Baker managed to cut the deficit in half from the first time the Bulldogs played Weiser in a non-league girls basketball game. But in the end, the Bulldogs still came up on the losing end of the score.

Earlier this month Baker fell 67-44 at Weiser. Tuesday, the Bulldogs dropped a 56-45 contest in the Baker gym.

Shaky rebounding and defense, and spotty offense hurt the Bulldogs.

Weiser took control of the game midway through the first quarter. The Wolverines broke a 4-4 tie with a 9-1 run that gave them a 13-5 lead with 1:45 left in the period.

Weiser pounded the ball inside on the way to a 17-7 lead at the break.

The downhill ski season will start Saturday at 9 a.m. at Ski Anthony Lakes.

Cross-country skiing, which got under way last month, will resume Thursday.
Bill Junnila, general manager, said both downhill and cross-country skiing will continue daily from Saturday through Jan. 3, except Christmas Day.
“It’s great to finally have enough snow to open the ski lift for snowboarders and downhill skiers, Junnila said.

Daily snow conditions are available by calling 541-856-3277, or online at www.anthonylakes.com.

Top-ranked Spartans hand Baker 55-16 loss

Top-ranked Marist gave the Bulldogs all the bad dreams they could handle, stopping Baker 55-16 for the championship.

“We didn’t take care of the ball very well, and they’re a good team. That’s a bad combination,” said Baker coach Dave Johnson.

“And defensively we didn’t wrap up well at times. They ran hard and that made it tough to wrap up at times.

“You can’t give them a short field and expect to stay close. But it was a privilege to get to play them.”

Marist ran up a 48-0 halftime lead, meaning the second half was played under a running clock due to the mercy rule.

“To be the man, you’ve got to beat the man.” — Ric Flair, 16-time pro wrestling world champion.

With all due respect to Flair, his signature saying also applies to Saturday’s Class 4A state championship football game between Baker and Marist at Reser Stadium in Corvallis.

In this case, Marist is “the man.”

Seventh-ranked Baker (11-1) is playing in its first state football championship game. Top-ranked Marist (13-0) is seeking its fourth title in seven years. This will be Marist’s final game at the 4A level. Next season the Spartans move to the 5A level in the Midwestern League.

Marist is 4-2 in football championship games. The Spartans defeated Sisters 36-28 to win the 2007 4A title. They also won the title in 2003 and 2005.

Baker enters Saturday’s game coming off a 57-14 thumping of Phoenix in the semifinals. The Bulldogs are averaging 36.1 points a game, and allowing 17.3.

Marist enters the title game coming off a 42-7 win over Ontario in the semis. The Spartans boast the most points scored (671) and fewest allowed (119) at the 4A level.

 Bulldogs feel the absence of players preparing for state football championship in loss to Pendleton

“The kids played hard,” said Baker coach Craig Woods. “We just ran out of gas. Playing with just six or seven guys, we just got tired.”

Woods said that with the bulk of his varsity roster still playing football through Saturday’s 4A state championship game, he played a handful of junior varsity players Tuesday.

But those players had already finished a full JV game.

“Pendleton is a real good, fast, athletic team, Woods said. “We learned a lot about ourselves. We’re going to be so much deeper because of this.”