Rich Rautenstrauch/Chieftain Wallowa senior Taylor Harshfieldd tries to keep an Echo Cougar in check Saturday evening in the Cougar Dome. Wallowa's defense came up big in Satuday evening's match up.

Wallowa Cougar girls’ team had a huge win Saturday night. They beat the seventh-rated team in the state, Echo, in the Cougar Dome, but the twists and turns of that victory go much further than just the win.

Wallowa girls entered the game with a 6-7 season mark and not only downed a team who had been 5-0 in 1A-Old Oregon League play, but downed them decisively by a 49-34 final score.

And yet the biggest head-scratcher for Wallowa coach Greg Oveson came in a statistical category not obvious to the average fan.

“We made 40 turnovers in that game. I’ve never had a team make that many turnovers and still win the game,” said Oveson.

And yet, a cursory look at the scorebook and it’s clear why Wallowa won the game by such a big score. From the free throw stripe, WHS girls converted 21 of 31 opportunities and Echo 6 of 10; matching the 15-point differential of the final score.

Only one week earlier and Oveson was lamenting the fact his team had only taken more free throws than their opponent in one game all year. Echo became number two in a big way,

After a slow first quarter where the visitors led 10-6, WHS girl began dominating the backboards and raced to a 21-13 halftime lead that was not in danger thereafter.

Wallowa’s Calli Miller led all rebounders with 14, and completed a double-double with 11 points as well.

Offensively, the Cougars featured balanced scoring, with three players in double figures and seven players contributing points. In addition to Miller, Laren Makin scored 13 points, Taylor Harshfield 12, Claire Wellens 5, Savanna Nobles 3, Macey Frei 3, and Cheyenne Hall 2.

The Cougars have won four straight games and go on the road this weekend where they will play Powder Valley (3-2 league and 7-7 overall) Friday and Nixyaawii (3-1 league and 10-4 overall) Saturday.

To date, the Wallowa girls have posted a 2-5 record on the road.

“We will have to make a better effort this weekend,” says Coach Oveson.