Wallowa girls earn invitation to state, face St. Paul on Wednesday

Published 9:50 am Sunday, February 18, 2024

WALLOWA — Even though the Wallowa Cougars lost a Old Oregon League play-in game, the team’s state ranking was enough to earn the team an invitation to the state 1A tournament.

The Cougars, seeded 28th in the 32-team tournament, will travel to St. Paul on Wednesday for a first-round game in the state tourney. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.

The Buckaroos, 19-6 overall, are the fifth seed in the tournament and have won four of their last five games. They are the champion of the Casco League. 

Wednesday’s game won’t be the first time this season that St. Paul will face off against an Old Oregon League. During the 1A Preview Tournament in early December, the Buckaroos scored wins against Pilot Rock, Echo and Nixyaawii.

Nixyaawii nearly ended Wallowa’s season last week, when the Golden Eagles stunned the Cougars with a 40-38 win in a play-in game on Tuesday, Feb. 13. Nixyaawii advanced to the Old Oregon Leagure tournament, while the Cougars (14-10 overall) had to wait to see if they would get an invitation to the state tournament.

By the time the dust had settled from district tournaments around Oregon, the Cougars’ play during the season was deemed strong enough to win a spot in the state tournament.

Wallowa makes the trip to St. Paul looking to break a two-game skid by upsetting the Buckaroos.