Updated: Outlaws win Blue Mountain Conference tourney, draw home game in playoffs

Published 10:00 am Sunday, February 18, 2024

PENDLETON – Taking the court Saturday, Feb. 17 against a Stanfield team with only a single conference loss, the Enterprise girls basketball team already had overcome the odds.

After downing the TigerScots of Weston-McEwen on Friday in the opening round of the 2A Blue Mountain Conference tournament, the Outlaws faced another bunch of Tigers, this time from Stanfield, for the championship on Saturday.

Enterprise and Stanfield had split the two games they played in the regular seasons; in fact, Stanfield’s only conference loss came against the Outlaws.

And on Saturday night, with the conference championship hanging in the balance, the Outlaws won the rubber match against the Tigers with a 45-37 victory.

“I was really proud of how the girl came together to win the title,” said Enterprise coach Dan Butterfield. “Stanfield is well-coached and has past season experience.”

The Outlaws started the game off with a 13-point first quarter followed by a 14-point second quarter. The second half saw the Outlaws cool off a bit, with 11 points in the third quarter and just seven points in the final quarter, but it was enough for the eight-point win.

Alex Rowley led the Enterprise title charge with 15 points. Nevaeh James added 12 points and Tessa Duncan was one behind with 11 points.

Enterprise (16-9 overall, 7-3 2A Blue Mountain Conference) receives an automatic home game for the opening round of the 2A state tournament. The Outlaws will host Willamina on Saturday, Feb. 24. Tipoff is 3 p.m.

Enterprise (now 16-9 overall and 7-3 in league play) is the No. 8 seed in the state tournament.

Willamina, the No. 9 seed, is 17-9 overall and plays in the Tri-River Conference.

The winner will meet the winner of a game between Salem’s Western Christian and Vernonia on Feb. 29 at the Pendleton Convention Center.

Western Christian, the champion of the Tri-Rivers League, is the No. 1 seed in the tournament. Western Christian (26-1) beat Willamina 54-19 in the first round of the league playoffs.

Three other Old Oregon League teams — Stanfield, Weston-McEwen and Heppner — earned berths in the first round and also will play Saturday.

ENTERPRISE – The Enterprise School District is inviting all members of the community

to a pep assembly and send-off for the Outlaws athletes who have earned spots in state wrestling and girls basketball tournaments.

The pep assembly is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20.

Visitors are asked to

check in at the office before proceeding to the deck. Entry to the deck can be found

upstairs by Mrs. Titus’ room, otherwise known as the old band room.

Outlaw wrestlers who have qualified for the state wrestling tournament in Portland will board the bus in front of the school promptly at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 21.

Community members are invited to both the Tuesday pep assembly and the Wednesday bus send-off.

The girls basketball team is staying home, at least for the first round of the state tournament: The Outlaws play host to Willamina at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24.