WALLOWA – Following a blowout loss to Powder Valley on the first day of the three-day La Grande Optimists Basketball Tournament held at Eastern Oregon University, WHS senior Taylor Harshfield put together back-to-back 15-point games to earn respectability for her team during a Dec. 30 loss to 2A Cove, and then propelled her squad to a win over Monument/Dayville on New Year’s Eve day.

Against Powder Valley (2-0 league and 6-5 overall), the black and orange were tied with the Badgers after the first quarter, fell behind 19-12 at the half, and then saw the wheels fall off thereafter. Wallowa, 0-2 in league and 4-7 overall, lost its identity in a second half that concluded with a 41-19 Powder Valley victory. Wallowa’s top scorer on the game was Macey Frei who netted six points. Harshfield was held to three points.

It again was the second half that spoiled the Cougars’ efforts against Cove (4-7 overall). Only behind 12-11 at halftime, the girls from Wallowa could only muster two points from Lauren Makin in the third quarter and never recovered fully in that 32-25 loss. Harshfield, as she did during the following day’s win, scored more than half of her team’s points, using her quickness to spring free for 15 points.

Oveson said against Cove his unit rallied to within three points in the closing minutes, but could not overcome the third quarter drought.

In the win over Monument/Dayville (2-9), Oveson said his squad was in control throughout during that 28-23 win. In addition to Harshfield’s 15 points, Makin scored six points, and Frei five.

Starter Cheyenne Hall turned her ankle early in the Cove game and did not play against Monument/Dayville.