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MARSHFIELD HIGH SCHOOL, COOS BAY – The Baker boys basketball team saw their season come to a close as the Bulldogs fell to Philomath, 60-67 in the consolation bracket of the 4A state basketball playoffs. Baker and Philomath took to the court of Marshfield High School on Friday, March 11 in Coos Bay.
The game appeared promising in the early stages as the Bulldogs played a first quarter every coach dreams of in high school basketball. Grabbing eight points off Warriors’ turnovers, the Bulldogs put up a 22-point quarter and led 22-9 as the initial eight minutes were completed.
Philomath settled down in the second quarter, but Baker continued the hot offense. As the half came to a close, the margin remained the same as both teams put up 17 points in the second quarter. Baker led 39-26 going into the locker room.
The Baker lead was cut to five points by the start of the fourth quarter as the Baker offense cooled down. The final eight minutes saw the teams reverse the first quarter results as the Warriors put up 21 points while the Bulldogs could only manage 9 points. Philomath took the lead, 54-53 at the 6 minute, 32 second mark off a 3-pointer by Cameron Ordway and never looked back until the final buzzer.
The difference in the game proved to be the inside play of the Warriors. Philomath outscored Baker 38-16 for points in the paint.
In the loss, Hudson Spike led Baker with 20 points followed by Isaiah Jones with 19 points. Paul Hobson added 17 points for the game. Spike, Grant Gambleton and Hayden Younger each had five rebounds and Jones was credited with three assists. For his efforts, Spike was named Player of the Game for the Bulldogs.
Baker returns home with a 19-8 overall record and a 5-1 Greater Oregon League record. The Bulldog season did produce some of the more exciting games in eastern Oregon. Baker downed Vale, 88-87 in triple overtime on the road and fell with a buzzer beater, 68-69 at home to Powder Valley. Early in the season, the Bulldogs fell by two points on the road to the Grizzlies of Fruitland, Idaho.
The Bulldogs see five seniors depart the team (Drake Harper, Hayden Younger, Lane Molina, Maddox Charbonneau and Nick Mitchell) while Spike and Hobson returning as juniors and Jones, coming off an outstanding year as a freshman, will take the court next season as a sophomore.
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