Senior Chaz Murray, a 61 interior player, scored exactly half of the Wallowa boys team points Friday night when the visiting Cougars locked down Echo defensively and recorded a 34-19 win. Murray scored six of his game-high 17 points from the free throw line and, too, scored several field goals from point-blank range against the inexperienced squad from Umatilla County that has the same mascot as WHS, the Cougar.

Wallowa head coach Warren Wilson said his unit played tough defensively throughout the game. Individually, Wilson cited Karl Wellens (who missed the teams season opening loss to Enterprise because of illness), Spencer Shelton, Chandler Burns, and Cole Hafer for their respective defensive contributions during the Echo contest.

Wallowa led throughout the encounter; 11-7 after the initial eight minutes, 15-8 at the half, 26-18 after three periods, and then outscored the host Cougars 8-1 during the final quarter to cap off the units 34-19 win.

In addition to Chaz Murrays 17 points for WHS, Shelton scored six points, Wellens five, and Mason Hafer, Aaron Wallace, and Garrett Murray two points apiece.

Tonight, Wednesday, Dec. 11, the Wallowa Cougar boys will play their first home game of the season beginning at 7 p.m. Opposing WHS will be a La Grande JV team.

Friday night, the Cougars will play Pine-Eagle in the first boys game of a four-team tournament in Enterprise that also will include squads from Joseph and Enterprise. Tentatively, Fridays game against the Spartans will begin at 4:30 p.m.