenzie. Total fouls — Powder Valley 26, Wallowa 19. Technicals — none.

Joseph slips past Cove

Joseph jumped out to a big first-quarter lead then held off a late Cove rally.

Mariah Warnock scored six points, Jessie Kohlhepp five and Josey Kohlhepp four to lead Joseph to a 15-6 lead after one period.

Cove slowly chipped away at the deficit, pulling within 29-25 after three periods.

The Leopards got within four points twice in the fourth quarter, but each time Joseph answered.

Jessie Kohlhepp led Joseph with 17 points. Warnock added 13.

Tierra Prince topped Cove with 21 points.

Joseph    15    11    3    13    — 42

Cove    6    10    9    11    — 36

Joseph (42) — Jo. Kohlhepp 1 2-2 4, Hunting, Bird 1 3-7 6, Warnock 6 1-2 13, Je. Kohlhepp 6 3-6 17, DeLury 0 2-5 2, Gross, Howerton 0 0-1 0. Totals 14 11-23 42.

Cove (36) — Bars 0 2-6 2, J. Murchison 2 1-3 5, Prince 6 9-12 21, Mills 1 0-0 2, Nostrant 2 0-0 4, N. Murchison 1 0-1 2, Colvin, Hulse. Totals 12 12-22 36.

Three-point goals — Bird, Je. Kohlhepp 2. Fouled out — J. Murchison, Mills. Total fouls — Joseph 21, Cove 21. Technicals — none.