By Randy Parks
Burns Times-Herald

The Burns Hilander boys varsity basketball team came away with a split in Eastern Oregon League (EOL) play this past weekend. The Hilanders ran past Vale 61-31 on Friday, Feb. 1, and then lost 57-56 in overtime to Nyssa on Saturday, Feb. 3.

The Hilanders and Vikings remain tied atop the EOL after last weekend’s play with 5-2 records, but Burns holds the tie-breaker because they have beaten Vale twice this season. Umatilla and Riverside are tied for the third spot in the league at 3-3 and Grant
Union and Nyssa are both 2-5.

Burns vs. Nyssa
Down by 10 after three quarters, Burns stormed back to tie the game at 51-51 at the end of regulation, but Nyssa outscored the Hilanders 6-5 in the extra period to get the win.
Three Hilanders scored in double figures, led by Tyler Fenton with 12. Tommy Ghost Dog added 11 and Drew Heinz 10.

The Hilanders made just 18-of-60 field goal attempts (30 percent), and were 17-of-26 from the free-throw line. “Anytime you shoot 30 percent from the field, you aren’t going to win a ton of ballgames,” Burns coach Eric Nichols said. “Our bench played well, but Nyssa’s intensity was there from the tip-off. Their desire and effort got them the win.”

1 2 3 4 OT Final
Bur 12 14 11 14 5 56
Nys 14 19 14 4 6 57

Burns
Ghost Dog 4-12 2-2 11, Swisher 0-7 2-2 2, Heinz 3-13 3-5 10, Smith 1-5 2-4 4, Smartt 1-4 0-0 2, Fenton 3-7 6-6 12, Feist 1-3 0-2 3, Colahan 4-8 1-3 9, Stockwell 1-1 1-2 3. Totals 18-60 17-26 56.

Nyssa
Spears 2-7 0-1 6, Glenn 6-16 2-3 15, DeAnda 2-4 0-0 6, Jenson 0-2 1-3 1, Leos 5-11 3-4 13, Fiscavelli 2-2 1-2 6, Trinidad 0-1 0-0 0, Martinez 0-1 2-2 2, J. Trinidad 1-4 4-4 6. Totals 19-49 13-20 57. Three-point goals — Spears 2, DeAnda 2, Glenn, Fiscavelli, Ghost Dog, Heinz, Feist. Fouled out — Smartt. Rebounds — Burns 41 (Ghost Dog 10), Nyssa 34 (Jenson 12). Assists — Burns — 13 (Ghost Dog, Swisher 4), Nyssa 17 (Spears 7). Steals — Burns 12, Nyssa 8. Turnovers — Burns 16, Nyssa 15.

Burns vs. Vale
The Hilanders broke open a close game by outscoring Vale 15-2 in the third quarter on their way to the EOL victory. Burns led by five at the end of the first quarter, but the Vikings battled back and with 10 seconds to go in the half, cut the lead to two on a basket by Russ Seals. As time ticked off the clock, the Hilanders’ Dakota Stockwell grabbed a rebound and scored as the buzzer sounded to put Burns ahead 27-23 at the break.

At the start of the third quarter, Burns’ defense forced four Vale turnovers, which led to four straight lay-ins by Heinz. Baskets by Steven Smartt and Garrett Swisher increased the lead to 16 and when Logan Garner drained a 3-pointer, the rout was on. Vale finally broke their scoring drought with 16 seconds left in the third on a basket by Seals.

Burns kept the pressure on in the final period and finished with a 19-6 run. “We had great defensive intensity in the second half,” Nichols said. “Our defense picked it up and that opened up some easy opportunities for us on the offensive end.” Heinz led all scorers with 21 points, while Smartt provided a presence in the paint by scoring 14. Seals finished with 16 points to lead the Vale squad. In the JV game, Burns downed Vale 45-31. The Hilanders host Grant Union this Thursday, Feb. 7, at Burns High School.

1 2 3 4 Final
Val 9 14 2 6 31
Bur 14 13 15 19 61

Vale
Robertson 2-6 0-0 5, Detinger 1-1 0-0 2, Husten 1-7 0-0 2, Cooper 1-4 0-0 2, Seals 7-8 2-2 16, Snook 0-3 0-0 0, Mainini 0-1 0-0 0, Lemer 1-1 0-0 2, Miller 0-6 1-2 1, Browen 0-6 1-2 1, Delong 0-0 0-1 0. Totals 13-43 4-7 31.

Burns
Ghost Dog 2-6 1-1 6, Swisher 1-6 5-6 7, Heinz 8-12 2-2 21, Smith 0-1 0-0 0, Smartt 7-9 0-1 14, Fenton 1-1 0-0 2, Feist 0-2 1-2 1, Colahan 0-3 0-0 0, Garner 1-6 0-4 3, Stockwell 1-1 0-0 2, Thompson 2-2 0-0 5. Totals 23-49 9-16 61. Three-point goals — Heinz 3, Ghost Dog, Garner, Thompson, Robertson. Fouled out — None. Rebounds — Vale 22 (Seals 4), Burns 41 (Ghost Dog 8). Assists — Vale 10 (Seals, Robertson 3), Burns 15 (Ghost Dog, Feist 4). Steals — Vale 7, Burns 9. Turnovers — Vale 16, Burns 13.