Wallowa High School boys’ basketball closed the season with a pair of losses at the district tournament.

Trying for third place and the last remaining spot in the state playoffs Feb. 16, the Cougars fell behind the Badgers of Powder Valley High School during a devastating third quarter. From a tied score at halftime, the Badgers mounted a 14-point lead. The Cougars rallied back but fell short a 57-53 loss.

Trenton Dixon of Powder Valley was the star, scoring 25 points and grabbing 15 rebounds.

The strong three-point shooting that helped the Cougars (11-14 overall) to their last win left them as they played against the Badgers. Almost half the attempts Wallowa made came from outside the arc, but they converted just eight of 32. Senior Brandon Mahon and sophomore Tyler Harshfield ended up as the top Wallowa scorers with 15 points each. Junior Andrew Wilson had 14.

The Cougars were down to their last straw after suffering a 58-39 loss to the eventual league champs from Imbler High School Feb. 15 in a semifinal. The Panthers’ powerful starting lineup took control of the game early and built an 11-point lead at halftime. Imblers’ Taylor McIntosh scored 14 points, while Byan Mills had 13, Dalton McDaniel 12 and Nick West 10.

Tournament play opened with promise for the Cougars. They topped the Spartans of Pine Eagle High, 56-43, in the first round. Wilson came off the bench to score 16 points, including three three-pointers in the fourth quarter.

“The last two times we played (Pine Eagle), they ran a zone defense,” Wilson started, “and we couldn’t score much inside, so (coach Kyle Burnett) put together a special offense against the zone. We practiced it all week. There’s a lot of movement, and it leaves somebody open at the three-point line.”

Next year, the Cougars will have to make up for the graduation of Mahon and senior Mitchell Shelton. Several underclassmen, including Harshfield, sophomore forward Mark Jamerson and freshman forward Ronald Gladden were able to develop in starting roles.