LA GRANDE — No. 10 La Grande used a 16-12 run in the fourth quarter to break open a close game and beat Pendleton 58-51 on Wednesday to wrap up Greater Oregon League play.
“We were down two key players tonight in Katelyn Boatman and Shaylor Fisher, but the girls stepped up and gave it everything they had,” Pendleton coach Tim Foster said. “La Grande just made a few more shots in the fourth to win it. Rylee Jackson brought a lot of energy and made some big shots at the rim, and Khim (Scott) and Presley (Greenwalt) were able to score inside and out.”
Pendleton (11-13 overall, 2-4 GOL) took an 11-9 lead after the first quarter, and Greenwalt scored eight of her 11 points in the second as the Bucks and Tigers were tied at 21-21 at the half.
Rowan Evans scored 12 of La Grande’s 21 points in the third quarter to give the Tigers a 42-39 edge heading into the fourth quarter.
Peyton Daggett led the charge in the fourth with seven points as the Tigers held on for the win.
“Paisley (McLaughlin) and Avery (Quaempts) did great, taking on more minutes and made plays on both ends,” Foster said. “We asked Chais (Surber) to guard Evans most of the night and she did well keeping her out of the middle. Our plan is to be back in La Grande for league playoffs next week, fighting for a win.”
Jackson led the Bucks with 13 points, while Scott and Greenwalt each had 11, and Surber nine.
Evans had a game-high 22 points for La Grande (12-9, 4-2), while Daggett had 16 and Taryn McIlmoil nine.
Boys basketball
LA GRANDE 72, PENDLETON 62 — The Bucks finished Greater Oregon League play with a 3-3 record after dropping a game at La Grande.
“We played very poorly tonight and some of our guys lost their composure,” Pendleton coach Ron Murphy said. “La Grande got almost every shot they wanted. We preach defense, and this was not something we did very good tonight. We will need to regroup and get ready for the league playoffs next week.”
La Grande (13-10 overall, 4-2 GOL) jumped out to a 22-15 lead after the first quarter, but Pendleton came back with an 18-12 run in the second behind six points from Jubal Hoisington to pull within 34-33 at the half.
The Tigers would outscore the Bucks 38-29 in the second half to secure the win.
Dillon Elrod led Pendleton (13-12) with 20 points, with Hoisington adding 17 and Garret Reinhart 10.
Beckett Hutchins led the Tigers with 24 points, with Tyler Abbott adding 14, Darek McIlmoil 13, and Blake Hildebrandt 10.
