WALLOWA — The Wallowa boys’ basketball team claimed county bragging rights and opened the 1A Old Oregon League season with a slim 29-26 victory over Joseph on Thursday, Jan. 4 in the Cougar gym.

The margin of victory could have been a little larger: “We missed some free throws down the stretch and some in the game,” said winning coach Deon Chandler.

For the night, the Cougar boys were 9-for-19 from the line.

Fans for both teams saw little offense to start the game as just 17 points were scored in the first eight minutes. While Joseph scored 10 in the second quarter, Wallowa managed only four and trailed at the half, 18-13.

The third quarter was Joseph’s turn to go cold, as the Eagles failed to score. Wallowa responded with 16 points in the second half and went on to claim the win.

Wallowa saw Isaac Barnum put in 13 points for the Cougars. Gabe Nobles added seven points.

In the loss, Joseph was led by Kane Johnson’s 12 points.

Wallowa (6-8 overall) was scheduled to travel to Pilot Rock (4-6 overall) on Tuesday, Jan. 9 in nonleague action. The Cougars have a home game scheduled for Friday at 7:30 p.m. against Imbler and wrap up the weekend with a 4 p.m. Saturday game at Pine Eagle.

Eagles stop Echo ECHO — Playing the fifth game of a brutal eight-game road schedule, the Joseph boys’ basketball team bounced back from the loss to Wallowa with a 51-43 nonleague win over Echo on Saturday, Jan. 6.

The Eagle defense allowed Echo just eight points in the first quarter, allowing Joseph to build a 28-18 lead at the half.

Joseph added 14 points in the third quarter, slowing down in the final eight minutes for nine points but taking the victory.

Senior Kane Johnson had 18 points in the win to lead all scorers in the game. Jaxon Grover backed up his teammate with 13 points and Brice Harmon ended the game with eight points.

Joseph (4-9 overall, 0-1 1A Old Oregon League) has another road game scheduled on Friday, Jan. 12 in Pine Eagle (1-13 overall, 0-1 1A Old Oregon League). The Eagles’ next scheduled home game is Jan. 19, against Powder Valley.

Prospectors beat OutlawsGRANT UNION — The Enterprise Outlaws had a rude awakening to league play on Friday, Jan. 5 as they fell to Grant Union on the road, 70-56.

The Outlaws, now 10-4, return to action on Friday, Jan. 12, with a 7:30 p.m. game at Heppner, followed by a Saturday 5:30 p.m. game at Stanfield. The team will play its third league game in a four-day stretch with a 5:30 p.m. Monday game at home against Irrigon.