By Randy Parks
Burns Times-Herald

For three quarters of play, the boys varsity game between Burns and Grant Union looked like it could go either way. But the final eight minutes belonged to the Hilanders as they outscored the Prospectors 20-5 for a 68-46 win.

After leading by five at halftime, the Hilanders started the third quarter with a 9-0 run to go up by 14. Grant Union fought back to come to within 10 with less than a minute to play in the quarter, and a 3-point basket by Ian Averette in the final seconds shaved the lead to seven.

Any thoughts of the Prospectors coming back to win were put to rest early in the fourth quarter as Zach Dobson drilled back-to-back 3-pointers from the right corner, and Caleb Feist scored eight of his game-high 18 points by slashing to the basket.

The Hilanders’ defense also did their job in the final stanza, holding Grant Union to just two field goals.

With Grant Union concentrating on stopping Feist and Carraig Colahan, the Burns offense got a big lift from Dylan Thompson in the first half.

After being knocked to the floor by an elbow in the first quarter, Thompson caught fire. He sank three field goals and a 3-pointer before the quarter ended, and then added another six points in the second period.

Joining Feist and Thompson in double figures were Dobson with 16 points and Colahan with 11. Gus McConnell added three points, Kieran Colahan and Zach Adams two each, and Cole Potter one.

Dillon Porter finished with 15 points to lead Grant Union and Averett added 11.

The win upped the Hilanders overall record to 14-9, and their league record to 8-1. Grant Union fell to 2-7 in league, 8-13 overall.

Burns hosted Nyssa on Tuesday, Feb. 16, in the final league game of the season, a contest which would determine this year’s league champion. Results of the game were not available by press time.

Burns has qualified for the state playoffs that begin on Saturday, Feb. 27.

1    2    3    4     Final
G.U.    16  12  13    5     46
Bur     14  19  15   20    68

•••

The Burns girls varsity basketball team clinched the Eastern Oregon League (EOL) title with a 55-20 win over Grant Union on Friday, Feb. 12, at Burns High School.

After leading by six at the end of the first quarter, the Hilanders stepped up the defensive pressure, and outscored the Prospectors 16-2 over the next minutes to take a 20-point lead into halftime.

It was more of the same after the break as Burns held Grant Union to just three field goals in the second half on their way to the victory.

With three players out because of injuries, the Prospectors were worn down early as Burns rotated players in and out to keep up the pace of the game.

The Hilanders’ scoring attack was led by Jamie Higle with 13 points and Brea Ribeiro with 12.

Higle also led the team in steals with five, while Selene Johnson had a team-high nine rebounds.

Mackinsey Nash led the Prospectors with seven points.

The win raises the Hilanders’ EOL record to 8-1, and they are 20-2 overall. Grant Union dropped to 2-7 in league, 7-15 on the season.

Burns hosted Nyssa on Tuesday, Feb. 16, in the final league game for both teams, but results were not available by press time.

By winning the EOL, the Hilanders will host a first-round state playoff game on Saturday, Feb. 27. They will host the No. 3 team from the Pac-West League. The winner of that contest advances to the state tournament March 3-6 at Willamette University in Salem.

1    2    3    4     Final
G.U.     7    2    5    6     20
Bur    13   16  10  16    55

Points — Ja. Higle 13, Ribeiro 12, Lee 9, Nonnenmacher 4, Siegner 4, Johnson 3, Root 2, Dinsmore 2, Je. Higle 2, Fisher 2, McConnell 2.
Rebounds — Johnson 9, Ja. Higle 7, Lee 7, Siegner 5, Root 3, Hodge 2, McConnell 2, Dinsmore 1, Je. Higle 1, Fisher 1.
Steals — Ja. Higle 5, Dinsmore 3, Ribeiro 2, Lee 2, Fisher 1, Nonnenmacher, Root 1, Siegner 1, Hodge 1.
Assists — Ja. Higle 5, Dinsmore 2, Ribeiro 2, Johnson 2, Je. Higle 1, Nonnenmacher 1, McConnell 1, Siegner 1, Sanders 1.