The Cougars earned pay back … and then some.

A season after Portland Lutheran High School eliminated Wallowa’s basketball team in the first round of the state playoffs, the local boys nearly doubled the Blue Jays in an 85-48 victory Dec. 11 at the Condon Christmas Tournament.

Wallowa’s big boys ruled the paint. Junior forward Ronald Gladden (6-foot-5) scored 21 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and blocked four of the Blue Jays’ shots. Senior Mark Jamerson (6-4) also put up a double-double, with 11 points and 17 rebounds. Junior Ian Parks (6-foot-4) had 7 points and 3 blocks.

The backcourt went another route. Senior guard Tyler Harshfield posted 11 points and 12 assists. Sophomore Dusty McDaniel nailed four shots from beyond the three-point arc. He finished with 14 points. Senior Jake Johnson had 16 points, senior Chance Waters 5.

A day after extracting some revenge, Cougars took home the tournament’s trophy. Wallowa trounced Condon-Wheeler, 78-45.

The Cougars upped their record to 4-1.

This time, the guards had their way. Harshfield and Johnson scored 22 points, each. Freshman Wesley Conrad hit a three. Meanwhile, Jamerson had 15 points and 11 rebounds; Gladden had 10 and 12. Parks tallied 6 points.

Wallowa also played Dec. 15 at Enterprise. That was too late for this editon of the Chieftain.

Next, the Cougars will drive Dec. 18 and 19 to Joseph for another tournament.