SPORTS
6A — BAKER CITY HERALD
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021
Blazers lose third straight
high as you can get when
you’re having success. Some-
DENVER — Nikola Jokic times you come out on the
had 41 points and Jamal
losing side. We were playing
Murray celebrated his 24th at a high level for a long
birthday by scoring 19 of
stretch of games. It’s not
his 24 in the fourth quarter easy to sustain that level.”
to lead the Denver Nug-
Lillard had only fi ve
gets over the Portland Trail points at halftime but the
Blazers 111-106 on Tuesday Blazers rallied from 12
night.
down to tie it at the break
Damian Lillard had 20 of behind Carmelo Anthony’s
his 25 points in the second
big second quarter. Anthony
half and added 13 assists
hit six of eight shots and
but it wasn’t enough for the two of his three 3-point
Blazers, who were coming
attempts, scoring 16 of his
off a 32-point loss Monday
19 fi rst-half points in the
night in Phoenix. They have period. He fi nished with 24.
dropped three straight after
“We rode Melo in the sec-
a six-game winning streak. ond quarter,” Portland coach
“It’s frustrating just
Terry Stotts said. “I thought
because we want to win
he was outstanding in the
games,” Lillard said. “It’s as second quarter. The game
By Michael Kelly
Associated Press
FOOTBALL
Continued from Page 1A
“We have some things in mind in
terms of football things we need to
do, we may need to go under center
a little bit, kind of re-work some
of our offensive packages,” Ramos
said.
Van Arsdall actually sees the
snow as an advantage.
“We are out here practicing in
the snow, having snowball fi ghts,
sledding for conditioning,” he said.
“I think it brings us together and
makes us better.”
slowed down in the second
half and their two best play-
ers played great. Murray
had an outstanding fourth
quarter when it counted.”
Jokic had 23 points in the
fi rst half and 12 more in the
third quarter to help Denver
forge a tie heading into the
fi nal 12 minutes.
Murray, held in check
for the fi rst three quarters,
ended the night with a big
fourth. He hit six of his next
seven shots and three from
deep, putting Denver ahead
93-90 with a step-back 3
with 5:59 left.
Murray then made a
layup off a bounce pass from
Jokic and a turnaround
jumper in the lane that gave
the Nuggets a 99-92 lead.
“I want to have a great season,
go undefeated and have a great
time enjoying the last year of
football.”
— Gabe Gambleton,
Baker senior quarterback
Gabe Gambleton, a quarterback
and slotback.
He said he’s eager to start play-
ing, and to compete alongside his
teammates one last time.
“I want to have a great season, go
undefeated and have a great time
enjoying the last year of football,”
An abbreviated season
Gambleton said.
Ramos acknowledges that the
Bloomer, a running back and line-
truncated schedule does pose a
backer, believes the Bulldogs have a
signifi cant challenge for the Baker good chance to win all their games.
coaching staff.
“I think this year we could go un-
“Since we lost some of the lead
defeated pretty easily, and I think
up preparation we’ve had to kind
it will probably happen,” Bloomer
of rush through things, we have
said.
thrown a lot at the kids lately,”
Although football is back on the
Ramos said. “Our older guys are
schedule, fans won’t be allowed to
good with it, because they are vet-
attend, at least to start.
erans and they are ready to go. Our
Buell Gonzales Jr., the Baker
younger guys right now, we may
School District’s athletic director,
be going a little too fast for them
said on Tuesday, Feb. 23, that he
right now. We are going to have to
hopes to reassess the situation
be creative on how we structure our once the season starts to see if it’s
practices going forward.”
possible to have at least limited
One of those veterans is senior
attendance.
Murray also hit four free
throws in the fi nal 10 sec-
onds to answer 3-pointers
from Lillard and Anthony.
TIP-INS
• Trail Blazers: Portland
has lost three straight for
the fi rst time this season.
• Nuggets: Denver was
still without Gary Harris
(adductor), P.J. Dozier (ham-
string), Paul Millsap (left
knee strain) and JaMychal
Green (right shoulder)
UP NEXT
• Trail Blazers: At the Los
Angeles Lakers on Friday
night.
• Nuggets: Host the
Washington Wizards
tonight.
FEES
the District to be more inclusive,”
he said.
Continued from Page 1A
The fees, which were imple-
The fees were charged for
mented to help fund student ac-
students in Grades 7-12.
tivities in a time of declining state
Full scholarships were
funding, generated $9,000 at the
available to students unable to middle school level and $29,000
pay the charge, to be repaid by at the high school, Gonzales said.
working in concession stands
“This school year, because
during an off season or during
of the uncertainty related to
the annual district and state 1A COVID-19 guidelines, we didn’t
basketball tournaments that
charge or collect any participation
have been scheduled annually
fees,” Gonzales stated in the press
for years at Baker High School release.
in the spring prior to the CO-
But because of the condensed
VID-19 pandemic.
2020-21 athletic schedule, normal
But some families, for
district costs were reduced by
whatever reason, haven’t taken about two-thirds, he said.
advantage of that option, Gon-
“By eliminating pay-to-par-
zales said.
ticipate fees, we remove barriers
Studies he’s seen state that be- to participation for families who
tween 15% and 35% of students have been hard hit during the
who might otherwise participate economic downturn caused by
in extracurricular activities don’t the pandemic and pave the way
get the opportunity because of the for broader participation by stu-
fees, Gonzales said.
dents across all demographics,”
“This is definitely a move by
Gonzales said.
Gonzales said the district has to
comply with Oregon Health Author-
ity (OHA) regulations.
So long as Baker County is at
the lowest of the four risk levels
— which it will be at least through
March 11 — up to 300 people, in-
cluding players and coaches, could
be present for any outdoor sporting
event.
If the county dropped to the
moderate level, the capacity would
be halved, to 150 people.
In the interim, Gonzales said, the
school district will livestream all
home sporting events.
“Our community has always
supported and followed us well,
supported us well and traveled
well,” Ramos said. “We plan on
streaming games, and have people
available to watch, whatever we can
do to have our fans and our parents
be there and be supportive as much
as possible.”
But regardless of who’s sitting
in the grandstand, Gambleton said
he’s eager just to play again.
“I can’t wait to get under Friday
night lights,” Gambleton said.
Corey Kirk/Baker City Herald
Senior quarterback
Gabe Gambleton
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