<I>Hector del Castillo/Chieftain</I><BR>Senior guard Tyler Harshfield threads all five defenders.

The Cougars added another trophy to their collection.

Wallowa High School’s boys won two basketball games at the Joseph Education Foundation’s Shootout Invitational, including the championship Dec. 19, by lopsided margins. First, the Cougars lapped the Griswold (a.k.a. Helix) Grizzlies, 83-15. Then, they pounded the Joseph Eagles, 77-31.

The Cougars’ only setback last week was a 59-52 loss Dec. 15 at Enterprise. That night, Wallowa used only six players; three regular starters benched for disciplinary reasons. Their replacements matched a Class 2A varsity.

“We’ve got a pretty deep bench,” said senior guard Jake Johnson, who played in all three games and accumulated 55 points. “Any one of them can score at any time. They’re all calm about it. I think it makes things easier on us all. It’s not just one guy doing all our offense.”

Two victories upped Wallowa’s overall record to 6-2. Joseph may be a rival in Old Oregon, but their recent game had no bearing on their district mark.

Over the week, senior Tyler Harshfield totaled 42 points. Sophomore Dusty McDaniel scored 29, freshman Wesley Conrad 20, junior Ian Parks 18, senior Mark Jamerson 16, junior Ronald Gladden 13, senior Chance Waters 9, junior Tyler Chrisman 8 and junior Conner Evans 5.

Jamerson also grabbed 35 rebounds, including 17 at Enterprise.

After Christmas, Wallowa will host its own tournament, Dec. 28 and 29.