6A — BAKER CITY HERALD
THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 2021
BAKER GIRLS BASKETBALL
BAKER BOYS BASKETBALL
Baker dominates Ontario, 54-15 Bulldogs roll
By Corey Kirk
ckirk@bakercityherald.com
Fresh from two days of rest
after a hectic week, the Baker
girls basketball team over-
whelmed Ontario 54-15 on
Tuesday, June 15 in the Baker
gym.
The Bulldogs had played
fi ve games in six days from
June 7-12, going 3-2 in that
span.
Baker coach Mat Sand was
excited to see his team return
with a lot of energy after los-
ing 39-30 to Burns on June 12.
“We came out with some
rest (and) the girls are really
starting to understand that
their energy is what makes
this game fun to watch,” Sand
said.
The Bulldogs (7-3) con-
trolled the tempo from the
opening jump ball. Baker was
dominant on both sides of the
court in the fi rst quarter, rac-
ing to a 21-2 lead as sopho-
more Macey Moore had six of
her eight points.
Sydney Keller, Baker’s lone
senior, said taking control
from the start is pivotal.
“We need to play at our
level of game,” said Keller, who
had eight points. “When you
play a team, regardless of how
good or bad they are, you want
to stay at your level, and play
your game.”
Ontario (0-11 on the season)
found a bit of offensive rhythm
in the second quarter, with
nine points, but Baker still
extended its lead, to 31-11 at
halftime.
Keller said Sand exhorted
the Bulldogs to continue their
inspired play in the second
half despite the big lead.
Baker responded, outscor-
ing Ontario 20-2 in the third
this condensed season — 12
games in three weeks —
Baker has little time to revel
in its latest win.
Baker travels to Vale today
and then to La Grande on
Friday, June 18, with a chance
to avenge a 51-32 loss to the
rival Tigers on June 8.
“I think we can compete
against La Grande but we got
to play a mistake-free game,”
Sand said.
Keller, who played her
fi nal game in the BHS gym
Tuesday, is also excited about
one last chance to beat La
Grande, which is 9-0 this
season.
Prior to the June 8 loss,
Baker had beaten La Grande
13 straight times, and Keller
was a part of more than half
of those wins.
“I’m super psyched, I have
Corey Kirk/Baker City Herald been really looking forward to
Baker’s lone senior, Sydney Keller, had eight points in
it ever since they were here in
her fi nal game in the BHS gym on Tuesday, June 15.
our house,” Keller said.
Sand said Tuesday’s win
quarter, a near repeat of the
“It’s super exciting, it’s kind over Ontario was bittersweet,
fi rst quarter.
of why I stuck around to help as he watched Keller, a three-
“Everyone needs to be
them out,” Keller said. “Being year starter, in her fi nal game
aware and have the energy
such a young team there was before a home crowd.
to be on the fl oor, because
no one really to lead them,
“I just want to send her off
the little mistakes can cost,”
and help Mat teach them
well, and I want to thank her
Keller said.
what they should be doing, to for helping me mature this
Baker never let up defen-
give back to the program and team, because it’s not just
sively, holding Ontario to
help them grow.”
me,” Sand said. “I just want to
just two points in the fourth
Sand said Baker’s defen-
say thank you to her.”
quarter as well.
sive dominance is a sign that
Keller said she’s grateful to
Sophomore Jozie Ramos led his young team — the roster the Baker community for its
Baker with 16 points. A trio
includes 10 sophomores and
support, and for the memories
of fellow sophomores also had two freshmen — is beginning she has made on the hard-
strong games, with Makenzie to blossom.
wood.
Flanagan scoring 10 points,
“I’m the type of coach that
“Just to leave it all out here
while Sydnee Pierce added
everything starts with de-
and wear my last white jersey
fi ve and Brooklyn Jaca four.
fense, if your offense is strug- as a Bulldog, now we will
Although Keller said her
gling, you can make it up on
see where it goes, and come
fi nal season has gone by
the defensive side of the ball,” at Vale, come at La Grande.
quickly, she said she’s enjoyed Sand said. “I just loved how
I am just super grateful for
watching her younger team-
we played defense up front.”
everyone at Baker and all the
mates become more confi dent.
As has been the case during support,” Keller said.
past Ontario
By Corey Kirk
ckirk@bakercityherald.com
Baker boys basketball coach Jebron Jones wanted
to make sure winless Ontario didn’t take advantage of
the emotion of senior night and start fast on its home
court Tuesday, June 15.
Jones needn’t have worried.
Baker bolted to a 29-12 lead after the fi rst quarter
and breezed to an 85-52 win, improving to 7-3 on the
season.
“It was Ontario’s senior night, so I made it a point
of emphasis to the guys to not let them have any hope
early on, and I think we accomplished that,” Jones
said.
Freshmen Hudson Spike scored 12 of his 18 points
in the fi rst period as Baker took control from the start.
With post Jake Wright heading to Corvallis, where
he will play football at Oregon State, Baker’s front line
was missing a key cog against Ontario.
Jones had to rely more on another senior, Mason
Van Arsdall, and junior Nick Mitchell.
Van Arsdall responded with 17 points, while Mitch-
ell added six.
“With Jake going down, Nick Mitchell had to step
up, and he did,” Jones said. “Mason played more min-
utes than usual and he hit his fi rst two career three-
pointers tonight, so he was feeling good about himself.”
Baker didn’t let up after its scorching fi rst quarter,
something Jones attributes to Baker hitting its stride
with conditioning.
“We are in better shape now than where we were
three weeks ago,” Jones said. “I wish I had more time
with them.”
Senior Gabe Gambleton led all scorers with 21
points. Freshman Paul Hobson added 11.
Jones was proud of the team’s collective effort.
“Everyone shared the rock, we got easy shots, every-
one was laughing, smiling and giggling,” Jones said.
“So, it was a good way to go out.”
Baker wraps up its season today by playing host to
Vale (5-2) at 5:30 p.m.
Jones hopes the team, including seniors Gambleton
and Van Arsdall playing their fi nal game at BHS,
enjoys the opportunity.
“That they had fun, they worked hard and they
made good memories,” Jones said.
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